Musicians chased from Central Park (New York City)

NY Post ^ | May 29, 2011 | CYNTHIA R. FAGEN

[lowbridge]

City officials began blitzing street musicians with nuisance summonses and posted a "Quiet Zone" sign last week at the beloved Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, where virtuoso performers have been making beautiful music together for over a century.

On weekends, baritone John Boyd, 48, would belt out spirituals backed by a choir including six of his nine children and fellow classical buskers. But two months ago, Parks police descended on the Bethesda Terrace arcade with a message: Muzzle the music.

Last week, they posted a Quiet Zone sign banning Boyd and other serious musicians from playing in the arcade where world-class performers offer their talents for free to ordinary New Yorkers.

[Gondring]

Good news!

Let them noise-up their own places.

[shadeaud]

A Quiet Zone!!!! Will planes still be allowed to fly over, will C.P.W. and 5th Ave be detoured, what about flapping of pigeon wings. I won't even mention cabbies and their use of horns and four letter words in every language but english.

[oh8eleven]

* virtuoso performers have been making beautiful music together for over a century.
* would belt out spirituals backed by a choir including six of his nine children and fellow classical buskers.
* banning Boyd and other serious musicians from playing in the arcade where world-class performers offer their talents for free to ordinary New Yorkers.
No elitist, biased reporting in this story. /s

[Joe Boucher]

Gondring,
No offense But have you ever perused Central Park on a nice summer weekend and listened to the music makers there?
I’ve been there many times, some is good some bad,
Never seen a big problem just folks enjoying.

[whershey]

So I take it this means you favor government restrictions on free speech in public places?

[org.whodat]

Sounds like the writing of a lib , kissing a democrap.

[Dr. Sivana]

No elitist, biased reporting in this story. /s

First time I've ever heard a reporter for the New York Post called elitist.

There is nothing elitist about calling someone a "world-class" performer who is really world class.

It is no more elitist than if Mickey Mantle (in his prime) went to Central Park to hit fungoes, was cited, and was described by the New York Post as a world-class baseball player.

I don't like New York, but there are aspects of its character that are harmless. The presence of serious, world-class musicians in Central Park is one of them.

[Gena Bukin]

No elitist, biased reporting in this story. /s

I think the writer wished to convey that these were actual, real musicians performing real music and not some intoxicated, homeless "street musician" warbling out lunacy on a broken acoustic guitar.

[oh8eleven]

The presence of serious, world-class musicians in Central Park is one of them.
Well, EXXUUUUUUUUUUSE me, "doctor." LOL ....

[AppyPappy]

The reporter was trying to get you to reach their conclusion.

[oh8eleven]

I think the writer wished to convey that these were actual, real musicians performing real music
Who is she to define "real?" One man's trash is another man's treasure.

[Gondring]

Some people would like peace and quiet and listening to the birds, for example.

I support the Conservancy calling the cops when they wouldn’t shut up voluntarily. Some people want to enjoy the quiet solitude of the fountain, and if others don’t, let them carry an iPod or whatever.

[Gondring]

So I take it this means you favor government restrictions on free speech in public places?

Nothing I said implies that.

I do not favor the imposition on others. You may share your political opinion with your friends without fear of government retribution, but nothing gives you the right to impose it on others who don't want to hear it.

I suppose you support no government restriction on anti-war protestors setting up and broadcasting screams and cries of men and women being raped and killed, eh?

[ml/nj]

Instead of this I'd like to see a ban on amplified music, including "music" played through car speakers which is audible more than 20 feet away from the car.

ML/NJ

[oh8eleven]

Some people want to enjoy the quiet solitude ...
I just don't think Americans, especially city dwellers, realize the extent of noise and light pollution in this country.
It's truly stunning what one can see in the sky and NOT hear up in the mountains or any secluded area for that matter.

[Gondring]

C.P.W and 5th are as far as you can get from Bethesda Fountain, and you know full well that things like stopping piegeon wings is like stopping animals from catching prey merely because we have murder laws. Don't be absurd.

But I disagree with those who love "world-class" artists like "Common" (he was invited to the White House, remember?) being allowed to stink up the ambiance, absent some purity tribunal.

[Gondring]

I just don't think Americans, especially city dwellers, realize the extent of noise and light pollution in this country.

Agreed.

In fact, some react with utter fear when confronted with the real world.

I don't mean that as a joke. In college, I was with some city dwellers out in the country when power was lost. I had to be sure near-panic didn't get worse. To me, it was a minor inconvenience.

[MrEdd]

If they demand others be silenced by the authority of government, Gondring, they can do so on their own private property.

You got called out for advocating socialist imposition on others when it was for your cause.

That is absolutely a fair charge if the situation is examined objectively.

To lie and say your words do not imply what you unequivicably stated makes you look like a fool.

[relictele]

The odd busker adds a bit of color and sound to a cityscape but as usual it’s possible to get too much of a good thing.

Naturally ‘sophisticated’ New Yorkers go beyond cheap guitars and keyboards and go for full-on vocal productions and classical instruments. At that point it isn’t busking - it’s exhibitionism with snobbery thrown in as a bonus.