Cello | Definition, Music, & Facts

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class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/cello">cello</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/cello/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/cello">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-08T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 8, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/cello/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called: </dt> <dd>violoncello</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>French: </dt> <dd>violoncelle</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>German: </dt> <dd>cello or violoncello</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Ludwig-van-Beethoven" topicid="58473">Ludwig van Beethoven</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Johann-Sebastian-Bach" topicid="47843">Johann Sebastian Bach</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Joseph-Haydn" topicid="257714">Joseph Haydn</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Pyotr-Ilyich-Tchaikovsky" topicid="585008">Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Johannes-Brahms" topicid="77209">Johannes Brahms</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/art/end-pin" topicid="186721">end pin</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/violoncello-piccolo" topicid="629726">violoncello piccolo</a></dd> <dd><a href="/art/violin-family" topicid="629702">violin family</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/cello"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref256268"></span>cello</strong>, bass <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/musical-instrument" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">musical instrument</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/stringed-instrument/The-violin-family#ref53726" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">violin group</a>, with four strings, pitched C–G–D–A upward from two octaves below middle C. The cello, about 27.5 inches (70 cm) long (47 inches [119 cm] with the neck), has proportionally deeper ribs and a shorter neck than the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/violin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">violin</a>.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="218245" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/189404-050-CC6ACF6D/Mstislav-Rostropovich-1978.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/101570/218245"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/189404-050-CC6ACF6D/Mstislav-Rostropovich-1978.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/189404-050-CC6ACF6D/Mstislav-Rostropovich-1978.jpg?w=300" alt="Mstislav Rostropovich" data-width="1139" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/189404-050-CC6ACF6D/Mstislav-Rostropovich-1978.jpg" data-href="/media/1/101570/218245">Mstislav Rostropovich</a><span>Mstislav Rostropovich, 1978.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The earliest cellos were developed during the 16th century and frequently were made with five strings. They served mainly to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="reinforce" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reinforce" data-type="EB">reinforce</a> the bass line in ensembles. Only during the 17th and 18th centuries did the cello replace the bass <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/viola-musical-instrument" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">viola</a> da gamba as a solo instrument. During the 17th century the combination of cello and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/harpsichord" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">harpsichord</a> for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/basso-continuo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>basso continuo</em></a> parts became standard. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Haydn" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Joseph Haydn</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mozart</a>, and later composers gave increased prominence to the cello in instrumental ensembles. Notable works for the instrument include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johann-Sebastian-Bach" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">J.S. Bach’s</a> six suites for unaccompanied cello; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludwig-van-Beethoven" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Beethoven’s</a> five <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/sonata" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">sonatas</a> for cello and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/piano" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">piano</a>; the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/concerto-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">concertos</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edouard-Victor-Antoine-Lalo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Édouard Lalo</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antonin-Dvorak" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Antonín Dvořák</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Camille-Saint-Saens" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Camille Saint-Saëns</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Elgar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Edward Elgar</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Barber" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Samuel Barber</a>; the sonatas of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zoltan-Kodaly" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Zoltán Kodály</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Debussy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Claude Debussy</a>; and the <em>Bachianas brasileiras</em> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Heitor-Villa-Lobos" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Heitor Villa-Lobos</a>, for eight cellos and soprano. Outstanding cellists of the 20th and 21st centuries include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pablo-Casals" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pablo Casals</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mstislav-Rostropovich" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mstislav Rostropovich</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yo-Yo-Ma" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Yo-Yo Ma</a>, among others.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Amy-Tikkanen/6393">Amy Tikkanen</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":101570,"pageLength":195,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"SMALL","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Cello | Definition, Music, & Facts | Britannica