Rings a Bell?

Ever heard of Joshua Bell? If classical music is not your cup of tea, then maybe not. I can't say I'm a classical music buff, but my dad had many classical albums of the Time-Life variety, which meant it was classic vinyl, and often wrapped up, unused, until either my brother (most usually him) would wonder why we had albums we never opened, and would open them for a listen.

Of course, at that time, Bell was a bit too young, and would have released no albums. More than likely, he was on a youthful apprenticeship, learning to be the master musician he is today. And it doesn't hurt that Bell is fairly attractive. It never hurts for any public performer to be easy on the eyes.

Bell does have an interesting lineage. His dad was one of the several Kinsey researchers. I knew little of Kinsey except that he had written a book on sex, until seeing the film, Kinsey. Kinsey's success, at least as portrayed by Liam Neeson, was that he treated sex as a research, as through and meticulous as his research on gall wasps. This fastidiousness gave him some credibility as he did research on human sexuality, which was surprisingly woefully under-researched in the early 1940s.

For example, that staple of young men (and not so young)--masturbation, was considered unhealthy and taboo in its day. Kinsey did much to convince people that this was not at all unhealthy. He gave credibility to homosexuality as a normal way of living, rather than a psychological disease. Even if 10% population being gay is considered a bit high (it's been suggested the number is maybe 5%), it gave gay people confidence that hasn't been matched until the advent of the web.

But, I digress.

Joshua Bell wanted to try something out. Here's the full story.

He wanted to know, if he looked like something of a vagrant musician, begging for money at a popular Metro stop, would anyone stop to give him money. To make it somewhat less obvious who he was, he wore a baseball cap. Playing his million (actually, several million) dollar violin, he wondered if virtuosity would stop the busy commuter, off to his job.

He played for just under an hour, and made about forty bucks. Hardly anyone recognized him. One woman, near the end of his performance, did recognize him, having been to his concert only weeks earlier. Although she was baffled why he was out there begging for money, she knew it was him.

This article was posted to reddit, where it received a number one ranking. Comments, as they are wont to be, was mixed, some negative, saying that this was a cheap stunt.

One has to point out that few people enjoy classical music so much that they recognize virtuosity. Virtuosity is, by definition, extreme skill. Heavy metal, which can be well nigh unlistenable to a non-fan, is nevertheless, a virtuoso skill. The best metal players play with such proficiency that few can match the ability to play notes so quickly and accurately. Banjo players also attain this level of virtuosity.

Even so, how many people actually like classical music? Had the person been, say, a beautiful woman--and there are plenty, highly-talented attractive women who play the violin, would the reaction have been different? While we've come to expect good, yet out-of-work musicians having to beg for a living, most are male. The oddity of seeing women music performers might draw a crowd, far more easily, and perhaps be a far more incongruous site. And, never underestimate having a beautiful woman playing to attract people, much like seeing a young child virtuoso would draw more attention due to the fact s/he's a child, not because s/he's a virtuoso.

Some people don't like to be insulted, to be told they can't recognize genius. Thus, this experiment would be considered folly, the height of arrogance.

I see it rather differently. Joshua Bell has played in concert halls to a certain kind of audience, one that presumably recognizes and appreciates his talent. But he lives in something of a rarefied atmosphere. Just as there are some people who travel to exotic countries to build up their repetoire of experiences, Joshua Bell has, I gather, as well. Even if he ostensibly did it (or an editor at the Post) to find out how people would react, he may have also done it to explore some facet of a life he's never had to live.

One has to imagine that gifted musicians, especially classical ones, are extremely lucky. While the average Joe band might have some hope of making a small living as a musician, you have to be near the top of your game to be a classical musician. But being there, you can do pretty well for yourself. Still, it takes only a little less talent, and you might be out begging. There, but for the grace of God...well, you get the idea.

Perhaps Bell is arrogant, but maybe he's just curious. His dad was a social scientist interested in behavior. And perhaps he's not so elite as to think this wouldn't be a bit of fun.

I know. When you open up a forum for comments, you find people who say the silliest things, and often, it lacks much insight or intelligence. People are always willing to criticize, because that's what humans do so well. Indeed, it's a skill, one that some people do well, and others do poorly.

I've always thought I should get a CD by Joshua Bell, and oddly enough, a stunt like this has made it more likely I will.