So, there was once this orchestra giving an outdoor performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in a park. This piece has a long segment in the middle where the bass violins are silent, i.e. they have nothing to play in the score. So during this segment, the double-bassists quietly laid down their instruments and wandered out of the park and to a nearby bar for a drink. As it was a windy day, they tied down their scores with string before they left. They had several drinks before deciding it was time to head back to play in the final movement. However, they were in no condition to perform, and couldn't even untie the string holding down their music sheets. As the final movement was about to begin, two of the players even passed out right on their chairs.

It was then that the alarmed conductor realized the situation...