Books › INTRUMENTSO F THE MODERN ORCHESTRA & EARLY RECORD OF THE PRECURSORS OF THE VIOLIN FAMILY, 1910 › scan 167
Scan 167
INTRUMENTSO F THE MODERN ORCHESTRA & EARLY RECORD OF THE PRECURSORS OF THE VIOLIN FAMILY, 1910
12 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 113. See the scan on archive.org.
1The harmonics are more beautiful on the 'cello than on the violins, sounding like the mellow, round notes of the flute, and they are accordingly used in preference to the ordinary notes of the upper register, as these have no beauty and are not much called into use, especially in the orchestra where they would encroach on those of the viola.
3The four strings of the 'cello bear the same names as those of the viola, but are pitched an octave lower, i.e., (1) A; (2) D; (3) G; (4) C.
5The bass F clef, the tenor C clef on the fourth line, and treble or C clef are used in notation.
7Compass. The compass is 3 1/2 octaves with all chromatic intervals, and higher notes are obtained by virtuosi in solo playing.
9The Quality of Tone. The tone is of extreme sonority, mellowness and richness, the notes of the A string having a voice of penetrating vigour and passionate brilliancy, most suitable for rendering melodies. Nothing, in fact, can excell a mass of 'cellos, on the A string in expression, in voluptuousness of sound and tender passion. The 'cello is the instrument most suited to express the deepest feelings of composer and performer.
11Possibilities. These are the same as for the violin, except that, on account of its greater length of string, passages requiring a great stretch of hand are less practicable, and owing to the great depth of quality and thickness of string
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