Bow musical instruments. Cello: history, video, interesting facts, listen Electronic music forum

In bowed musical instruments, sounds are produced by rubbing the hair of the bow against the strings; in this regard, their sound characteristic is significantly different from plucked instruments.

Bowed instruments are distinguished by high sound quality and endless possibilities in the field of performance and therefore are leading in various orchestras and ensembles and are widely used for solo performance.

This subgroup of instruments includes violins, violas, cellos, double basses, as well as a number of national instruments 1 (Georgian chianuri, Uzbek gidzhak, Azerbaijani kemancha, etc.).

Violin among bowed instruments - the highest instrument in the register. The sound of the violin in the upper register is light, silvery, in the middle - soft, gentle, melodious and in the lower register - intense, thick.

The violin is tuned in fifths. The range of the violin is 3 3/4 octaves, from the salt of the small octave to the note mi of the fourth octave.

They produce solo violins, size 4/4; training, size 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 1/4, 1/8. Study violins, unlike the solo violin, have a slightly worse finish and reduced sound quality. In turn, training violins, depending on the sound quality and external finish, are divided into training violins of grades 1 and 2. Class 2 violins differ from class 1 violins in the worst sound quality and external finish.

Alto some more violin. In the upper register, it sounds tense, harsh; in the middle register the sound is dull (nasal), melodious, in the lower register the alto sounds thick, somewhat rude.

Viola strings are tuned in fifths. The range is 3 octaves, from a note to a small octave to a note to a third octave.

Violas are divided into solo (size 4/4) and training grades 1 and 2 (size 4/4).

Cello almost 3 times the size of a full-sized violin and is played while seated. The tool is installed on the floor, after inserting the stop.

The sound of the upper register of the instrument is light, open, chest. In the middle register it sounds melodious, dense. The lower case sounds full, thick, tight. Sometimes the sound of the cello is compared to the sound of the human voice.

The cello is tuned in fifths, an octave below the viola. Cello range Z1 / 3 octaves - from to a large octave to mi of the second octave.

Cellos are divided into solo and training:

♦ solo (size 4/4) are made according to one of the Stradivari models, they are intended for solo, ensemble and orchestral performance of musical works;

♦ training cellos 1 (size 4/4) and 2 classes (size 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 1/4, 1/8) differ in sound quality and presentation. Designed to teach music to students of different ages.

double bass- the largest of the family of bowed instruments; it is almost 31/2 times longer than a full-length violin. They play the double bass while standing, placing it on the floor in the same way as a cello. In its form, the double bass has retained the features of ancient viols.

The double bass is the lowest sounding instrument of the bow family. Its sound in the middle register is thick and rather soft. The top notes sound liquid, sharp and tense. The lower register sounds very tight and thick. Unlike other stringed instruments, the double bass is built in fourths and sounds an octave below the iotated one. The range of the double bass is 21/2, the octaves are from the mi counteroctave to the si-be-mol small octave.

Double basses are subdivided: into solo ones (size 4/4); educational grade 1 (size 4/4); training 2 classes (size 2/4, 3/4, 4/4).

Five-string solo double basses (size 4/4) are also produced, the range is from a note to a contra-octave to a note to a second octave.

By their design, the violin, viola, cello and double bass are of the same type. The difference between them is mainly in size and build. Therefore, this article describes the design of only one bowed instrument - the violin.

The main structural units of the violin are: body, neck with fingerboard, head, string holder, stand, peg box, strings.

The figure-eight body amplifies the sound vibrations of the strings. It consists of the upper and lower decks (14, 17), which are the most important resonating parts of the violin, and shells (18). The upper deck has the greatest thickness in the middle, and gradually decreases towards the edges. In the context, the decks have the shape of a small vault. The top deck has two resonator holes shaped like latin letter"f", hence their name - effs. Decks are connected by shells.

The shells of the tool consist of six parts and are attached to the six posts of the body (16, 19). A neck (20) is attached to the upper rack of the body, on which the neck (10) is mounted. The fingerboard serves to press the strings during performance, has a conical shape along the length, and a slight curvature along the end. The continuation of the neck and its end is the head (3), which has a peg box (12) with side holes for strengthening the pins. The curl (11) is the end of the peg box and has different shape(often shaped).

