I used to follow the concerts backstage, because I had to work: report about the event and interview the artists. Once there was a concert by a duo of Cello and Contrabass.
The virtuosi musicians were Italians. The cello player was a short and vivacious man, with long curly grey hair and the Contrabass player was a silent tall and thin guy, with short black hair and somehow disturbing yellow eyes as I’ve never seen in my life.
The cello player was trying to give me an insight on how hard was the life of the artists: Many hours of practice, constant travels, no time for the family… Untill he made a dramatic move and took the left hand of his companion and extended also his own hands to show me the cracks and calluses in their fingers caused by the strings of their instruments. Impressive. I hadn’t doubt he was telling the truth, but his last gesture convinced me.
Yeah, I think that string players have it the most intense battle scars. I developed callouses from 4 mallet marimba and vibes, but nothing like what those guys go through.
Until then, I’ve never imagined that it was like that. I admire them.
It is an occupational hazard. Mr. Swiss as a jazz drummer told me that the guitar and bass players all have their marks on their fingers.
goes with the job, yeah, but I have never seen that before