The homeless guy in Warsaw

[ggpianogg]

Hi guys,

I felt like I wanted to share this story with you:

I was walking the streets of my hometown Warsaw yesterday, heading for the subway. At some point I heard the sound of music being played, but at that point I couldn't make out the instrument yet - but it definitely sounded familiar. So I started going in that direction.

As I drew closer, I saw this homeless guy in raggy and dirty clothes sitting on the ground. He was playing Vivaldi's "Spring" from the four seasons. The reason I didn't recognize the instrument at first is because it was actually an accordion, and I'm completely not used to hearing this type of music on that instrument, so it disoriented me at first.

I liked his playing enough that I picked a spot to sit down right next to him and started litening to his playing. He was playing the same piece over and over, probably because the people were constantly passing him by so he felt no need to change his repertory. But that was cool by me, as I really enjoyed it, and probably sat there listening to him for around 30 minutes. What struck me in the meantime was that, from the thousands of people passing him and heading for the metro, I think that two people stopped total - one man in his late 70's, and one woman in her late 60's. They dropped a coin in a small box that was next to him and moved on, but they seemed to enjoy his playing as well as they were grinning from ear to ear. There was also this small boy (around 4-5 years old) who seemed to be coming back from music lessons, since he was holding what definitely looked like a violin casing. The kid stopped for a few seconds to listen, with a look of complete awe on his face, but was quickly rushed by his father in the direction of the metro.

After listening for the 30 minutes I decided it was time to go home, and as I was passing directly in front of him, I noticed that he had 2 or 3 CD's in front of him, displayed for sale. I examined one of them - the cover had his picture, probably printed with a cheap home-printer, sitting on a chair with an accordion. The CD inside was a regular CD-RW bought from the store, the kind you use to burn a few mp3's. It was definitely a home made CD, but since the playlist on the back said  that Vivaldi's "Spring' was there, I asked him how much he wanted for the CD. It was the equivelant of around 10 USD. I went to the ATM, cashed out, went back and paid him.

Back in my house I listened to his CD again and I really love it. I decided to upload his interpretation of "Spring" over here for everyone to listen to - it sounds exactly like he was playing it live by the subway.It is one of 21 pieces on the disc. I don't know what you'll think of it, but I just felt like it would be a waste not to share this with someone.

Hope you like it.

https://rapidshare.com/files/444985132/02-Vivaldi__Concert__Spring__Part_I.mp3

[littletune]

I don't know how to download or listen to it  Do you have to have an account there to do that?  Maybe you could just post it in Miscellaneous cause there you can upload the mp3...

[ggpianogg]

Hi littletune,

All you need to do is hit the "Slow download" gray button close to the bottom right, and a 30 second countdown will appear. Once it's over, the download will begin. Let me know if this helps - if not, I will upload it somewhere else

[littletune]

Yes that worked thanks!   First time I did hit the Slow download button but I didn't know you had to wait and click on it again. 
That was really cool!  Is that all just accordion?  I didn't know it could have that many different sounds and dynamics!  What kind of accordion is that? The one with keys like a piano or the one with buttons?
I hope that guy will be ok! He's really good!
Thanks it was cool! 

[john11inc]

That is a Bayan, not an accordion.

[ggpianogg]

That is a Bayan, not an accordion.

I don't know the difference. The CD says "Accordion" so I'm assuming that it is, unless there is a difference in terminology between Poland and the US in terms of this word.

Either way, it definitely looked like an accordion

[Bob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayan_(accordion)

Interesting. 

Haha... Ripping off a homeless guy, putting his performance up on the web for everyone.  Shame on you.  Haha.   You might sue you for copyright infringement now, his artistic interpretation of the work.


*Bob is wondering if this guy gives lessons.  If he does, they're probably really cheap lessons since he's homeless.*

*... and how a homeless guy is making CDs, even cheap homemade ones.*

[ggpianogg]

I think I would gladly pay him if he sued me for that

I wondered about how he got to make the CD's myself. They look really old though, so they might have been from a long time ago. One of the recordings actually ends with some applause in the background, so it is likely that he gave some concerts at some point.

I think he is either Russian or Ukrainian (from his facial features and accent).

[john11inc]

I don't know the difference. The CD says "Accordion" so I'm assuming that it is, unless there is a difference in terminology between Poland and the US in terms of this word.

Either way, it definitely looked like an accordion

Some people will pregnant dog if you call one the other.  Some people will pregnant dog if you say they're different instruments.  I kind of go with the first crowd.

[john11inc]

[littletune]

In my country we call both accordion too... they're like all accordions but just different kinds of accordions.... so this one is the one with buttons then (not with keyboard). 

You know what we should do? Everyone from Pianostreet should give 1 euro or dollar or whatever and then we would put all that money together and give it to that homeless guy! I wish we could do that! it would be so cool!!!   

[Bob]

*Bob looks up and away and quietly slides a hat in for "Donations to Bob." 
[Disclaimer:  Donors *must* round up to the nearest thousand dollars.]




If people want to give away money, I'll take some. 




I burn it and use it to keep warm.

[littletune]

Bob!!  You just won a sixtillion dollars like a month ago!!!! Remember?! What did you do with all that money then??    Burned it all??? 
*Littletune doesn't believe Bob would do something like that!* 

[Bob]

I did?  I don't remember that.  *Bob checks wallet for sixtillion dollars.*  It's not here.  I must have misplaced it.  I do tend to accumlate a lot of singles after awhile.... *Bob starts counting dollar bills in his wallet to see if they add up to sixtillion.*