History of Cello

Photo by Michael Maggs

   In orchestral music, a word 'Cello'  actually means a person who plays cello(Cellist) in a abbreviation. The formal name is 'Violoncello' which means small double bass. A word 'Violone' has ccome from a word Viol. which means a viol instruments and adding -one which meas big. Finally, it signify double bass, but a word cello, which means reduction has added, so, it means small double bass. Its full name should be pronounced in Italic, violoncello, but generally called cello in short name. Violone means big Viola. In 16~17th century, it took charge in ensemble with Viola da gamba and Viola da braccio. The Violoin family instrument Cello has developped with Violin generally.

  Early form of cello has 3 strings, F, C, G. In early 16th century, 4 stringged cello, the has B, F, C, G was made in Italy and spreaded to Germany, France, and England. In 1550s Germany, the cello which tuned in C, G, D, A as today's one has made. However, 17th century in Italy and 18th century in France and England had tuned major 2 degree down.

In 18th century, Germany, 4 stringged cello has used commonly used and used 5, 6 stringged cello for supplement low pitch sounds. Before 1700, the instruments were not have fixed. There had 73~80cm body shape. In 1710, by A. Stradivari, it has fixed shape, 75cm. Cello usually used in 'Basso continuo', but in 18th century, it stood out as solo instrument. After 1759s, polyphonic music has changed to orchestral music, the neck and fingerboard became longer and bridged changed roundlt and highly. It brings softer and elastic sound. In 1780, by F. Tourte from France, the bow of cello has changed as today's one and had fixed length. In later 19th century, A. F. Servais made end pin. and it developed techiniques. Until that time, Cello player fixed cello with their knees and it is not comfortable.

  In early time when cello has made, It was not popular in Orchetral music. But by, Johann Mattheson it was acknowledged as one of the most important instrument in Orchestral music. In Bach and Hendel's orchestral works, cello became the importar member of string instrument.  But at that time, function of cello was limited in low bass pitch with double bass. The bass continuo was delined and fuction of cello had become various, in exaple, Bach made 5 sonatas for cello. At that time, still function of cello was not known to composer, so hyden and mozart made monotonous melody. In the later 18th century and early 19th century, by Beethoven or the other composer, cello seperated from double bass and take its own line. And after the Romaticism, composer Wagner used cello as today's style, different from past. Nowadays, Cello go over as harmonical instrument as solo instrument.