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The High Brow Buskers
Thursday 30th May 2013 | Hanan
The High Brow Buskers
The cool vibes from London’s Underground busking network have officially been disrupted. Yes, the iron first of ‘The Man’ has hit London’s most liberal art form. The role of ‘free music’ seems to have come crashing down as of late, whereby the dark tones of the truth of the busking underworld were finally revealed to me when I approached a young busker - Phillipe Achille - who revealed details regarding the secret life of buskers.
I initially stopped because of the incredible classical notes that were echoing through the tube station. If anyone's heard of famous violinist Joshua Bell who had been playing in DC Metro station all day with a few mere people stopping to bat an eye lid and appreciate him, you'll know why I just had to stop and speak to this particular busker. He'd managed to incorporate the sounds of the harmonica into a highly advanced classical piece. I asked him why he did it - he'd made it clear he didn't need the money. He said: "I do it for the love of the art of music, to give to others on a public (untouched) platform it is one of the greatest gifts to humanity. I actually live in Birmingham and travel to London everyday just to busk, and live my life from month to month". He then went on to describe the small London Network of Buskers that all somehow know one another - it reminded my of fight club, actually!
There are "highbrow, cut-throat auditions that are held in institutions to give Londoners the Crème de la crème of 'Buskerdom' for the tourist hot spots such as Piccadilly Circus". Doesn't this completely defeat the object of ‘Busking'? The word 'Busk' comes from the Spanish word “Buscar” which means to “seek”, where buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. This word originated from the Indo-Eurpean word 'Bhud-sko' - “to win or conquer”. These kind of performances are apparent the world over and can offer employment, but Achille's account seemed to describe a challenging and competitive 'workplace jungle'.
When I asked about his background he told me he'd been taught within the lofty four walls of ‘The Royal College of Music’ five years ago by none other than James Hugh Keenan Campbell. This was a breath of atypical fresh air to say the least, and brought stiff institution to the gritty edge of the London Underground. Achille explained that "the importance remains in the sound, not my appearance", but I got a different, disappointing, arrogant vibe from somewhere.
Achille was an incredible haracter to come across in Oxford Circus, which is an extraordinarily sought-after station for trained buskers. However, there remains a looming question: what's happened to London's edge? Have these people surivived turmoil - have they endured earthquakes and awoken on exotic shores? Can they play the banjo despite having lost three fingers? Because that's what we want to hear - the raw, diamond-in-the-rough sound that makes Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' sound like a sunny day in July.
Here’s to hoping there are still a few more stories to be told out there. London's busking network is (ironically?) in need of a little roughing up. Either way, there are gems and musical geniuses alike Achille hidden all over the streets of London with or without a background of musical training waiting to be discovered.
One of Campell's insane pieces http://www.indabamusic.com/asset/show/72476 .
Hanan Abdel- Khalek
