Instruments of the Modern Symphony Orchestra/CELLO

by Arthur Edward Johnstone

VIOLONCELLO^[1]
(CELLO)

Leo Schulz
Principal Cello
N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra

Although the principal use of the cello in the orchestra Is to supply the bass part of the harmony—with the double-bass usually an octave below—its full, rich penetrating tone, combined with an unusually large range, renders the Cello one of the most frequently used voices in solo passages. It is equally telling in the bass, tenor, and soprano registers.

It is tuned in fifths, one octave below the viola, and its lowest two strings, the C and the G, are wire-spun. In Symphony and grand opera orchestras the number of cellos is likely to be slightly more than half that of the first Violins.

All the effects in bowing, pizzicato, use of the mute, etc., May be advantageously employed on the cello.

Cello parts are usually written in the bass clef, but the Tenor Clef—middle C on the fourth line—is frequently employed where the parts run rather high. For the highest Solo passages the treble clef (the G clef of the violin, piano, etc.), is used.

The cello is tuned:

The range of the cello with all chromatic intervals, is:

LEO SCHULZ
PRINCIPAL CELLO
N. Y PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

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1. This instrument is frequently miscalled the "violincello." Its derivation (italian) is "violone"—double-bass; "Cello"—small.