Do you have time for beauty?

[JanieDough]

I don't agree with this article all the way - just because you don't stop and listen doesn't mean you didn't have time.

Well it's not like you have free time when you're on your way to work - so maybe it's more of a comment on our society's value of being on time and working working working??

Dunno - but neat article

Leonard Slatkin, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, was asked the same question. What did he think would occur, hypothetically, if one of the world's great violinists had performed incognito before a traveling rush-hour audience of 1,000-odd people?

Each passerby had a quick choice to make, one familiar to commuters in any urban area where the occasional street performer is part of the cityscape: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he's really bad? What if he's really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn't you? What's the moral mathematics of the moment?

The musician did not play popular tunes whose familiarity alone might have drawn interest. That was not the test. These were masterpieces that have endured for centuries on their brilliance alone, soaring music befitting the grandeur of cathedrals and concert halls.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html



Would you stop to listen?

 

[Guyzerr]

Would you stop to listen?

If I liked the piece he was playing I would... and have. If I don't like the music or instrument I just keep walking.

 

[Springsteen]

Same here, only if I liked the sound of the music I would stop and listen.

 

[AUFred]

I would assume most are too busy and self-absorbed. I would probably acknowledge a great musician but if my schedule was my concern I would not stop and listen.

 

[Abcinthia]

We used to have a violinist playing in High Wycombe town centre (don't know if he still does, maybe I just keep missing him) and I used to sometimes listen. I was always a bit jealous cos I have a violin but I can't play it at all (the only musical instrument I mastered was the recorder hahaha).

But I noticed that every week he was there, he played the same 3 pieces over and over and over. I stopped listening so much when I realised that. He was a good player but he really needs to widen his repertoire.

 

[RedRyder]

Lucky for me... I always give myself a 15 minute window when I leave for work. I always take the time to smell the roses... so to speak. But.... I watch the clock just in case.

 

[Willow]

I can't play any musical instrument, but I love music, especially classical music..
Also, although I can no longer sing a note, even if my life depended on it... when I was a teenager and in high school, I was the soloist soprano in the choir at the catholic school I attended..

If I had the opportunity again to stop and listen to any street musician, I would do it in a heartbeat!.
When I lived in NYC, there were many that played inside the subway stations, and I got to know some of them by name, and always stopped to listen to them, even if it meant I would loose my train.. I knew another one would be there in a few minutes..
I also knew that my simple act of stopping and listening, smiling and leaving a few coins or a dollar, meant a great deal to those people..

Life is too short, and we have to stop and enjoy things in the moment... We never know if we will have another chance tomorrow..

 

[JanieDough]

OK but you're late for work - are you going to stop and listen to anything? Are you going to stop for anything?

 

[HK]

I don't stop, generally. If I'm out somewhere alone then I'm out for a reason, to do something or go somewhere, and I don't tend to dawdle much.

If I were with someone and we were just idling then we might stop and listen for a bit but that then commits you to potentially making eye contact with a busker and feeling guilty for not giving him money, or having to give him money.

 

[Rai Dimitri]

but I love music, especially classical music..
Also, although I can no longer sing a note, even if my life depended on it... when I was a teenager and in high school, I was the soloist soprano in the choir at the catholic school I attended..

If I had the opportunity again to stop and listen to any street musician, I would do it in a heartbeat!.
When I lived in NYC, there were many that played inside the subway stations, and I got to know some of them by name, and always stopped to listen to them, even if it meant I would loose my train.. I knew another one would be there in a few minutes..
I also knew that my simple act of stopping and listening, smiling and leaving a few coins or a dollar, meant a great deal to those people..

Life is too short, and we have to stop and enjoy things in the moment... We never know if we will have another chance tomorrow..

I ditto with you on that! ;-)

 

[Willow]

OK but you're late for work - are you going to stop and listen to anything? Are you going to stop for anything?

When I used to work, if I was running late and I saw one of the regular musicians, I would just stop for a second and say "good morning, I'm late for work.. I will try to catch up with you later or tomorrow morning"..
Their smiles alone were worth that second!..

 

[Thornless]

I wouldn't stop if I was on my way for something.

I chide my clients for being late, I wouldn't make myself late.

 

[JanieDough]

When I used to work, if I was running late and I saw one of the regular musicians, I would just stop for a second and say "good morning, I'm late for work.. I will try to catch up with you later or tomorrow morning"..
Their smiles alone were worth that second!..

oh come on - yeah right. you really stopped to tell some one this?

like "Excuse me while you're playing your music, I just want to apologize for not being able to stop and listen?"

 

[HottyToddyChick]

I don't really have anything pressing to tend to, so I do get to enjoy the little things in life right now. And I'm a notorious "get there early" person, so even if I did have something to get to, I'd probably have time to stop for a bit.

 

[RedRyder]

OK but you're late for work - are you going to stop and listen to anything? Are you going to stop for anything?

When I'm running late for work.... I doubt I would stop for anything. Others on my roads do not like when I am running late.

 

[Willow]

oh come on - yeah right. you really stopped to tell some one this?

like "Excuse me while you're playing your music, I just want to apologize for not being able to stop and listen?"

Like I said above, I got to know some of them by name, so.. believe it or not, I would stop for one second, drop a dollar on their hats and told them I was late and would catch up with them in the evening or the next morning..

Honestly, all of this took no more than a second or two, and I was on my way down the stairs to the train, or if they were on the platform, I would walk into the train..

:shrug: It really takes very little time to be nice to others

 

[JanieDough]

Well good for you!

 

[Willow]

I'm putting this here, because it's my only way to let you know I tried to reply to your message, but got this:

"The following errors occurred with your submission:

1. JanieDough has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

Let me know when you clear your box..

 

[JanieDough]

lol I don't wanna clear my box!!! but I will.

 

[lauryn tom]

I guess we all have time for beauty. It's that some of us don't choose to use that time in prepping or grooming. Guess some have better things to do