I took the photo below to submit to a Belgian photographic site called Nos regards. My blog friend Eurodog told me about it and we both submitted our smiling faces to illustrate a theme called Sourires, or smiles, last month. This month the theme is Musique en Fête and this was one of the few musicians at Granville Island last Thursday, no doubt due to the rain. Check out the Nos regards site as the photos are amazing, most are very professional while I’m just having fun. You are not supposed to edit the photo although I probably should have trimmed this one.
Don’t you love him, sitting there among the garbage cans and recycling bin, playing his violin, with his CDs on offer? I threw a couple of dollars into his case and told him I was submitting this to a photographic site in Belgium and he gave me his card. Buskers with business cards? May I present Paul Gitlitz, producer, engineer, composer, musician with his own website at glitchless.net
By the way, if you missed it, world renowned violinist Joshua Bell tried busking at a Metro station in Washington DC earlier this year with very interesting results. You can read about it here, in the Washington Post.
July 25, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Very cool photo.
Greetings from a NYC busker.
‘Saw Lady’
http://www.SawLady.com/blog
July 25, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I haven’t seen a busker in years; great photo. I have my daughter and son-in-law visiting this weekend with my dog “grandson” Max; he’s the image of your profile photo. :o)
July 26, 2007 at 2:13 am
Very interesting blog; I am amazed that only one person stopped to listen. When I hear Inca musicians busking my husband has to drag me away. Joshua Bell; I would have been there for the duration. Have you listened to the video I posted of Romance by Shostakovich?. Is is just beautiful.
July 26, 2007 at 6:57 am
There’s a lot of talent at rail stations behind the hat and case.
July 26, 2007 at 7:02 am
Gosh Jmb just loved that fascinating write-up on Bell…but how terribly sad that so few of us take the time to smell the roses or even recognize their beauty in the first place. Love the photo…beauty amidst the trash, n’est ce pas?
July 26, 2007 at 11:49 am
Thanks for the link to the Bell story JMB. I don’t know anything about western classical music or the violin. But it was a great read. A lot of insights into what makes a thing of beauty a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
July 26, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Thanks, JMB, for reminding me of Granville Island. Among the many fantastic places I visited a few years ago.
Great photo too.
July 26, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I know! I read that about Bell.
Fabulous photograph. It’s like a story, it says so much.
email coming….
July 26, 2007 at 8:51 pm
JMB, we have some wonderful buskers in Vancouver, don’t we? I’ve seen this fellow at Granville Island.
I just read your previous post about the raccoons. That must have been so much fun for your granddaughter to see them all hanging out, right in your own back yard.
July 27, 2007 at 3:29 am
Hello, jmb.
Good of you to remember.
I have not submitted a photo this month as I am currently by the seaside and have not found the right picture.
July 27, 2007 at 7:17 am
Great photo. I am tone deaf but love music and would adore to be able to play. How fabulous to be able to bring pleasure to others in that way.
July 27, 2007 at 7:39 am
Hi Saw Lady, I don’t know how you found my site but I have been to yours and am delighted to find you.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 7:51 am
Hi Ruth,
In certain spots here, like Granville Island, buskers are thick on the ground. I hope you had fun with your daughter and SIL and my double.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 7:55 am
Hi MaryMary,
Mostly we just wander by the buskers since it is so noisy in the market you can’t hear them.
I did listen to your video. Beautiful.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 7:56 am
What you said is very true James. Is busking common where you live?
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 7:59 am
Hi Janice,
I loved the Bell article too which I saw earlier, there was even a video.
Mostly we just go on by the buskers at Granville Island although they certainly add to the atomosphere.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:01 am
Hi Vijay,
I’m glad you enjoyed the Bell article. The video is probably out there somewhere on youtube too.
Is western orchestral music rare in India on the whole?
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:02 am
Hi Chris,
I hope you enjoyed your visit to my part of the world, for it is a beautiful place and everyone loves Granville Island, even the locals.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:05 am
Hi Lady Mac,
Thanks. It was a lovely to see him sitting there playing his wonderful violin music. I couldn’t resist taking the photo.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:20 am
Hi Josie,
The buskers add so much to Granville Island don’t they? I believe they are at the Sky train stations too but I don’t use that since it’s not on the westside.
The raccoons haven’t been back since then for my granddaughter’s enjoyment unfortunately.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:21 am
Hi Eurodog,
I sent two photos to Nos regards, both of Granville Island buskers.
Hope you are enjoying your vacation.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 8:22 am
Hi Liz,
That’s too bad that you are tone deaf but you must get some enjoyment from music.
I too would love to be able to entertain people in this way, with the violin especially, since it is my favourite instrument.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Yes, he looks wonderful!
July 27, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I haven’t been down to Granville Island for quite some time but I just may take a friend there. She’s coming soon to visit from Arizona and it’ll be her first time here. Thanks for reminding me about the place.
July 27, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Hi Leslie,
There is just so much going on there right now. I’ve been down there twice this week with my house guests, who love it. But it is crowded so be prepared. I found parking very difficult today but finally found some in a pay parking garage.
I hope your friend enjoys it if you go, but how can you not?
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 9:28 pm
HI WCLC,
Isn’t he great? Since he gave me his card with his email, I sent him a link to my site and to the Nos regards site.
regards
jmb
July 27, 2007 at 10:34 pm
That’s funny ! I have to come to your blog to learn about a belgian photo webside ! World is really small.
July 29, 2007 at 10:17 am
Hi Gattina,
That is funny, but the site is only new, two months old. I have three photos on it, one for Sourires and two for Musique en Fête.
Check it out, maybe they will have cats for a theme soon.
regards
jmb
July 30, 2007 at 11:06 am
a few years ago when our children were small they were transfixed with Joshua Bell – so much so, when he came to the Colston Hall, we booked tickets to the pre-concert talk. The one he announced afterwards to us he nearly didn’t do (because he doesn’t like to get distracted apparently – which I can understand). Anyway when he found that our son, also Joshua aged 10 then was going to attend – he did the talk working on the theory that if a child was interested he should be too !! He was wonderful and answered many of our sons’ questions so much so they both became musicians…
Best wishes
Shani
July 31, 2007 at 11:11 am
Hi Shani,
What a wonderful experience for you and your boys. That was very gracious of Joshua Bell and I can understand him not wanting to give a talk before a performance.
Do both your children play the violin? I always wanted to play that, because it’s my favourite instrument.
Thanks for dropping by to comment.
regards
jmb