When I was in grade school, I started to learn violin and then switched to string bass. (Yes, bass violin, not plastic, electronic bass guitar.) When I was in high school, I went to a summer music camp. I remained in the auditorium after one of the other orchestra's concert, watching the stage crew clear the stage. Unexpectedly, one of the crewmembers grabbed a string bass (left by some idiot instead of putting it away) by it's neck and slung it across the stage.

I was shocked. I felt as if someone had punched me in the guts.

But I gotta tell you, reading this story, makes me feel like someone ripped my heart out.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/middleeast/01oud.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sq=Iraq%20music&st =nyt&scp=1