What is a cello, everyone knows who is at least somehow connected with music, both professionally and at the amateur level. Without this, not a single instrumental concert takes place; a musical work cannot be revealed and conveyed to the listener in full, in all its depth.
The cello is an indispensable instrument in ensembles and symphony orchestras. It is she who makes the sounding technique of the melody deep, rich and complete. Due to the melodiousness of her “voice”, the cello often soloists if the musical group needs to clearly express such emotions as sadness, a point or warm sadness, and fill the melody with a lyrical mood.
What is a cello?
Cello - a musical instrument of string and bow type, from the bass and tenor register. It has been known since the 16th century, visually similar to an alt or violin, but much more than them in size. In music, the cello is used, thanks to its limitless "voice" capabilities, in the following facets:
- solo (single)
- as part of an orchestra,
- while playing a melody by a string ensemble.
The cello, like the violin, has 4 strings. It is the lowest stringed bow and string instrument, and some musical groups, for example, such as a quartet or chamber ensemble, simply cannot function without it.
Build the cello strings an octave lower than the viola. The notes for her part are written in a tenor or bass clef, but the range of its sound is unusually wide, thanks to the unique playing technique created over the centuries of cello existence.
Tool History
It is still not known for certain who invented the cello. The first mention of it appeared at the beginning, or rather, in the first half of the 16th century, and they were associated with the names of two masters in the manufacture of stringed instruments - the Italian Gasparo da Salo and his student Paolo Maggini. There is another version of who and when the cello was invented. According to her, the creator of the instrument was the most famous in the 16th century master from the Amati family named Andrea.
The historical, documented fact is only that the modern form of the cello, with a typical string and characteristic sound, is the merit of Antonio Stradivari. In addition, such well-known musicians and masters as Giuseppe Guarneri took part in perfecting the instrument, over the centuries. Carlo Bergonzi, Niccolo Amati, Dominico Montagnana and others. Since the end of the 18th century, the shape of the case, the dimensions of the instrument and its string string have not changed.
Cello Design Features
The cello is the only musical instrument that has kept its shape and unique design features for centuries. Even the violin was modified - the tree was changed for the production of the body and compositions for its impregnation, painting, the strings were updated.
The main details of the cello:
- case
- vulture
- head,
- bow.
The cello body consists of a lower and upper deck, an opening to provide sound resonance (efa). In addition, in the design of the case there are other important details - an internal brace “loop”, a loop, a ledge, a button, a shell.
For playing the cello, a violin bow or a bow for viola will not work. This integral attribute of the instrument consists of a cane, which is made of natural bamboo or fernbamb wood, ebony pads with pearl inserts, natural or artificial horse hair. The horsehair tension on the cello bow is adjusted using an eight-sided screw mounted on a cane.
Cello Sound Features
The possibilities of cello, in terms of sound production, differ from the capabilities of similar instruments in breadth and depth. Masters of orchestral art characterize her sound as
- melodious,
- slightly squeezed
- tense,
- juicy.
In the palette of an ensemble, quartet or orchestra, a cello sounds like the lowest timbre of a person’s voice. During the solo performance of this instrument, it seems that the cello is having an unhurried conversation with the audience about something very important and real, its deep, melodious sound is mesmerizing, literally hypnotizing, not only for art connoisseurs, but also for those who listen to it for the first time.
Each of the strings of the cello sounds especially and inimitably, and the range of their sound extends from the male juicy bass to the warm and gentle viola, characteristic of truly female parties. The greatest composers and world-famous musicians have repeatedly said that the cello is able to “tell”, for example, the plot of the opera without words and visual pictures.
How to play the cello
The technique of playing the cello is fundamentally different from the technique of playing other stringed musical counterparts. The tool is quite large, even bulky, and should have support at three points - in the spire area (on the floor), closer to the right side of the chest and at the left knee. When learning to play the cello, the topics of the first lessons are precisely the methods of installing and holding it.
Next, mastering bow skills. In order to fully cover the string of the instrument during sound extraction, the cello is slightly turned to the right of the musician. It is very important to ensure that freedom of movement with your left hand is not limited by anything.
It is surprising that many aspiring musicians, even with perfect hearing and the ability to play string-stringed instruments, cannot master the technique of playing the cello, and stop precisely at the stage of learning how to hold and support it.