The pegs are in the form of cone-shaped rods with a head and serve to tension and tune the strings. The nut (13) at the top of the neck limits the sounding part of the strings and has a neck curvature.

The string holder (6) is designed to secure the lower ends of the strings. To do this, in its wide part, it has corresponding holes.

The bridge (15) supports the strings at the required height from the fretboard, limits the sounding length of the strings, and transmits the vibration of the strings to the decks.

All bowed instruments are four-stringed (only the double bass can have five strings).

To extract sound, bows are used, which differ in size and shape.

The bow consists of a cane (2), which has a head at the upper end, a tension screw shoe (5) and a hair (6). The reed of the bow, on which evenly spaced hair is stretched, is slightly curved. It has a head (1) at the end and springs in the opposite direction from the hair. To fix the hair, a block is used, and at the other end of the bow, the hair is fixed at the end of the cane in the head. The block moves along the cane by turning the screw (4) located on the side of the end of the cane, and provides the hair with the necessary tension.

Bows are divided into solo and training 1 and 2 classes.

Spare parts and accessories for bowed instruments

Spare parts and accessories for bowed instruments are: string holders and fingerboards, stands, pegs made of stained hardwood or plastic; mutes made of plastic or wood; machines for adjusting the tension of brass strings; violin and viola chin rests made of plastic; strings; buttons; cases and cases.

Musical Instrument: Cello

The cello is a string bowed instrument, required member symphony orchestra And string ensemble with rich technique. Due to its rich and melodious sound, it is often used as a solo instrument. The cello is widely used when it is necessary to express sadness, despair or deep lyrics in music, and in this it has no equal.

Unlike violins And viola , to which it looks very similar, the cello is not held in the hands, but placed vertically. Interestingly, at one time it was played standing up, placed on a special chair, only then they came up with a spire that rests on the floor, thereby supporting the instrument.

It's amazing that before creativity L.V. Beethoven composers did not attach much importance to the melodiousness of this instrument. However, having received recognition in his works, the cello took an important place in the work of romantics and other composers.

history cellos and many interesting facts about this musical instrument, read on our page.

Cello sound

Having a thick, rich, melodious, soulful sound, the cello often resembles the timbre of a human voice. Sometimes it seems during solo performances that she is talking and in a sing-song conversation with you. About a person, we would say that he has a chest voice, that is, coming from the depths of the chest, and maybe from the very soul. It is this mesmerizing deep sound that surprises the cello.

Her presence is necessary when it is necessary to emphasize the tragedy or lyricism of the moment. Each of the four strings of the cello has its own special sound, peculiar only to it. So, low sounds resemble a bass male voice, the upper ones are more gentle and warm female alto. That is why it sometimes seems that she does not just sound, but “talks” with the audience.

Sound range covers the interval of five octaves from the note "do" of a large octave to the note "mi" of the third octave. However, often the skill of the performer allows you to take notes much higher. The strings are tuned in fifths.

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Interesting Cello Facts

• The most expensive instrument in the world is the Duport Stradivari cello. It was made by the great master Antonio Stradivari in 1711. Duport, a brilliant cellist, owned it for many years until his death, which is why the cello got its name. She's a little scratched. There is a version that this is a trace of Napoleon's spurs. The emperor left this mark when he tried to learn how to play this musical instrument and wrapped his legs around it. The cello stayed for several years with the famous collector Baron Johann Knop. M. Rostropovich played on it for 33 years. It is rumored that after his death, the Japan Music Association bought the instrument from his relatives for $20 million, although they vehemently deny this fact. Perhaps the instrument is still in the musician's family.
• Count Villegorsky owned two fine Stradivarius cellos. One of them was later owned by K.Yu. Davydov, then Jacqueline du Pré, now it is played by the famous cellist and composer Yo-Yo Ma.

