Kate Kennedy's book is a journey in four parts, exploring the lives of four remarkable cellists and their instruments, including Pál Hermann, Lise Cristiani, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, and Amedeo Baldovino. It also includes interludes that reflect on the nature and history of the cello and the author's own relationship with the instrument.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In Cello ,Kate Kennedy weaves together the lives of four remarkable cellists who suffered various forms of persecution, injury, and misfortune. The Hungarian Jewish cellist and composer Pál Hermann managed to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo for much of the Second World War but was eventually captured and murdered. Lise Cristiani, the first female professional cello soloist, undertook an epic – and ultimately fatal – concert tour of Siberia in the 1850s, taking with her one of the world's greatest Stradivari cellos. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was incarcerated in both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps, only surviving because she was the cellist in the Auschwitz-Birkenau women's orchestra. Amedeo Baldovino of the Trieste Piano Trio was forced to jump from a burning ship with his 'Mara Stradivari, losing the cello, and nearly losing his own life when the boat was shipwrecked near Buenos Aires. Counterpointing the themes raised by these extraordinary stories are a sequence of interludes that draw together the author's reflections on the nature and history of the cello, and her many interviews and encounters with contemporary cellists. Kate Kennedy's own relationship with the cello is a complicated one. As a teenager, she suffered an injury to her arm that imposed severe limitations on her career as a performer on the instrument that was her first love. She realized that, in order to start to understand what the cello meant to her, she needed to find out what the cello – and, crucially, the absence of the cello – had meant to some other cellists, past and present. Kate Kennedy has written an eloquent and moving book about the cello, its history, and its place in the world. She has interviewed many cellists, including some of the most famous in the world, and has drawn on her own experiences as a musician to provide a unique perspective on the instrument. The book is divided into four parts, each focusing on a different aspect of the cello's life. In the first part, Kennedy explores the cello's origins and development, tracing its history back to its roots in the Middle East and its evolution into the modern instrument we know today. She discusses the different types of cellos that have been used throughout history, including the violin, viola, and bass, and how they have influenced the development of the cello. In the second part, Kennedy examines the cello's role in music, including its use in orchestras, chamber music, and solo performances. She discusses the different techniques that cellists use to produce sound, including bowing, plucking, and pizzicato, and how these techniques have evolved over time. In the third part, Kennedy explores the cello's place in society and culture, including its use in religious ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. She discusses the different ways that the cello has been used to express emotions and convey messages, and how it has been used to connect people from different backgrounds and cultures. In the fourth part, Kennedy explores the cello's future and the challenges that it faces. She discusses the impact of technology on the cello, including the use of electronic instruments and the rise of online music platforms, and how these changes have affected the way that cellists practice and perform. Kennedy's writing is clear and concise, and her passion for the cello is evident in every page of the book. She has a great ability to bring the cello to life and to make the reader feel as if they are sitting in a concert hall with a cellist performing. The book is also beautifully illustrated with photographs and artwork that showcase the cello's beauty and versatility. Overall, "Cello" is a must-read for anyone who loves music or who is interested in the history and culture of the cello. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving book that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

Cello

In Cello, Kate Kennedy weaves together the lives of four remarkable cellists who suffered various forms of persecution, injury, and misfortune. The Hungarian Jewish cellist and composer Pál Hermann managed to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo for much of the Second World War but was eventually captured and murdered. Lise Cristiani, the first female professional cello soloist, undertook an epic – and ultimately fatal – concert tour of Siberia in the 1850s, taking with her one of the world's greatest Stradivari cellos. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was incarcerated in both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps, only surviving because she was the cellist in the Auschwitz-Birkenau women's orchestra. Amedeo Baldovino of the Trieste Piano Trio was forced to jump from a burning ship with his 'Mara Stradivari, losing the cello, and nearly losing his own life when the boat was shipwrecked near Buenos Aires. Counterpointing the themes raised by these extraordinary stories are a sequence of interludes that draw together the author's reflections on the nature and history of the cello, and her many interviews and encounters with contemporary cellists. Kate Kennedy's own relationship with the cello is a complicated one. As a teenager, she suffered an injury to her arm that imposed severe limitations on her career as a performer on the instrument that was her first love. She realized that, in order to start to understand what the cello meant to her, she needed to find out what the cello – and, crucially, the absence of the cello – had meant to some other cellists, past and present.

Cello

Kate Kennedy has written an eloquent and moving book about the cello, its history, and its place in the world. She has interviewed many cellists, including some of the most famous in the world, and has drawn on her own experiences as a musician to provide a unique perspective on the instrument. The book is divided into four parts, each focusing on a different aspect of the cello's life. In the first part, Kennedy explores the cello's origins and development, tracing its history back to its roots in the Middle East and its evolution into the modern instrument we know today. She discusses the different types of cellos that have been used throughout history, including the violin, viola, and bass, and how they have influenced the development of the cello. In the second part, Kennedy examines the cello's role in music, including its use in orchestras, chamber music, and solo performances. She discusses the different techniques that cellists use to produce sound, including bowing, plucking, and pizzicato, and how these techniques have evolved over time. In the third part, Kennedy explores the cello's place in society and culture, including its use in religious ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. She discusses the different ways that the cello has been used to express emotions and convey messages, and how it has been used to connect people from different backgrounds and cultures. In the fourth part, Kennedy explores the cello's future and the challenges that it faces. She discusses the impact of technology on the cello, including the use of electronic instruments and the rise of online music platforms, and how these changes have affected the way that cellists practice and perform. Kennedy's writing is clear and concise, and her passion for the cello is evident in every page of the book. She has a great ability to bring the cello to life and to make the reader feel as if they are sitting in a concert hall with a cellist performing. The book is also beautifully illustrated with photographs and artwork that showcase the cello's beauty and versatility. Overall, "Cello" is a must-read for anyone who loves music or who is interested in the history and culture of the cello. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving book that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

Weight: 722g
Dimension: 242 x 164 x 44 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803287034