The Violoncello and Its HistoryWasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
History
The Violoncello and Its History
Wasielewski, Wilhelm Joseph von
Cellists; Cello -- History
One of the last of Schetky’s published works is his Op. 13, which
contains six Sonatas for Violoncello with unfigured bass. The
compositions therein contained give a distinct idea of his fluent though
superficially mechanical manner of writing. It can readily be discerned
that Schetky had for the time in which he lived a remarkable technique
in playing. He must have been able with ease to play at sight the first
violin part in Quartets, a talent which proves at once his skill and
readiness. His power and agility in bowing as well as his staccato
playing in up and down strokes were famous.
According to Gerber’s account, Schetky died in Edinburgh in 1773. In
Forster’s “History of the Violin” it is said, on the contrary, that his
death took place only in 1824.[73]
As a “clever and solid concert player and composer for his instrument,”
MARKUS HEINRICH GRAUL, who was born in the first half of the last
century, is mentioned by Gerber. In the year 1766 he belonged to the
Royal orchestra at Berlin. He also composed pieces for the cello, but
did not publish them.
His pupil, JOH. HEINRICH VIKTOR ROSE, born on December 7, 1743, at
Quedlinburg, was early instructed to play on various instruments by his
father, who was town musician in the above-named place. The Princess
Amalie, who then filled the office of Abbess in the Quedlinburg Convent,
became interested in him, and took him with her to Berlin in 1756,
where he studied cello playing for some years under Graul and Mara.
In 1763 he entered the service of the Prince of Anhalt-Bernberg. Four
years later he relinquished that in order to travel, and accepted a
place in the band of the Duke of Dessau. He did not long remain there,
for in the year 1772 he accepted an offer to be organist at the place
of his birth. According to Gerber’s account he possessed not only an
extraordinary readiness on the violoncello, but also a most expressive,
graceful rendering. Of his compositions, there were three solos with
bass accompaniment published as Op. 1.
His best pupil was FRIEDRICH SCHRÖDEL, born on February 4, 1754, in
Baruth; died January 10, 1800, at Ballenstedt. Gerber calls him one of
the greatest masters on the violoncello of that period, and adds that
many were of opinion that he surpassed the famous Mara in precision and
delicacy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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