The article just seemed slightly snotty and classist, like it was exposing the hoi polloi in all their music ignorance. It seemed to be implying a connection that just wasn't there. Sometimes you have to hurry to make it to work to keep the job that brings in money to keep you fed and in a home, and if that means you zip past some seriously amazing music, then you do. It doesn't necessarily mean you're a philistine who just doesn't appreciate good music.

Ah. Thank you. This was it, just expressed better. I couldn't quite get at what about it was making me cranky. Also, I may have been feeling a little defensive, because while I can appreciate classical music, I'm definately not high class.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there, not that there were people who seemed interested but didn't stop. They did mention that people noticed, but the obliviousness was the major point. I like the woman who recognized the musician and who was hanging out to find out what was up.

Joshua Bell is one of the world's greatest violinists.

I heard him talking about it on All Things Considered. He wasn't put out. They played some of his new release The Voice of the Violin and it was soooooo gorgeous. Kind of a dessert of a classical album, but a really really good chocolate dessert. Just pure rhapsodic melody with very lyrical playing.

I just heard back about an apartment that sounds promising. We have an appointment to look at it on Saturday morning.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there,

I probably would be one of those people. I wouldn't recognise a world class violinist if he bit me on the ass.

Anyone biting me should introduce themselves, anyhow.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there

Which makes me wonder if all of them commute in their cars.

I commuted into NYC for years, and after a certain point you automatically focus only on your primary objective -- getting to the train, or getting off the train and getting the subway, or whatever. There's so much going on in a place like Penn Station or Grand Central, I think it's mostly survival that you tune out stuff like that just to avoid sensory overload.

Same thing with any city street, I think -- if you stopped to really take in everyone busking, or asking for money, or having a screaming argument, or zipping by on a bike, or whatever, you'd go nuts.

That said, I am now a fan of Joshua Bell. His playing was gorgeous.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there,

Yeah, but -- if I'm in a rush on my way to work, I probably wouldn't notice a busker, either. They're kind of common, no? (My commute is in my car, so if a busker showed up *there,* I'd notice. Probably.)

But people who commute via subway/train -- surely buskers and panhandlers and preachers and hookers and Morlocks are so commonplace that they just become part of the human wallpaper. Even if one of them *is* a virtuoso cranking out the tunes on a Strad, I think it's nonsense to imply that The Power Of Music(TM)* is enough to pull people out of their daily -- and very likely hurried -- routine.

*(The Power Of Music[TM] is NOT to be confused with The Power Of Dance[TM], which can, in fact, pull people out of their daily routines, and can even save the day, as we all learned in Footloose and Dirty Dancing.)

t edit Or, What Amy Said.

We don't have subways, but we have street musicians. Floridians would be more inclined to stop and listen to an exceptional performance. This is not because of our love of art, but we don't so much give a shit about being on time.

The Power of Dance(TM) *is* completely different, yeah.

Human wallpaper is a perfect way to put it.

There's so much going on in a place like Penn Station or Grand Central, I think it's mostly survival that you tune out stuff like that just to avoid sensory overload

Yep - I commute through Grand Central and Union Square. Both of them have areas where you need a permit to play music, and people put up big signs and usually have CDs for sale. All different kinds of music & performance -- classical, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, dance troupes, indie rock, etc, and most of them are quite good. Regardless, during rush hour my focus is on getting to my platform and not being knocked over by the crowd. I can appreciate music on my own time later, not during my freaking commute.

[edit: I guess my point is, the fact that I don't stop and nod appreciatively and be counted as an interested party before hurrying on my way doesn't indicate that I'm oblivious to the artists' presence. It indicates that I'm in the middle of my commute.]