By Loud Atlas
A cello's sound is like no other: a rich deep-seated timbre with a shade of melancholy and a twist of darkness. Thanks to thicker strings, compared to its cousins the violin and viola, the cello has a distinctive vocal quality that endears the ear to it. It's no surprise that artists and composers alike use it to express the inexpressible. The following lists came from a cello-infused week of nominations that were a dream to listen to.
The cello as a solo instrument is a beautiful thing and J.S. Bach was the master of such music. Between c.1717-1723 he composed his famous Cello Suites, still performed to this day. Perhaps the most famous is his oft-played cello prelude, or Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude, to give it its full title. Spreading arpeggiated chords to showcase the instrument’s range and depth, this piece, here performed by Yo-Yo Ma, is a cornerstone of cello music and if there was a gateway into the instrument, then this is it.
Of course, traditional-sounding cello is fine and sublime, but bringing things into the modern era, what’s better than just one cello? 2Cellos of course! The Croatian duo (recently turned soloists) was known for their arrangements of well-known songs, both modern and classical. In this case, an inspired crossover in Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony.
In After Murder Park, The Auteurs use the cello to express the connection between a psychic and the spirit of her clients' dead son. A séance is very anti-Britpop! The melancholic-sounding cello provides a balance to the general upbeat musicality of the song, despite the dark lyrics. For further grisly listening, this track is a follow-up to their song Unsolved Child Murder on the same album.
Brazilian singer Virginia Rodrigues combines the sweetness of the classical guitar and the sombre quality of the cello to create a mood of yearning and longing in the bittersweet-sounding Nos Horizontes do Mundo (“On The Horizons Of The World”). What a beautiful voice too. As a non-Portuguese speaker, I sought a direct translation but couldn’t find one, but I’ve managed to translate the first section of the song so you can get a flavour of the sentiments:
In the movements of the world everyone has their moment / everyone has a thought of overcoming loneliness / and whoever thinks in a minute will know everything about the winds and if they have feelings / they will extend their hand in the movement of the world.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason is the poster boy of modern cello music and comes from an absurdly talented musical family (his six siblings are all musical prodigies in their own right). He’s played in front of royalty on numerous occasions and has garnered great critical acclaim for his work. Here he provides accompaniment, both in pizzicato and legato bowing style, for Zak Abel in Same Boat.
Electric Light Orchestra really do like their cello, strings, and all manner of classical instruments. Several of ELO’s songs were nominated this week, each with the band’s distinctive blend of the modern and classical. I decided to go with the most cello per minute as the decider, so 10538 Overture prevailed. There is a whole mass of cellos (a 'celloverload', if you will) and it provides most of the driving force behind the record, with the guitars and even the percussion being muted slightly to allow space for them.
The cello is used to symbolise the regret of a doomed affair which starts in The Tunnel of Love, where there’s never a guarantee of a happy ending. This new wave song from Fun Boy Three (comprising three former members of The Specials) creates a rich and layered soundscape through its blend of the haunting cello line and thought-provoking lyricism.
Mama is the subject of Fatoumata Diawara’s spiritual song. In it she sings (in Bambaran) to her mother and father, thanking them for many things. It has gentle bluesy-ness, but a life-affirming and deep beauty to it too. Oh, and the cello is dreamy.
San Bernardino describes the tale of two young parents and the birth of their child in a cheap motel. The repetitive cello notes create tension, drive the narrative and elevates the moment. Simple yet effective.
As part of a string section, the cello provides the low-register harmony of a group’s sound. The Beatles were known (among many other things) for the string arrangements in their baroque psychedelic tunes. Arguably pop music’s most famous use of a sextet (a group of six stringed instruments, here consisting of four violins and two cellos) is surely that found in All You Need Is Love. The cello plays the melody that is introduced before each of the verses and the chorus – the famous rhythmic and rising long-short, long-short dotted crotchets; the bit you want to play air cello on.
From the joyous open-eyed vision of the world to the serious tones of a brooding R.E.M.. Here the amplified cello is used as the song's undercurrent alongside an acoustic guitar. The timbre of the cello hammers home the melancholic message of hope arising from despair – a sunrise is just over the horizon: Sweetness Follows.
Guatemalan cellist and singer Mabe Fratti uses her cello to mesmeric effect in her abstract song Nadie Sabie. Alongside repetitive hand claps, her cello uses a minimalist approach before being accompanied by other worldly synths – an astonishing blend. A very enigmatic and ambiguous song on the nature of existence.
In the 1990s it felt like some bands were just including classical instruments in their music to make their music sound grander and fuller. Oasis used strings in various tracks, including Whatever. The violins and cellos here work to impressive effect, particularly in the long outro: the percussion fades, the guitars fade until it’s just the strings left. The cello gets the last note.
The cello gets the first note and starring role in Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio – Moderato. Composed at the end of the First World War, and premiered in 1919, this piece was Elgar’s last major work but didn’t gain popularity until the 1960s when it was performed by a teenage Jacqueline du Pré. Its grand euphoric moments and final intimate moment are equally exquisite.
A-List Playlist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (performed by Yo-Yo Ma) - Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude (barbryn)
2Cellos - Whole Lotta Love vs. Beethoven 5th Symphony (Marconius7)
The Auteurs - After Murder Park (barbryn)
Virgínia Rodrigues - Nos Horizontes do Mondo (ajostu)
Zak Abel and Sheku Kanneh-Mason - Same Boat (ajostu)
Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture (ParaMhor)
Fun Boy Three - The Tunnel Of Love (AltraEgo)
Fatoumata Diawara - Mama (ajostu)
The Mountain Goats - San Bernardino (Fred Erickson)
The Beatles - All You Need Is Love (SweetHomeAlabama)
R.E.M. - Sweetness Follows (severin)
Mabe Fratti - Nadie Sabe (pejepeine)
Oasis - Whatever (ParaMhor)
Edward Elgar (performed by Jacqueline Du Pré) - Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio – Moderato (magicman)
B-List Playlist:
The Singers Unlimited - Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah (Nilpferd)
Arthur Russell - This Is How We Walk On The Moon (pejepeine)
This Mortal Coil - Mr. Somewhere (Fred Erickson)
Apocalyptica - Nothing Else Matters (barbryn)
Cream - As You Said (George Boyland)
Roy Wood - Dear Elaine (magicman)
Dessa - Annabelle (Maki)
Yusef Lateef - Lowland Lullabye (Nicko)
Tom Waits - Martha (AltraEgo)
Belle & Sebastian - She's Losing It (happyclapper)
The Spencer Davis Group - Time Seller (ShivSidecar)
Tom Paxton - Victoria Dines Alone (Fred Erickson)
Ben Sollee - Prettiest Tree On The Mountain (tincanman2010)
Honningbarna - Våkn Opp! (Traktor Albatrost)
David Darling & The Wulu Bunu - Lugu Lugu Kan-Ibi (Nicko)
Guru's Wildcard Picks:
Ramin Djawadi - Main Title (from Game of Thrones)
The most hummable famous TV theme of the last decade or so. The cello leads the way.
Lindsay Mac - Blackbird
Another cover of the Beatles classic (to add to the million others), but this time on a cello played like a guitar.
Michael Giacchino - Moving On
A beautiful slow burner from the final scene to the TV series Lost. The strings sing.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Vocal, warm and mellow? Songs and pieces featuring the cello. The next topic will launch on Thursday at around 1pm UK time.
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