» Organology » Cello
Family
string instruments
Description
This instrument is the baritone-bass member of the violin family which is classified as a bowed lute in the Hornbostel-Sachs system. It is said that the sound of the cello has a strong resemblance to men’s voice. Cello is classified as the main body of the symphonic orchestra and also is the bass instrument of the string quartet and chamber orchestra.
The history of the bass violin has yet to be thoroughly traced, primarily because of the confusion arising from the many names applied to the instrument and the great variety of sizes it took in pictorial sources throughout its early years. In Italy, until the early years of the 18th century and with the exception of Venice, the term ‘violone’ probably indicated bass violin. In the 19th century the cello advanced along with the violin to become the most important bowed instrument for solo works. In the 20th century cellists began to specialize more, concentrating more on solo, chamber or orchestral playing. It is constructed using the same components as the violin, the only difference being the larger size.The bow is about 2 cm shorter and a quarter as heavy again as the violin bow
In terms of its history, construction and sound the cello belongs to the violin family. Nevertheless if differs from the violin and viola in two points: the playing position and fingering.
Playing position: because of its size the cello is played in the upright position (like the viola da gamba). Nowadays the cellist places the instrument between his legs, where it rest on the floor on a tail-pin (spike).
Fingering: this changed in around 1740 when the thumb was “discovered” as a playing finger. The thumb position made it possible to reach the high positions, especially on the top string.
Composers
many cello concertos have been composed since Baroque period and some prominent ones have been composed by Boccherini, Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Herbert, Penderetsky etc.
Players
The players who had an enormous impact on cello playing could be listed as Boccherini , Pablo Casals, George Piatigorsky, Mistislav Rostropovich, Pierre Fournier, Jacqueline Dupre and Yo-Yoma.
Cello parts
Cello playing range
Pitches of open strings
Audio sample
Title: Nocturne in E flat major Op.9
Artist: Chopin
Title: Cello sonata in G major Op.65
Artist: Chopin
