big a member of syria's palestinian minority a half might survive diaster the bombs and hunger he's written a book about his experiences entitled verdun singham or and the birds will sing in it he describes his sheltered upbringing in what was then a peaceful syria his blind father who made musical instruments and his friends in damascus he recounts how the rebellion began the horrors of the war and his dangerous escape to germany. but time and again his music gave his people solace and encouragement and music literally saved a life he played amidst the rubble in the bombed out streets of his neighborhood you tube videos made the pianist of yarmuk world famous. he kept on playing during the gunfights in the ruins of yarmuk islamists captured