The Violoncello and Its History is Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski’s study of the cello, tracing the development of the instrument and the art of playing it. A noted violinist and music historian, Wasielewski follows the violoncello from its origins through its rise as a solo and ensemble instrument.
The book treats the makers, the great players, and the literature written for the cello, charting how its technique and repertory grew over the centuries. Scholarly and thorough, it gathers a wealth of historical information about the instrument and its masters. As one of the standard early histories of the cello, it remains a useful reference for cellists and for students of the string instruments.