Mellow Cello

I love the sound of the cello. It's rich, warm, sometimes haunting, sometimes joyful in a mature and uncommon way. A couple years ago I invested in one, and wanted to start learning to use it. I spent some time at it, but then one thing or another got in the way. I have decided to begin again, with much more discipline. I am looking for a proper teacher, but meanwhile I am plowing ahead slowly and carefully.

The cello is actually the abbreviated version of "violoncello", which means "little violone", the violone being an instrument of the lowest pitch in the viol family. It is said that the cello is the closest instrument to the human voice. And, if you have heard some of the greats play, like Yo Yo Ma, the sound is like it is speaking to you. 

The Viol group of instruments went out of fashion in the late 17th Century, but remained of interest in France. The cello is usually associated with European classical music. The invention of wire-wound strings, allowed for a finer bass sound, and the body of the instrument to be shortened. Many bass violins were cut down in size and converted into cellos. Stradivarius, the famous instrument maker, worked on a new pattern for producing the instrument, and many sizes were employed, mostly geographically according to taste, until 1750 when the size was standardized. Bows are generally made from pernambuco, or brazilwood. By the way, pernambuco is the heart of the brazilwood, heavy, resinous and elastic in properties. The bow hairs are horsehair, and conifer resin is applied to the hairs for added friction, to allow for better sound production, or bite, as it is sometimes called. The whole instrument is rather organic by nature, as are most of the stringed instruments. There is something magical about holding them, something warm and mellow and friendly.

In the 18th Century, many baroque works were composed for the cello, Bach's suites among the most famous, and its popularity returned. Today, many Gothic bands have employed them, which is interesting, as a lot of that style of music is very grand and spectacular, and benefit by an orchestral sound.

A good cello never grows old, but gets better with age, as long as it is treated with care and respect.Some of the most famous cellos include:

1) the "King" by Andrea Amati, one of the oldest known, built between 1538 and 1560.It is in the National Music Museum of South Dakota.

2) The Servais Stradivarius 1701 in the Smithsonian collection in Washington DC.

3) The Davidov Stradivarius 1712 played currently by Yo Yo Ma.

4) Barjansky Stradivarius 1690, played by Julian Lloyd Webber.

5) Bonjour Stradivarious 1692, played Soo Bae.

6) Paganini-Ladenburg Stradivarius 1736, played by Clive Greensmith of the Tokyo String Quartet.

7) Duport Stradivarius 1711, formerly played by Rostropovich.

8) Piatti Stradivarius, 1720, played by Carlos Prieto

It's interesting that the best of them are from the 1700's. Of course, today modern technology has brought us some unusual cellos of composite materials, and their electrification does not even require a box, or body, to the instrument. They look so strange, but complement contemporary music. Brave New World!