• Once in Paris, an original competition was arranged. The great cellist Casals took part in it. The sound of ancient instruments made by the masters Guarneri and Stradivari was studied, as well as the sound of modern cellos made at the factory. A total of 12 instruments took part in the experiment. The light was turned off for the purity of the experiment. What was the surprise of the jury and Casals himself when, after listening to the sound, the judges gave 2 times more points to modern models for the beauty of sound than to the old ones. Then Casals said: “I prefer to play old instruments. Let them lose in the beauty of sound, but they have a soul, and the current ones have beauty without a soul.
• The cellist Pablo Casals loved and spoiled his instruments. In the bow of one of the cellos, he inserted a sapphire, which was presented to him by the Queen of Spain.

• Gained great popularity Finnish group Apocalyptica. Her repertoire includes hard rock. What is surprising is that the musicians play 4 cellos and drums. This use of this bowed instrument, which has always been considered soulful, soft, soulful, lyrical, brought the group worldwide fame. In the name of the group, the performers combined 2 words Apocalypse and Metallica.
• The famous abstract artist Julia Borden paints her amazing pictures not on canvas or paper, but on violins and cellos. To do this, she removes the strings, cleans the surface, primes it and then paints the drawing. Why she chose such an unusual placement for the paintings, Julia cannot even explain to herself. She said that these instruments seem to pull her towards them, inspiring her to complete the next masterpiece.
• The musician Roldugin bought a Stuart cello, made by the master Stradivarius in 1732, for $12 million. Its first owner was King Frederick the Great of Prussia.
• The cost of Antonio Stradivari instruments is the highest. In total, the master made 80 cellos. To date, according to experts, 60 tools have been preserved.
• The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has 12 cellists. They became famous for introducing many arrangements of popular contemporary songs into their repertoire.
• The classic look of the instrument is made of wood. However, some modern masters decided to break the stereotypes. For example, Louis and Clark have been making carbon fiber cellos, and Alcoa has been making aluminum cellos since the 1930s. The German master Pfretzschner was also carried away by the same.

• The ensemble of cellists from St. Petersburg under the direction of Olga Rudneva has a rather rare composition. The ensemble includes 8 cellos and a piano.
• In December 2014, South African Karel Henn set the record for the longest cello playing. He played continuously for 26 hours and got into the Guinness Book of Records.
• Mstislav Rostropovich, a cello virtuoso of the 20th century, made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of the cello repertoire. He performed for the first time more than a hundred new works for cello.
• One of the most famous cellos is the "King" which was made by André Amati between 1538 and 1560. This is one of the oldest cellos and is in the National music museum South Dakota.
• 4 strings on the instrument were not always used, in the 17th and 18th centuries there were five-stringed cellos in Germany and the Netherlands.
• Initially, the strings were made from sheep offal, later they were replaced by metal ones.

Popular works for cello

J. S. Bach - Suite No. 1 in G major (listen)

P.I. Tchaikovsky. - Variations on a Rococo theme for cello and orchestra (listen)

A. Dvorak - Concerto for cello and orchestra (listen)

C. Saint-Saens - "Swan" (listen)

I. Brahms - Double concerto for violin and cello (listen)

Cello repertoire

The cello has a very rich repertoire of concertos, sonatas and other works. Perhaps the most famous of them are the six suites I.S. Bach for cello solo, variations on a rococo theme P.I. Tchaikovsky and "Swan" by Saint-Saens. Antonio Vivaldi wrote 25 cello concertos, Boccherini 12, Haydn wrote at least three, saint sans And Dvorak wrote two each. The cello concertos also include pieces written by Elgar and Bloch. The most famous cello and piano sonatas were written by Beethoven, Mendelssohn , Brahms, Rachmaninov , Shostakovich, Prokofiev , Poulencom and Britten .

Tool for a long time retains its original appearance. Its design is quite simple and it never occurred to anyone to remake and change something in it. The exception is the spire, with which the cello rests on the floor. At first it didn't exist at all. The instrument was placed on the floor and played, clasping the body with the legs, then placed on a dais and played while standing. After the appearance of the spire, the only change was its curvature, which allowed the hull to be at a different angle. It looks like a cello violin big size. It consists of 3 main parts:

• Frame. Contains top and bottom soundboard, efu (resonation hole), neckboard, shell, loop, button, shackle (spacer inside).
• Vulture. There is a nut, neck and heel.
• Head. This is a detail with a peg box where the tuning pegs are located. It ends with a curl.

