[theothercheek]

Have you not heard of pizzicato - plucking the strings with the fingers? You can play a violin without a bow, but all you can do with a bow is apply rosin - and then what happens next is none of my business.

[F.J. Mitchell]

I know. I have heard many masters of the Violin add the most impressive notes while plucking the strings.LOL! I agree with you that once the rosin is applied to the bow and virtuosos applies the bow to the strings, we who are privileged to witness and hear what ensues must remember and respect the fact that we are in reality intruders into a most intimate interlude.

[RightWhale]

I about fell off my stool when the oboist turned to me during intermission and she commented how big my instrument (stringbass) is. I later noticed her in earnest conversation with her boyfriend (cello).