If a great musician plays great music and no one hears . . . is he really any good?
Here's a Wahington Post article -- “Pearls before breakfast” -- that makes for fascinating reading. "They conduct a very interesting experiment as to the relationship between quality and context: what would happen if one took one of the finest and most renowned violinists in the world, and made him give a concert-quality performance, while basking incognito at a busy subway station?" ~ What's New (2.3.5.1)
The musician "pings" the audience and in return receives a virtually negligible response, recognition or acknowledgement!