A large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing; SYN. violoncello.
Common abbreviation for violoncello, tenor member of the violin family and fourth member of the string quartet. Its solo potential was recognized by J S Bach, and a concerto repertoire extends from Haydn (who also gave the cello a leading role in his string quartets), and Boccherini to Dvorák, Elgar, Britten, Ligeti, and Lukas Foss. The Bachianas Brasilieras 1 by Villa-Lobos is scored for eight cellos, and Boulez’s Messagesquisse 1977 for seven cellos. + prikaži više

Slightly larger than a violin, tuned a fifth lower.