I was on my way to the office in the morning, passing through the tunnel that connects the subway station with the University, when I heard from the distance a busker play an instrument that sounded a lot like cello, but not quite.
"No, that can't be," I thought to myself, "I can't be that lucky!"
I walked on, and the sound became more distinct. Clearly there was no vibrato; could it be a viola da gamba - in Helsinki, late in the autumn, when most leaves are fallen, and most tourists have left the city already?
Finally I was close enough to see the young man playing the beautiful ancient-looking instrument.
It really was a gamba.
That tunnel is as ugly as they come, but the acoustics are surprisingly good.
When he played, it sounded as if we had been in a cathedral.
And he was remarkably talented.
I was in a hurry, so I couldn't stay for a long time, unfortunately. But it was like a peek into a different era, a different place without any hurry.
That feeling has accompanied me throughout this day.
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