An important separate part of the instrument is the bow. He happens different sizes and also consists of 3 parts:

• Wooden cane (Brazilian wood or fernambuco is used).
• Pads (made from durable ebony, has mother-of-pearl inserts).
• Horse hair (natural or artificial is taken). Its tension is regulated by an octagonal screw located on the cane.

The place where the hair touches the string is called the playing point. The sound is affected by the playing point, the force of pressure on the bow, the speed of its movement. In addition, the sound can be influenced by the tilt of the bow. For example, apply the technique of harmonics, articulation effects, sound softening, piano.

Cello Dimensions

The standard (full) cello size is 4/4. It is these instruments that can be found in symphonic, chamber and string ensembles. However, other tools are also used. For children or short people, smaller models are produced in sizes 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16.

These variants are similar in structure and sound capabilities to conventional cellos. Their small size makes them comfortable to play young talents who are just starting their journey into a great musical life.

There are cellos, the size of which exceeds the standard. Similar models are designed for people of large stature with long arms. Such a tool is not produced on a production scale, but is made to order.

Cello weight pretty small. Despite the fact that it looks massive, it weighs no more than 3-4 kg.

The history of the creation of the cello

Initially, all bowed instruments originated from a musical bow, which differed little from a hunting one. Initially, they spread in China, India, Persia up to Islamic lands. In European territory, representatives of the violin began to spread from the Balkans, where they were brought from Byzantium.

The cello officially begins its history from the beginning of the 16th century. This is how it teaches us modern history tool, although some finds cast doubt on it. For example, on the Iberian Peninsula, already in the 9th century, iconography arose, on which there are bowed instruments. Thus, if you dig deep, the history of the cello begins more than a millennium ago.

The most popular of the bowed instruments was viola da gamba. It was she who subsequently ousted the cello from the orchestra, being its direct descendant, but with a more beautiful and varied sound. All her known relatives: violin, viola, double bass, also trace their history from the viola. In the 15th century, the division of the viol into various bowed instruments began.

After its appearance as a separate representative of the bowed cello, the cello began to be used as a bass to accompany vocal performances and parts for the violin, flute and other instruments that had a higher register. Later, the cello was often used to perform solo parts. Not a single one can do without it to this day string Quartet and a symphony orchestra, where 8-12 instruments are involved.

Great cello makers

The first famous cello makers are Paolo Magini and Gasparo Salo. They designed the instrument at the end of the XVI - early XVII century. The first cellos created by these masters only remotely resembled the instrument that we can see now.

The cello acquired its classical form in the hands of such famous masters How Nicolo Amati and Antonio Stradivari. hallmark their work was the perfect combination of wood and varnish, thanks to which it was possible to give each instrument its own unique sound, its own manner of sounding. There is an opinion that each cello that came out of the workshop of Amati and Stradivari had its own character.

Cellos Stradivari are considered the most expensive to date. Their value is in the millions of dollars. Guarneri cellos are no less famous. It was such an instrument that the famous cellist Casals loved most of all, preferring it to Stradivari products. The cost of these instruments is somewhat lower (from $200,000).

Why are Stradivari instruments valued dozens of times more? In terms of originality of sound, character, timbre, both models have exceptional features. It's just that the name Stradivari was represented by no more three masters, while Guarneri was at least ten. Glory to the house of Amati and Stradivari came during their lifetime, the name Guarneri sounded much later than the death of their representatives.

Sheet music for cellos write in the tenor, bass and treble clef according to the pitch. In the orchestral score, her part is placed between the violas and double basses. Before the start of the game, the performer rubs the bow with rosin. This is done to bind the hair to the string and allow the sound to be produced. After playing music, the rosin is removed from the instrument, as it spoils the varnish and wood. If this is not done, the sound may subsequently lose quality. Interestingly, each bowed instrument has its own type of rosin.

