International Cello Day

International Cello Day brings together musicians and their listeners to honor the amazing stringed instrument capable of conveying vivid emotions! Sadness, joy, melancholy, happiness – these are just some of the feelings that can be experienced when listening to music. Music cannot be described in words – it must be listened to with the heart!

History

The cello has four strings of different thicknesses and belongs to the group of bowed string instruments. The cello can be played with both a bow and fingers – the latter type is called “pizzicato”. The first mention of the instrument dates back to 1535-1536, when it is depicted on a fresco by the Italian sculptor and artist Gaudenzio Ferrari. The cello’s name appears for the first time in a collection of sonnets by Giulio Arresti from 1665.

International Cello Day also remembers the man who created an entire era with his performance work – Pablo Casals, the brightest virtuoso of the 20th century. His father, an organist in the local church, gave Casals his first musical lessons at an early age. Pablo admitted that his father instilled a love for music and became an example.

Interesting facts

• According to some reports, an instrument created by Antonio Stradivari in the 17th century was sold for 20 million dollars to a Japanese musician.
• The bow is made of bamboo, ebony, and horsehair.
• When tuning the cello, musicians are guided by the sound of fifths.
• In 2014, South African Carel Henn set a record by playing non-stop for 26 hours.

How to take part

Listen to beautiful music, expand your knowledge, meet performers, composers, and explore interesting works. Attend classes and learn how to play the instrument at least at the amateur level. Invite children to explore the arts, and share more about the instrument.

When is International Cello Day in 2024?

International Cello Day is observed on December 29 each year.

Observations