A Brief History of the Cello - Google Arts & Culture (2024)

For centuries, the cello has been a staple of musical composition, with its rich, mellow tones appearing in everything from Bach's Suites to traditional folk songs. For many music lovers, though, its history is something of a mystery.

1. The backstory

The origins of the cello lie far back in the stringed instruments of antiquity – like this lyre played by the Greek poet Sappho. Musicians in ancient times often used harps and lyres to accompany poetry recitals, along with composing songs and melodies.

2. Italian strings

While stringed instruments were played in the ancient world, the first cello didn't appear until the early 1500s. These early celli were first built in northern Italy, evolving from a group of stringed instruments called viola da braccio, or "viola for the arm".

3. The cello's first famous name

Though he didn't invent the cello exactly, the 16th-century Italian craftsman Andrea Amati was the first cello builder to make a name for himself. A number of his finely-crafted instruments have survived into the present day – and some can still be played!

This is the sound of Andrea Amati's cello "The King", built for the French ruler Charles IX in the 16th century. It is the oldest surviving cello in the world.

4. Stradivari: Bow Wizard

An important name in the history of the cello is another Italian craftsman: Antonio Stradivari. From 1710 onwards, Stradivari– painted here in his workshop – began building celli around the same size as the instrument we know today.

Stradivari's cello design was imitated across Europe during the 18th century. This process of standardization – where all celli were built the same size – saw the emergence of virtuoso players, like the maestro Luigi Boccherini.

5. Cello evolution

Over the centuries, the cello has evolved only a little since Stradivari's model. One of the most important changes came at the end of the 18th century, when the cello was designed to suit larger performances, rather than the more intimate settings of the past.

The cello’s versatility and poignant sounds means that it's still a popular instrument today, finding its way into many musical genres from soft chamber music to heavy goth metal. There are modern masters of the cello, too, like Yo-Yo-Ma, pictured here as a boy.

If you're feeling inspired by this musical history, why not take up your bow and compose a masterpiece with Viola the Bird?