History of the Cello
Cello
The Cello, a very unique mid size instrument of the 16th century, was very interesting. Originally called the violoncello, the cello received its name from violone meaning a larger and cello in Italian means shoulder. The meaning suggests a big violin that can be played between ones legs and held in place by a strap. The cello was also influenced by a number of people that made this instrument a success. There is a little history about this instrument that I think you will enjoy.
The first known account of this instrument was in Agricola’s, Wittenberg 1528, were it was part of a bass consort. The first known maker of a cello was Andrea Amati and his descendants in Cremona and Gasparo da Salo in Brescia during the 1500’s. The history of the cello may have been related to the material that was used for its strings. The strings were made out of sheep gut. Depending on the size of the string would determine the sound that would be produced. If the string was thick, then the sound would be much less. If the string was longer and thinner, then it would produce a better sound. The cello would have four strings attached to it, but it could have five strings as were used in Germany in the 18th century. Later in 1701 Andrea Mauritij, a viola player, would insist that wirewound gut or silk string produced a much better sound than gut string. The neck on the instrument had some work done to it by Egidius Snoeck in1736, by curving the neck back. By doing this, it produced more energy from the strings which gave a louder sound to the instrument in an orchestra.
The cello is a bowed string instrument that is part of the violin family. The person who plays this instrument is called a cellist. It is the second largest instrument of the string instruments. The invention of wire wrapped strings gave the cello more versatility. By the 18th century the cello had replaced all other bowed instruments. Cello instruments are tuned in fifths. It starts with A3 then D3, G2, and
The Cello, a very unique mid size instrument of the 16th century, was very interesting. Originally called the violoncello, the cello received its name from violone meaning a larger and cello in Italian means shoulder. The meaning suggests a big violin that can be played between ones legs and held in place by a strap. The cello was also influenced by a number of people that made this instrument a success. There is a little history about this instrument that I think you will enjoy.
The first known account of this instrument was in Agricola’s, Wittenberg 1528, were it was part of a bass consort. The first known maker of a cello was Andrea Amati and his descendants in Cremona and Gasparo da Salo in Brescia during the 1500’s. The history of the cello may have been related to the material that was used for its strings. The strings were made out of sheep gut. Depending on the size of the string would determine the sound that would be produced. If the string was thick, then the sound would be much less. If the string was longer and thinner, then it would produce a better sound. The cello would have four strings attached to it, but it could have five strings as were used in Germany in the 18th century. Later in 1701 Andrea Mauritij, a viola player, would insist that wirewound gut or silk string produced a much better sound than gut string. The neck on the instrument had some work done to it by Egidius Snoeck in1736, by curving the neck back. By doing this, it produced more energy from the strings which gave a louder sound to the instrument in an orchestra.
The cello is a bowed string instrument that is part of the violin family. The person who plays this instrument is called a cellist. It is the second largest instrument of the string instruments. The invention of wire wrapped strings gave the cello more versatility. By the 18th century the cello had replaced all other bowed instruments. Cello instruments are tuned in fifths. It starts with A3 then D3, G2, and
Cited: . Dearling, Robert. “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments”.1996. Encyclopedia Sadie, Stanley. “Dictionary of Music and Musicians Volume 26”.2001. Dictionary. Wikipedia.”Cello”. enwikipedia.org/wiki/cello.6-12-12.web