© 2007 CelloMania

The cello’s history as an ensemble instrument started hundreds of years ago. During the Renaissance, it was common to find the immediate ancestor of the cello, the viola da gamba playing in ensemble. The modern cello developed during the baroque period, about 300 years ago. Although ensembles of violins or violas were rare, cello ensembles became more common until the late 19th century, when cello quartets were a popular form of salon music. Composers such as David Popper, Wilhelm Fitzenhagen and Julius Klengel, all also famous teachers, wrote numerous pieces for cellos.

The popularity of massed cellos increased further during the 20th century: Heitor

Villa-lobos wrote his two Bachianas Brasileiras for 8 cellos, Pablo Casals wrote several works for large cello ensembles and, in the late 1970s, the Cellos of the Berlin Philharmonic rediscovered a piece by Klengel that hadn’t been played for over 50 years. They recorded his Hymnus for 12 cellos, alongside new commissioned works by Jean Françaix and Boris Blacher, and a suite by the Renaissance composer, David Funck. The popularisation of the cello ensemble had begun.

Today, although relatively rare in the UK, there are several professional cello ensembles in existence and many European and American universities have a cello ensemble, much like they might have a symphony orchestra.

Sound clips coming soon!