Bowed instruments
Cello
A large, low-pitched four-string bowed instrument held between the knees and resting on the floor on a spike at its end; its full name in Turkish is viyolonsel.
In brief
- Family: Bowed string instrument (bass voice of the violin family)
- Origin: Northern Italy, 16th century
- Body and materials: Spruce top, maple back; body about 75 cm, with an endpin resting on the floor
- Strings: 4; C–G–D–A, an octave lower than the viola
- Frets: Fretless; comma intervals are stopped by finger placement
- Playing: Held seated between the knees; bowed or plucked (pizzicato)
- In Turkish music: Entered ensembles in the early 20th century; Mesud Cemil is a major performer[1, 2]
Listen
History
The cello, which came from Western music, entered Turkish music ensembles in the early 20th century. Mesud Cemil, son of Tanbûrî Cemil Bey, played it masterfully in makam music and helped the instrument gain acceptance in this field.
Construction
It is the large, low-pitched relative of the violin: an arched wooden body, two f-shaped sound holes, a long fretless fingerboard, a pegbox and an endpin that rests the body on the floor. Its four strings are tuned an octave and a fifth below the violin.
How it is played
It is played seated, held between the knees, with a bow; the fingers of the left hand press the string directly onto the fingerboard. Plucking the strings with the fingers (pizzicato) is also common.
Its place in makam music
Being fretless, it can stop the comma intervals of the makams. In the ensemble it fills the low register and follows the melody an octave below; its deep voice is also heard in taksims.
Getting started: types, sizes, tuning
Start with this instrument
Masters on recordings
Performers who play this instrument on recordings of works in the score archive (MusicBrainz).
Frequently asked questions about the Cello
What is the difference between the cello and the double bass?
The cello is played seated, held between the knees, and its strings are tuned in fifths (C, G, D, A); its range is wide and it is well suited to playing melodies. The double bass is larger, is played standing or on a high stool, its strings are tuned in fourths, and it sounds an octave lower. In an ensemble, the cello follows the melody from below, while the double bass mainly supports the fundamental pitches and the usul.
How is the cello used in Turkish music?
In fasıl and radio ensembles it mostly follows the melody an octave below and fills the ensemble's low register. Because it is fretless, it can stop the commas of the makams, which also makes it suitable for taksims and solo pieces. After Mesud Cemil's playing, many performers also used the cello as a solo instrument in makam music.
Is the cello hard to learn?
At first, producing a clean sound is considered a little easier than on the violin, because the instrument rests on the floor and is played seated in a comfortable posture. Finding the right spot on the long fingerboard and shifting positions, however, develop over time. Its music is mostly written in the bass (F) clef. Basic technique is usually acquired through Western methods, and the makam style through peşrevs and saz semâîs.
Can I play the cello on this site?
Yes. The “Play in the browser” button opens the virtual cello; the sounds are cello notes from the University of Iowa's freely usable instrument recordings. The pitches of the makam you choose play at their comma values; thanks to its low sound, you can listen to a makam's tonic and dominant with a deep timbre.