As I transfer from the R line to the west side IRT, I'm frequently frustrated or surprised by the size of the crowds attending to subway musicians. What I almost never am is impressed by the performances. But that would be different, surely, if, say, an internationally known musician was playing on his Gibson ex Huberman Strad—wouldn't it? A performance like that would be guaranteed to have music lovers swooning with pleasure.
I won't give away the ending, but The Washington Post's Gene Weingarten set up such an experiment with Joshua Bell at the L'Enfant Plaza metro stop in DC. Weingarten turns a "stunt" into a fascinating look at art and expectation.
This blog proposes a new code word for excellence: If we say,"It's by Weingarten," then do not stop, do not pass Go, just click the link and prepare for excellent writing.
Addenda: here's Gene Weingarten with the backstory and further comment.
Saw Lady has a different take on it.
