So, my daughter chose the cello for her orchestra instrument in middle school. She took piano for years, but got bored. A new start in a new school is always a good thing. For her, the cello is a wonderful fit. She’s a natural, of course. They all are, aren’t they?
Anyway, she loves it and has progressed nicely over the school year. During her Spring concert, I realized that I knew little of the cello. For those who know me, this is no great shock. I know very little in general. Since this IS my daughter and the cello is just real cool, I decided to do what most people who know little do – I googled it.
- Cello comes from the Italian term violoncello, which is the lowest-pitched instrument in the viol family. During the twentieth century, it became customary to abbreviate violoncello as “cello.” Mstislav Rostropovich, a cello virtuoso, was in large part responsible for the growth in the cello repertoire. He commissioned and premiered over 100 new works for cello.
- The plural of cello is either celli or cellos.
- Most cellos have a decorative inlay called “purfling”, which gives the cello an aesthetically pleasing appearance. It also helps prevent cracking of the wood due to playing, travel, weather, or being dropped or struck. Cellos are available in different sizes to accommodate children and short people. The standard weight is five to seven pounds.
- Cellos (and other string instruments) are held together using hide glue. This glue is made from boiling animal connective tissue. It is strong, but malleable. The glue is weaker than the wood, allowing it to shrink or expand without cracking the instrument.
- The cello has a rich repertoire of concerti and sonatas. Arguably the most famous and important cello pieces are J.S. Bach’s Six Suites for Cello. The most famous sonatas for cello and piano were written by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Poulenc and Britten. The instrument was highlighted in the Beatle classics Strawberry Fields Forever and Eleanor Rigby.
The above being said, I still know very little. Oh, well. My daughter is happy. That’s all that matters. Also, she discovered that classical music really rocks. Or, more importantly, is the root of rock and numerous other musical genres.
The two links below are fun. This cello dude collaborated with The Piano Guys and the result is … wow! Incredible scenery. Make sure you watch the second video until the very end. These Guys have a keen attention to detail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz4MzJTeL0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDsfou6UfjU
I AM titanium!
