Passion, sincerity, integrity...such is the intent of Puccini's character in in his famous opera Tosca. "Living for the art" and enveloping yourself in the present to communicate this art.
I commute a long drive everyday to school that is at best a 45 minute drive in the morning. The routine hardly ever falls outside the lines of getting in the car, turning on NPR, and minlessly await as I glide into campus. One day was anything but ordinary however.
There was a story on NPR about the street musician scene in Berlin, Germany. Many street musicians from around the world have fled to the streets and subways of Berlin hopiong to take advantage of their newly formed union for public musicians. However, things have not been easy. In fact, there is a constant underachievement in gross income for many of the musicians. The reporter interviewed one of the men and helped us understand his past. He was a solider of the Russian army who played the accordian and was musically trained through their army to serve as a military musician. After his discharge and many years of struggle he made the trip to Berlin to start a new life. Though he is upset with how things have turned out, he is glad that there is now organization on street entertainment and that it is btter for the long run. When asked how he deals with a stuggling life he answered int he most sincerest of tone, "Don't think bad about your hard life...someone will walk by you, someone will give you small money, and even if you had a mistake in your solo-dont stop playing...because this is your solo...I just sit and play...I just sit and play for God".
I felt compelled to write about this as it is both beautiful and inspiring. We have to remember why we play. Sure we work hard to find employment but why we started...we started with that youthful love...the innocent love to play music. This is what should be held onto.
I can imagine walking by this man, just as I have walked by many intrigueing musicians, and Im sure I would remember vividly the day I saw him playing. It happens in everyday life. The moment when you sit back and say "hey, thats nice"...that in itself is a miracle...that is what Art is...to share. When I witness people or groups that exists solely for the promotion of art to people who would otherwise not understand it, I become overwhelmed at what beauty has occured.
That is what I devote myself to...to truely live for my passion...to truely love it and not to let it die...to maintain this child-like love that is pure and open-minded. That is life...its not for money, its not for respect, its not for legacy...life is to be lived in the moment...and to approach every wink with understanding and beauty...and to recognize it. Am I being cheesy?
-JL
