cello

cello, bass musical instrument of the violin group, with four strings, pitched C–G–D–A upward from two octaves below middle C.

Structural features

The cello has a large, hollow wooden body with a rounded, waisted shape similar to that of the violin but with proportionally deeper ribs and a shorter neck. Measuring about 27.5 inches (70 cm) in length (47 inches [119 cm] with the neck), it is larger than the viola but smaller than the double bass.

The cello’s structure includes an arched top and back, two f-shaped sound holes, a long neck with a fingerboard, and a scroll at the end of the pegbox. Four strings run from the tailpiece across a curved bridge to tuning pegs in the pegbox, and the instrument rests on a metal endpin that supports it on the floor during performance. The cello’s relatively large body cavity and long strings produce its characteristic deep, resonant sound.

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Historical developments

The earliest cellos were developed during the 16th century and frequently were made with five strings. They served mainly to reinforce the bass line in ensembles. Only during the 17th and 18th centuries did the cello replace the bass viola da gamba as a solo instrument. During the 17th century the combination of cello and harpsichord for basso continuo parts became standard. Joseph Haydn, Mozart, and later composers gave increased prominence to the cello in instrumental ensembles.

Notable works for the instrument include J.S. Bach’s six suites for unaccompanied cello; Beethoven’s five sonatas for cello and piano; the concertos of Édouard Lalo, Antonín Dvořák, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edward Elgar, and Samuel Barber; the sonatas of Zoltán Kodály and Claude Debussy; and the Bachianas brasileiras of Heitor Villa-Lobos, for eight cellos and soprano. Outstanding cellists of the 20th and 21st centuries include Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma, among others.