When we first think of the cello in popular music, it is ‘Eleanor Rigby’ by the Beatles, that comes to mind. Electric Light Orchestra made it an integral part of a rock band, ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is perhaps my all-time favorite. Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Jack Bruce of Cream are both bass players who were also played cello before their careers in rock-n-roll began. Aerosmith (Dream On), Nirvana (Something In The Way), Oasis (Wonder Wall), and Smashing Pumpkins have all made use of the instrument. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin (the first of many) used a cello bow on the guitar in ‘Dazed and Confused’.
When I think cello, I think Ofra Harnoy. She and the cello are ‘One’. It is her voice, and her muse. The cello is rich and dark and warm and sultry, with hips and the voice of a beautiful woman. Deep and passionate… brooding and beckoning with voice and soul. ‘Come to me…. now!’ I can hear her say quite clearly. In my mind, I confuse the two. Is it Ofra or the cello? Is it the same? Who can say…. just listen to her play Vivaldi.
Everyone has heard of Yo Yo Ma. My first taste of classical music was Yo Yo Ma playing Bach’s Cello Suite #1. I was so surprised to see him rockin’ out as if a lead guitarist in a rock band, hair whipping, sweat dripping, and face twisted in concentration. He did hammer downs and pull offs and I was hooked!
Rock bands that are built upon the Cello are Apocolyptica, a Finnish quartet , known for heavy metal covers such of Metallica, ‘Enter The Sandman’, Cello Fury punches out ‘Daybreak’ from Pittsburg PA , and Low Strung is comprised of 12 undergrads from Yale University who give The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ an entirely new dimension.
The most notable cellos are Stradivarius, but then that should be no surprise. Cellos are made by luthiers, who also make guitars and other stringed instruments.
