Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Le Musicien


This musician may have been working for coins but he appeared to be playing for the music within his soul. The street (and Métro) performers seem to be a notch better than I hear in the United States. I found the same to be true in Seville last fall witnessing a string quartet for which I would gladly have paid for front row seats.

Montmartre en avril 2011

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39 comments:

  1. KonstantinAugust 9, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    wow :)

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  2. Sylvia KAugust 9, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    I love it! Somehow there is just a recognizable difference in the musicians in Europe and the US. I guess time and history do make a difference. Beautiful post as always, mon amie!! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

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  3. BergsonAugust 9, 2011 at 3:02 AM

    il est dans la musique et ne doit voir personne

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  4. diveAugust 9, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    I think I've been spoiled by the quality of the licensed buskers in central London, Genie. A lot of Parisian buskers are pretty good but outside Notre Dame I heard the most excruciatingly awful singer I have heard in 52 years. I still shudder thinking of the poor people trapped in the queue who were forced to listen or flee (I fled).

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  5. Cezar and LéiaAugust 9, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    These street artists are so talented!
    Nice portrait!
    Léia

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  6. biebkriebelsAugust 9, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    I can't compare with the US, but here are many different qualities. With the EU growing we now see many groups from eastern Europe, who mostly play classic music which is a quite different sound suddenly then the guitar players before.

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  7. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenAugust 9, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    If I was a street musician, I would much rather be in Europe collecting Euros than in the states.

    When we were in Provence, an excellent jazz group was playing on market day. We visited with them after their set and they were mostly Americans from New Orleans.
    Your guy in the photo looks like he takes his music seriously Genie.
    Sam

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  8. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 9, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Yup he looks like he's 'in his own place' Genie and really that makes the music better I think, I admire street musicians a lot it must take courage to put yourself out there and as you say some of them you would quite happily pay to see. Excellent picture.

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  9. martinealisonAugust 9, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    Une photo pleine de poésie... On pourrait entendre un petit air musical... pour une journée bonheur.
    Bisous à toi ma chère Génie.

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  10. HarrietAugust 9, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Great portrait that captures so much.

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  11. Carol Schiff Daily PaintingAugust 9, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    This is a wonderful portrait of someone doing what they love. Thanks for sharing, Genie!

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  12. MAugust 9, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    I have a family friend who earned his living being a street musician while he was studying classical music in Europe ... Perhaps that is why the quality is better? Wonderful portrait.

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  13. StarmanAugust 9, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    I don't know about the street performers, but the buskers in the métro have to 'audition' and receive passing grades before they can perform. There are way more who don't make it, than those who do.

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  14. VirginiaAugust 9, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Beautiful portrait!!!
    V

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  15. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    :)

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  16. Lynne with an eAugust 9, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Your photo has captured the moment, the look, the feel, the mood, and the character of the musician. I can almost hear the music.

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  17. Amanda SummerAugust 9, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    groovy......he's got a bit of a keith richards thing goin' on..... ;D

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  18. RobAugust 9, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    Love this candid shot in the moment!

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  19. Hana de PragueAugust 9, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    It is so beautiful and poetic capture, Genie! I wish I was there to listen to him...
    Bonne semaine Hana

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  20. Fábio MartinsAugust 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    O enquadramento e a abertura de lente foram as indicadas. Bonita foto

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  21. EG CameraGirlAugust 9, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    I find many of the buskers in Toronto are also fine musicians - they have to audition to get a spot. Maybe it's the same in Paris.

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  22. VenetiaMicioAugust 9, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Chère Genie, un petit prix à partager sur VenetiaMicio pour vous remercier de tous ces petits clins d'oeil parisiens que j'adore !
    xx
    Danielle

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  23. RandyAugust 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    Lovely portrait. I would have loved to have heard his music. Nice guitar too.

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  24. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    He certainly does appear to be "into" what he is playing. We use to live about an hour from downtown Chicago and I use to see musicians with their dogs out on various corners playing guitars. I also remember seeing young kids with whatever instruments they could come up with i.e. buckets and something to hit them with strike up some pretty lively tunes. You have to admit pretty savvy.

    I'd love for you to stop by my blog and leave a comment to enter a giveaway.

    Kris

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  25. LoreeAugust 9, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    What a fabulous capture Genie. He looks so absorbed. You can tell he is loving what he's doing.

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  26. DeborahAugust 9, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    Lovely moment preserved of the earnest musician, Genie.

    Thank you too for your lovely encouraging comments on my blog - I so hope you enjoy the book when it arrives.

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  27. genieAugust 9, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Boy, do I agree with your about the street performers in Europe. While in London on one of my trips, I got to hear Pachelbel play by a string quartet I would have given my right arm to have seen in concert. This is such a clear and crisp capture....excellent photography. Love the feel of the shot. It has been a while since we have crossed paths so hi again from the other Genie.

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  28. JackAugust 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    I really enjoy street musicians. Don't you wonder about their stories, how they end up playing on the streets instead of clubs or concert halls, or instead of becoming teachers or bankers?

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  29. AlexaAugust 9, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    It's a beautiful portrait, Genie (comme d'habitude)! Those coins can add up, and I hope he gathered lots.

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  30. Irredento UrbanitaAugust 9, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    With you, I learnt Paris is where you want it is. You are in Alabama but you take a parisien inside. That musician has nice converse shoes.

    Hugs

    Valery

    Barcelona Daily Photo

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  31. Carrie Waller WatercolorsAugust 9, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Everything just looks so much more romantic in Paris:)

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  32. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 9, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Thank you, thank you, and merci! It is difficult to relay the emotion you feel in a photo and this guy had it, and all of you "got it." His movements and sound reflected his passion, all centered within. You understood this without hearing his music, and that thrills me. (merci)

    Valery, thank you for your kind comment as that is what I feel.

    Starman, I had heard that the performers had to audition and be approved to appear in the Métros.

    I think that Marie is correct about concert musicians as that is what I saw/heard in Seville, Spain.

    dive, thankfully I have not run into many of those... arrrrg!

    I will print this Paris portrait for my next Paris trip, on the outside chance I will see him again. I find many of my subjects on return trips.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  33. Rob SiemannAugust 10, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    I noticed the same here in Spain. The buskers are quite often really excellent. We even have a Busker Festival here right now, for a week. I remember seeing some young guys playing in Grafton Street in Dublin, I even bought their tape, called Boy, in the mid-80es. One day, we'll be filthy rich, as the buskers called themselves the U2.

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  34. AnonymousAugust 10, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    He looks like France's answer to Bob Dylan...

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  35. PatAugust 11, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    Good one. Do you know the lyrics to Joni Mitchell's "Real Good for Free"? If not, Youtube it.

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  36. AlanAugust 11, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    That's just a lovely street shot, Genie. I love this one.

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  37. UnknownAugust 12, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    What a great portrait, Genie! Love this shot.

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  38. Oakland Daily PhotoOctober 3, 2011 at 6:05 PM

    He looks French but dresses American. Note the Marines jacket, Vans, Rat Pack style hat. Good thing culture is deeper than styles. Otherwise we'd all be clones of the latest youth fad. He does look soulful, though. Hope you find him again.

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  39. Oakland Daily PhotoOctober 3, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Oops. Also meant to congratulate you on seeing all those traces of rouge in this shot. Including the Coke can.

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Merci for your comments!