The cello, with its deep, resonant tones and elegant shape, stands out as one of the most captivating and unique instruments in the orchestra. Its rich, full-bodied sound is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere, drawing listeners in with its warm, expressive quality.
But do you know what makes the cello so interesting? From its fascinating history to its role in various musical genres, the cello is full of surprises and fun facts.
Dive into these 12 facts about the cello to uncover the secrets behind this remarkable instrument and see why it continues to enchant musicians and audiences alike!
1. The Cello Is A Lot Like The Human Voice
Of all the instruments in the orchestra, the cello is said to be the most like the human voice. Its range closely resembles that of the human voice, encompassing all four registers — bass, tenor, alto, and soprano.
The cello does this with excellent sound quality at every level and can go far beyond.
But the similarity goes deeper than that. The expressive, rich, and mellow tone of the cello has the power to sing and touch the heart like the human voice.
2. It Was Booted By Napoleon Bonaparte
All cellos made by Antonio Stradivari in the 18th century have names, and one of these, The Duport, made in 1711, has quite a story attached.
By 1812, the cello belonged to Jean-Louis Duport, known as the father of the modern cello technique. He performed for Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at his palace.
Afterward, Bonaparte was determined to try the instrument. He found it very awkward, and in his frustration, he kicked the cello. To this day, The Duport has a dent on it.
Renowned 20th-century cellist Mstislav Rostropovich also played this distinguished cello from 1974 until he died in 2007.
3. There’s A Cello Worth $20M!
In 2008 the Duport Stradivarius cello was bought by the Nippon Music Foundation for $20 million. This is the most expensive cello ever sold and possibly the most money ever paid for a musical instrument (the MacDonald Stradivarius viola went for sale at $45M but did not sell).
However, you do not have to be really rich to play a priceless instrument — just really good! Many named Stradivarius cellos are on loan to noteworthy cellists, such as The Davidov, which is on loan to Yo-Yo Ma.
4. The Cello Has A Lead Role In A Bond Film
In the Bond movie The Living Daylights, a Stradivarius cello named The Lady Rose takes center stage. The cello really is the star — it was used as a decoy, weapon holder, and even a sled. It even gets shot in the film (though it’s a stunt cello, not the real one).
The story features a cellist who is also a sniper, with some cello-themed humor, like a joke about learning the violin.
Ian Fleming, who wrote the story, might have been inspired by his half-sister Amaryllis Flemming, a cellist who owned a 1717 Stradivarius cello known as the Amaryllis. The film’s orchestra is the Austrian Youth Orchestra, and the second cellist is seen playing the solo part.
5. Cellos Can Be Very Fashionable
Cellos often pop up in artworks and fashion photos, with cellists in stylish outfits and color-coordinated instruments. But sometimes, valuable cellos end up in disastrous situations.
In 2012, a 1694 Stradivarius cello called The Spanish, worth $20 million, was used in a fashion shoot. Unfortunately, it was accidentally knocked off a table, and its neck broke! Thankfully, a skilled luthier managed to fix it, though the cost of the repairs wasn’t shared by the Spanish Royal Palace.
On a brighter note, fashion designer Louis Vuitton’s company, MHLV, takes things even further. They own a collection of priceless musical instruments, including two Stradivarius cellos, which they lend to great cellists around the world.
6. You Can Make A Cello Out Of Rubbish
Cellos are traditionally made of wood — spruce or pine for the top, maple or poplar for the back, and ebony for fingerboards, pegs, and tailpieces. But artisans have made them from many more materials, including ice, glass, metal, natural fiber, and carbon fiber.
Some are more ornamental, but most are fully playable, and cellos have even been made from rubbish! The Landfillharmonic Orchestra in Paraguay was founded using instruments made of recycled materials.
The orchestra founder wanted to stop the Cateura Village children from playing on the mountainous landfill site, so he helped them make instruments and formed an orchestra with cellos made from oil drums and large containers.
7. The Cello Is A very Peaceful Instrument
Cello music is often soothing, and many cellists have worked for peace and human rights. Pau (Pablo) Casals, a Catalonian cellist famous for his Bach Cello Suites, was honored with a United Nations Peace Medal when he was 94.
At the UN General Assembly, he played “Song of the Birds” for the first time in 40 years and spoke about its message of peace.
Mstislav Rostropovich also received a human rights award in 1974, and Yo-Yo Ma, the Chinese-American cellist, has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2006.
8. The Cello Is Played By A lot Of Royals
Cellos have some fascinating royal connections! King Charles III played the cello while studying at Cambridge and joined orchestral performances, despite feeling he was “hopeless” at it.
For their 2018 wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle selected 20-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason to perform “Sicilienne” by Maria Theresia von Paradis.
King Frederick the Great of Prussia was a musician, composer, and owner of the Stuart Stradivarius cello, which is now thought to belong to Sergei Roldugin, a friend of Vladimir Putin.
Lastly, the oldest cello in the world is called The King and even features a crown!
9. The Oldest Cello In The World Is Almost 500 Years Old!
Speaking of the oldest surviving cello, The King, which was made by Andrea Amati in the mid-16th century, has recently undergone a CAT scan and is in great condition!
Researchers from the National Music Museum examined it to determine which parts are original and which have been altered. The King is the oldest one still in its original form! Adorned with lavish red, green, and gold paint, it even features a portrait of King Charles IX of France.
It appears to have been played standing up, likely for processions, as it is designed for strapping. Although it is rarely played, you can still enjoy its rich tone on recordings.
10. Cellos Were Considered Unladylike
In the past, playing the cello was sometimes seen as unladylike. According to the Handbook of Violoncello Playing by Carl Schroeder, women were advised to “turn both legs to the left, sinking the right almost to a kneeling posture.”
This advice comes from the late 19th century, when women wore long, full dresses that could easily hide a stool behind them. While it might seem shocking today, it’s amusing to look back on these historical practices.
11. Cello Can Cause Some Pain
Endpins for cellos, which support the instrument on the floor, weren’t common until the early 20th century. Before that, cellists like Adrien-François Servais used their calves for support, which could be pretty tiring!
Nowadays, cellists use a variety of methods. Some still use their calves, others play standing up, and some strap the cello around their necks. Most, however, prefer using the endpin.
Playing the cello can be challenging. Beginners often get sore fingertips, and the thumb position can be uncomfortable. The endpin can also be tricky, so rubber stoppers are helpful.
Transporting a cello is tough — it’s big, heavy, and awkward to carry. Shoulder straps or wheels can help, but fitting it into small cars or traveling by train, bus, or plane can be a hassle and can be costly.
12. The Cello Actually Has A Different Name
“Cello” is actually a shortened version of its full name, violoncello. This is translated as “little violone” because a violone (not violin) was actually the direct ancestor of the double bass and much larger.
Living in Wales, my personal favorite word for cello is the Welsh word “Soddgrwth,” a soft word pronounced so-the-gr-ooth. It is appropriate that in Welsh, you do not play the cello, you sing the cello: “Dw i’n caru canu’r soddgrwth” (doo-ween cah-ree can-ear soh-the-gr-ooth) — “I love singing the cello.”
Summing Up Our Facts About The Cello
So that’s it for this post — a brief selection of personal highlights about the cello. From its royal connections to the unique ways cellists play and transport their instruments, the cello is full of fascinating details.
Many more interesting facts and stories could not be included here, but hopefully, this post has made you want to find out more and perhaps become a part of your own cello legend!