Video: listen to the cello

Cello (Italian violoncello, abbr. cello, German Violoncello, French violoncelle, English cello) is a bowed stringed musical instrument of the bass and tenor register, known from the first half of the XVI century, the same structure as the violin, but much larger.

The cello has wide expressive possibilities and carefully developed performance technique, it is used as a solo, ensemble and orchestral instrument. The cello is twice the size of the viola, its bow is shorter than the violin and viola, the strings are much longer.

The appearance of the cello dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. Initially, it was used as a bass instrument to accompany singing or playing an instrument of a higher register. There were numerous varieties of the cello, which differed from each other in size, number of strings, and tuning (the most common tuning was a tone lower than the modern one).
The cello entered musical life in the second half of the 16th century. It owes its creation to the art of such outstanding instrumental masters as Magini, Gasparo de Salo.

In the 17th-18th centuries, through the efforts of prominent music masters Italian schools (Niccolò Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri, Antonio Stradivari, Carlo Bergonzi, etc.) created a classical cello model with a firmly established body size.

Gerrit van Honthorst Concert 1624

Beethoven was the first to "discover" the beauty of the timbre of the cello. IN late XVII century, the first solo works for cello appeared - sonatas and ricercars by Giovanni Gabrieli.

Hendrik Terbruggen Smiling cellist with a glass 1625

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot Monk with Cello 1874

By the middle of the 18th century, the cello began to be used as a concert instrument, owing to its brighter, fuller sound and improving performance technique, finally displacing the viola da gamba from musical practice. The cello is also part of the symphony orchestra and chamber ensembles. The final approval of the cello as one of the leading instruments in music occurred in the 20th century through the efforts of outstanding musician Pablo Casals. The development of performance schools on this instrument has led to the emergence of numerous virtuoso cellists who regularly perform solo concerts.

Federico Zandomeneghi Cellist

Winslow Homer In the Studio 1867

Paul Gauguin Cellist. Portrait of Fritz Sheklud 1894

Thomas Aikins Cellist 1896

Amedeo Modigliani Cellist

When playing, the performer rests the cello on the floor with a spire, which became widespread only in late XIX century. Previously, in past centuries, the instrument was placed on a special chair, and they played standing up, later they played sitting down, holding the cello with their calves. On modern cellos, the curved capstan, invented by the French cellist P. Tortelier, is widely used, which gives the instrument a flatter position, somewhat facilitating the playing technique.

Edwin Dickinson Cellist

Gyula Derkovich Concert 1922

Norman Roxwell The little ballerina's grandfather 1923

William Whitaker Cellist

The cello repertoire is very wide and includes numerous concertos, sonatas, unaccompanied compositions. Tchaikovsky's "Variations on a Rococo Theme", concertos for cello and orchestra by Dvorak, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Khachaturian are well-known. Often in operas, ballets and symphonic works cellos often entrust expressive solos, such as the wonderful waltz melody from the first movement of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, as the theme of the second movement of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, as in Strauss' Don Quixote. In the number of concert pieces written for her, the cello is second only to the violin.

Alexander Dobrovolsky

Elena Kudryashova Pau Casals

German Nepomniachtchi Cellist 2007

Yosef Ostrovsky Cello 1990

The principles of playing and strokes when performing on the cello are the same as on the violin, however, due to the larger size of the instrument and the different position of the playing technique, playing the cello is somewhat more limited. Flageolets, pizzicato, thumb bet and other game techniques are used. The sound of the cello is juicy, melodious and tense, slightly compressed in the upper register.

Cello string structure: C, G, d, a (do, salt of a large octave, re, la of a small octave), that is, an octave below the viola. The range of the cello, thanks to the developed technique of playing on the a string, is very wide - from C (up to a large octave) to a4 (a fourth octave) and higher. Notes are written in bass, tenor and treble clefs according to the actual sound.

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History of the cello

Cello (Italian violoncello, abbreviated cello, German Violoncello, French violoncelle, English cello) - string stringed instrument bass and tenor register, known from the first half of the 16th century

The cello has the same structure as the violin, but is much larger. The cello is played while sitting, placing it in front of you and resting on the floor with a special leg with a tip (spire).

