Cello

A Brief History of the Cello 

The violoncello, commonly referred to by its abbreviated name in English, is the bass instrument of the violin family, sounding an octave below the viola.  The instrument originiated in the 16th century.  One of the earliest makers was Andrea Amati of Cremona, who built his King Amati in 1572.  One of the disadvantages of the early cello was its size. The original cello was considerably larger than those of today, having a body as long as 32 inches.  This large size made it difficult to play rapid passages.  In 1710 Stradivari decided on a length of 30 inches, which has been standard ever since.

Early cellists either sat with their instrument resting on the floor between their legs, or stood with it leaning against their body. Sometimes it was played resting on a stool, or even in a horizontal position.  By 1700 it was common for the player to place his cello between his knees and support it with his calves.