Music

Cello

I play the cello (my cello pictured left), I started after many years of playing the guitar. I got bored with rock music and wanted another challenge. I assumed that having played another stringed instrument it would give me a bit of a head start. The truth of the matter is on one level it did but on most levels I completely underestimated what a leap it was. The guitar has frets and markers on the neck, this really helps with where to place your fingers accurately and where on the neck you are. The opposite is true of the cello, there are no indicators of where you are or where the notes are because the neck is a blank piece of wood. It becomes even more difficult when the intervals get smaller as you go up the neck and again there is nothing to tell you where the notes are. On the upside, if you are prepared to persevere the cello is a wonderful instrument with a rich sound. This may sound silly but music has emotional content, it is what makes it special whatever you listen to. The cello is a wonderful instrument for communicating this emotional intensity.

Favourite Cellist

My favourite cellist of all time is Mstislav Rostropovich (Mstislav Leopoldovich "Slava" Rostropovich). He is one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enlarged the cello repertoire more than any cellist before or since. He inspired and premièred over 100 pieces, forming long-standing friendships and artistic partnerships with composers including Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev and Benjamin Britten to name only a few. Rostropovich was internationally recognized as a staunch advocate of human rights, and was awarded the 1974 Award of the International League of Human Rights. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya and had two daughters, Olga and Elena Rostropovich. He owned a very famous cello, famous to cellists anyway. The Duport Stradivarius was a cello made in 1711 by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona (yes he made cellos as well as violins). The instrument is named after Jean-Louis Duport, who played it around 1800. In 1812, Duport permitted Napoleon Bonaparte to handle it; a dent, still visible on the instrument and is said to have resulted from the emperor's rough handling while straddling the cello with his boots. Auguste-Joseph Franchomme set a price record by purchasing it for FRF25,000 in 1843 from Duport's son. The instrument maker Jean Baptiste Vuillaume used the Duport as the primary model for his cellos. After Rostropovich's death, the cello was initially reported in the press as purchased by the Nippon Music Foundation for $20 US million, but Mstislav Rostropovich's heirs later commented that they remained the owners of the famous cello.

Christy Moore

Christy Moore is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts. His first album, Paddy on the Road was recorded with Dominic Behan in 1969. In 2007, he was named as Ireland's greatest living musician in RTÉ's People of the Year Awards and with good reason. His music is a mixture of strong political conscience, fabulous humour and songs which bring you to the edge of tears. The Guardian called him the storm in a t-shirt, I would say it’s more of a hurricane and is unafraid to say it just as it is. A man after my own heart. Visit his website Christy Moore