History has remembered two masters, especially famous for the production of cellos. This is Gasparo da Salo and Paolo Magini. They lived at the turn of the 16th - 17th centuries, and popular rumor attributed the honor of "invention" to the first of them. modern violin with four strings, moods in fifths, the improvement of the violone, or the double bass of the viola, and finally, the creation of the cello. The first masters who built cellos did not yet clearly understand the right path in the development of the modern cello, which was completed completely, only by Antonio Stradivari.

What is the modern cello and what is it capable of in an orchestra?
- This instrument, like all other members of the family of bowed instruments, has four strings tuned with bandages. They sound an octave below the alto and give Do and Sol a large octave and Re and La a small one. Due to this, the volume of the cello is very large, and the nature of its sound is extremely diverse. Each string of the cello has its own sound coloration, which is peculiar to it alone. The low register of the cello corresponds to the low male voice of bassa profundo and has a great fullness of sound. This section of the cello scale is very good in gloomy, mysterious and dramatic music.

Technically, the cello is a post-perfect instrument. She has access to all the technical subtleties inherent in the violin and viola, but for their reproduction, as a rule, they require more labor. In a word, the technique of the cello is more complicated than that of the violin, although it is just as brilliant. From the first days of the appearance of the cello in the orchestra and throughout the centuries, its position there was extremely unenviable, none of the contemporaries then even guessed about the richest artistic and performing possibilities of the cello. Even in those times when music moved forward dramatically, the duties of the cello remained as modest and even miserable. Such a great master of the orchestra as Johann-Sebastian Bach never entrusted the cello with a melodious part in which it could show off its qualities.

Beethoven was undoubtedly the first classical composer who determined the true dignity of the cello and put it in the right place in the orchestra. Somewhat later, the romantics - Weber and Mandelson - further deepened means of expression cellos in the orchestra. They already needed a mysterious, fantastic and excited sonority, and, having found it in the sounds of the cello, they used it in the most worthy way.

It is quite fair to note that at present all composers deeply appreciate the cello - its warmth, sincerity and depth of sound, and its performance qualities have long won the hearts of both the musicians themselves and their enthusiastic listeners. After the violin and piano, the cello is the most favorite instrument to which composers turned their eyes, dedicating their works to it, intended for performance in concerts with orchestra or piano accompaniment. Tchaikovsky especially richly used the cello in his works, Variations on a Rococo Theme, where he presented the cello with such rights that he made it his own. small work worthy adornment of all concert programs, demanding from the performance of genuine perfection in the ability to own their instrument.

The Saint-Saëns concerto, and, unfortunately, Beethoven's rarely performed triple concerto for piano, violin and cello, enjoys the greatest success with the listeners. Among the favorites, but also quite rarely performed, are the Cello Concertos of Schumann and Dvořák. Now to completely. To exhaust the entire composition of the bowed instruments now accepted in the symphony orchestra, it remains to "say" only a few words about the double bass.

The original "bass" or "contrabass viola" had six strings and, according to Michel Corratt, the author of the well-known "School for Double Bass", published by him in the second half of the 18th century, was called "violone" by the Italians. Then the double bass was still so rare that even in 1750 Paris Opera had only one instrument. What is the modern orchestral double bass capable of? In technical terms, it is time to recognize the double bass as a completely perfect instrument. Double basses are entrusted with completely virtuoso parts, performed by them with genuine artistry and skill.

Beethoven in his pastoral symphony, with the bubbling sounds of the double bass very successfully imitates the howling of the wind, the roll of thunder and generally creates a complete feeling of the raging elements during a thunderstorm. IN chamber music double bass duties are most often limited to supporting the bass line. Those are in in general terms artistic and performing capabilities of the participants " string group". But in a modern symphony orchestra, the "bow quintet" is often used as "an orchestra in an orchestra."

Permanent address of the article: History of the cello. Cello

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Ensemble

Ensemble (from French ensemble - together, many) - means the joint performance of a piece of music by several participants or musical composition for a small group of performers; a favorite type of music-making since ancient times. According to the number of performers (from two to...

