Monday 20 July 2009

Sounding the heart


Busking can be a heart-breaking venture: few people listen, fewer people toss coins, and the musician slips into musical compromise.

18 comments:

eamon@ewmphotography said...

Like the third one especially. If there is a way of darkening the hand a little bit to bring out the detail it would be even better. Thanks Julie.

Lois said...

What beautiful shots Julie! Sadly, we don't have many street musicians here. I wish we did!

Jim said...

Was he busking around the city somewhere, Julie?
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Julie said...

Jim, he was at the Pyrmont Markets. His performance was feed through the public address. He was exceptionally good ... but sad.

Jim said...

Those Pyrmont Markets sound really interesting.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

brattcat said...

What a beautiful, sensitive face. You've captured the essence of his sadness. Big sigh.

Lowell said...

Great photos...and I've often felt a great deal of sympathy for people up front playing their heart out and no one gives a damn. I've been in that position.

Love the photos.

But, what is busking?

Julie said...

Busking is playing music on a street corner with your hat at your feet to collect coins.

Or singing in front of a terrace of people eating/drinking in the open air and taking your hat around to them afterwards in the hope that they enjoyed your performance.

What do you call this in America?

Joan Elizabeth said...

I love the contribution buskers make to our streets and try to be one of the people to drop in a coin as I pass.

Ann said...

I love buskers as well, they really add colour to the place.

All we were told re the flood is that water entered the basement and the pumps failed to work. Someone said it could be groundwater due to heavy rain over the last week or so. Apparently it happened a few years ago as well and they lost heaps of records.

stromsjo said...

Then again, most of us spend lots of time with our hobbies without any coins being tossed our way.

B SQUARED said...

As long as he plays for himself, people will listen.

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

I especially like the photo of the hand on the guitar. The guitarist looks a little sad. Perhaps meloncholy is a trait among musicians.

Ming the Merciless said...

I have a lot of respect for people who are talented musicians, and even more so when they make a living out of it. Lord knows, we don't need another banker or government official.

Bravo, Mr. Guitar Player.

introspection said...

Beautiful pictures and a heart warming post of the sad singer. Congrats for nomination to POTD, by David.

Brian Miller said...

your words bring emotion to the pictures, which are excellent in themselves. listened to many a street performer on the streets of Baltimore.

Stephany said...

All beautiful photos but the guitar case really sings to me.

Cheffie-Mom said...

I came over from David's authorblog. Congrats on the Post of the Day Award!