The musical instrument that will be discussed in this article is not just bowed string instrument. The cello is an obligatory member of any string ensemble and symphony orchestra, which is distinguished by its rich performance technique. In music, the cello, as an instrument with a rich and melodious sound, is often used as a solo instrument. The cello is widely used to express sadness, despair, melancholy and deep lyrics. There is no equal in this cello.

Place in music

If we compare it with instruments very similar to it, violin and viola, then we can immediately note that they do not hold it in their hands, but put it vertically. The violin and cello differ not only visually, but also have different sound. It is noteworthy that initially the cello was played standing upright, placing it vertically on a special chair, later a spire resting on the floor was invented, which solved the problem with supporting the instrument.

Surprisingly, before Beethoven, composers did not attach much importance to the melodiousness of this instrument. And with his light hand cello took significant place in the works of romantics and other writers.

Sound Features

The cello is an instrument with a rich, thick and penetrating sound, similar to the low timbre of the human voice, which seems to come from the very depths of the soul. Sometimes, during solo performances, she seems to be talking in a singsong voice with her listeners ... The cello is an instrument with a truly bewitching deep sound.

musical charm

The presence of the cello in music is necessary when it is important to emphasize the lyricism or tragedy of any moment.

Each of the four strings in the cello has a special sound that is unique to it. Low sounds remind male bass, upper - gentle and warm viola. It is this feature that creates the impression of not just sounding from the stage, but literally a “conversation” with its listeners. The range of the cello's sound spans an interval of five octaves from the "do" note of the major octave to the "mi" note in the third. Often, however, due to his skill, the performer can take notes much higher.

The cello is tuned in fifths.

The most expensive cello in the world is Duport's Stradivari, which was created in 1711. the greatest master Antonio Stradivari. Duport was a brilliant cellist and the owner of this masterpiece throughout for long years until his death. The tool has minor damage - small scratches. As the legends tell, they were left by Napoleon's spurs. It is said that the emperor marked the instrument when he was trying to learn the skill of playing the cello, but awkwardly wrapped his legs around it.

During its "adventures" this cello "lived" for several years with the famous collector Baron Johann Knop. M. Rostropovich played it for thirty-three years. There are rumors that after his death, the Japan Music Association bought the instrument from relatives for twenty million, although this fact is stubbornly denied by both sides. There is an assumption that the instrument is still in the musician's family.

The other two Stradivari cello beauties began their journey with Count Vilegorsky. Later, one of them was sold to Davydov K.Yu., then it ended up with Jacqueline du Pre, and today it is played by famous composer and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The original competition held in Paris is considered to be an amazing event among cellists. The great cellist Casals took part in it. The essence of the competition is the study of the sound of ancient instruments that came from the hands of such masters as Stradivari and Guarneri and modern factory cellos. After selection, the number of instruments involved in the experiment was 12 pieces. In order to achieve maximum purity of the experiment, the light was turned off. However, after listening, a shocking verdict was issued: it turned out that modern models gave odds to old samples. The jury and Casals himself were really surprised by this choice of judges. It turned out that the current cellos are instruments with greater beauty sound. Nevertheless, Casals said that he was much nicer vintage instruments, since "they have a soul" in contrast to modern callous beauty.

Tied to his instruments, cellist Pablo Casals liked to pamper his cellos with original decorative designs. So, in the bow of one of them, he inserted a sapphire, presented to him by the Queen of Spain herself.

Modern interpretation

Young performers from Finland Apocalyptika are very popular today. This group is playing hard Rock, but the highlight of the ensemble is that the entire repertoire consists of compositions played on four cellos and percussion.

Before the advent of this enchanting musical group no one would have thought that the cello is capable of showing such passion, wildness and unbridledness. Thanks to its eccentricity, the group has gained worldwide fame. Remarkable is the fact that the name of the group consists of two words Apocalypse and Metallica (the second word is not just present in the title - creative team followed in the footsteps famous group and made a considerable number of covers of their works).

And Julia Bourdain, the famous abstract artist, does not paint her paintings on paper or traditional canvas. Her amazing paintings become part of violins and cellos. To depict a picture on an instrument, she needs to remove the strings, clean the surface, prime it, and then just start applying paint to the drawing. This girl cannot explain what really attracts her so much in cellos. She says that they seem to attract her to them, inspiring with their appearance to create another masterpiece.

Do you know that...?

Cello "Stuart" was bought by musician Roldugin for $12 million. This instrument was made by the master Stradivarius back in 1732. The first to whom it belonged was the Prussian king Frederick the Great.

Of course, the cost of cellos from Antonio Stradivari is the highest. During his lifetime, he made 80 instruments. To date, according to experts, there are about 60 of them left.

The cello concertos include 12 instruments. The cellists of this orchestra became famous for adding many arrangements of contemporary popular works to their repertoire.

The classical cello is made of wood. But some modern craftsmen, such as Louis and Clarke, are defying stereotypes by making their instruments out of carbon fiber. And the Alcoa company back in the 30s. of the last century began to produce aluminum cellos. The German master Pfretzschner devoted himself to this business.

The St. Petersburg cello ensemble led by Olga Rudneva is a rather unusual collaboration of instruments. This rare composition includes one piano and 8 cellos.

In December 2014, South African Karel Henn was able to set a record for the duration of playing this instrument: his game lasted 26 hours in a row, for which he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

The cello virtuoso of the twentieth century, Mstislav Rostropovich, made a significant contribution to the promotion and development of the cello repertoire. It was he who first performed about a hundred new works for cello.

Among the well-known cellos, the instrument "King" is also noted, made between 1538 and 1560. Andre Amati. This cello is considered one of the oldest, and in this moment it is in the National Music Museum in South Dakota.

Now cellos come with four strings, and in the 17th-18th centuries in Germany and the Netherlands these instruments were five-stringed.

Initially, cello strings were made from sheep offal, later they were replaced by practical metal ones.

Repertoire

The cello has a rich repertoire of sonatas, concertos, suites, and so on. The most famous are six suites by J.S. Bach for cello solo, rococo variations P.I. Tchaikovsky and The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens.

Antonio Vivaldi has 25 cello concertos, Boccherini has 12, Haydn wrote at least three, and Dvorak and Saint-Saens each composed two. Bloch and Elgar also have cello concertos.

by the most famous sonatas for cello and piano were works written by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Brahms, Prokofiev, Poulenc, Shostakovich and Britten.

Great cello makers

Many masters have tried to create the perfect cello, but few people know that the form of the cello that is now familiar to us appeared only during the time of Antonio Stradivari. Prior to this, the very first cellos were made by masters Paolo Magini and Gasparo Salo. Their instrument was constructed in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. It only remotely resembled a modern cello.

The classical form of the cello appeared thanks to the work of such masters as Antonio Stradivari and They achieved an excellent combination of wood and varnish, thanks to which each instrument acquired its own unique sound and manner of sounding. There is an opinion that each cello that came out of the workshop of Stradivari and Amati had its own unique character.

Million dollar tools

To date, all Stradivari cellos are among the most expensive in the world. Experts call the price in millions of dollars.

Undoubtedly, Guarneri's cellos are also recognizable in the world of music. Casals, by the way, preferred them. The cost of the tools of this master is much lower. If the price of Stradivari's masterpieces is calculated in numbers with six zeros, then the instrument of this master costs from $200,000.

Squeezing out competitors

Many people are concerned about the reason resounding success work of Stradivari. Although Stradivari and Guarneri are similar in originality of sound, timbre, character, Stradivari has a much more concise story: they were created by only a few well-known masters, while Guarneri changed dozens of manufacturers. Even during their lifetime, Amati and Stradivari gained world fame, and the Guarneri became known only long after the death of their representatives.

Peculiarities

Notes for cello are written in the range of bass, tenor and treble clefs in accordance with the pitch. Her party in the orchestral score is located between the violas and double basses. The cellist rubs the bow with rosin before the concert.

This is done to grip the hair with the string, which allows you to extract the desired sound. However, in no case after musical performance do not forget to remove rosin from the tool, as it spoils the wood and varnish. For the sound quality depends on the fulfillment of this condition.

An interesting fact: each bowed instrument requires the use of its own type of rosin.