Books about Cellists from Amazon.com

A spare and haunting, wise and beautiful novel about the endurance of the human spirit and the subtle ways individuals reclaim their humanity in a city ravaged by war.

In a city under siege, four people whose lives have been upended are ultimately reminded of what it is to be human. From his window, a musician sees twenty-two of his friends and neighbors waiting in a breadline. Then, in a flash, they are killed by a mortar attack. In an act of defiance, the man picks up his cello and decides to play at the site of the shelling for twenty-two days, honoring their memory. Elsewhere, a young man leaves home to collect drinking water for his family and, in the face of danger, must weigh the value of generosity against selfish survivalism. A third man, older, sets off in search of bread and distraction and instead runs into a long-ago friend who reminds him of the city he thought he had lost, and the man he once was. As both men are drawn into the orbit of cello music, a fourth character—a young woman, a sniper—holds the fate of the cellist in her hands. As she protects him with her life, her own army prepares to challenge the kind of person she has become.

A novel of great intensity and power, and inspired by a true story, The Cellist of Sarajevo poignantly explores how war can change one’s definition of humanity, the effect of music on our emotional endurance, and how a romance with the rituals of daily life can itself be a form of resistance..
Price: $6.89 [Notify me when price goes down.]

When renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich died less than a year ago at the age of eighty, the world lost not only an extraordinary musician but an accomplished conductor, an outsize personality, and a courageous human being. It is not an exaggeration to say that the history of the cello in the twentieth century would be unthinkable without the name of Mstislav Rostropovich, writes Elizabeth Wilson. He has seemed to me like a personification of the cello itself. Ms. Wilson, a former student of Slava and the acclaimed biographer of both Shostakovich and Jacqueline du Pre, has written the definitive biography of the master. Rostropovich teems with entertaining anecdotes and therefore brings the reader as close as one can get to the method and psychology of Rostropovich's playing and teaching. In his native Moscow, his fame as a performer was nearly equaled by his reputation as a teacher..
Price: $19.97 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This collection of interviews sparkles with the individual personalities of some of this century's most gifted cellists With voices as unique as their instruments', these musicians reveal the facets and textures of their professional and personal lives. From the intrepid Bion Tsang to the dynamic Kenneth Slowik and the charming Yo-Yo Ma, these artists and many others discuss what it's like to be a soloist, member of an ensemble, composer, mentor, musical activist and recording artist. How they began, what cultural and historical forces shaped them, how they practice, and what they aspire to - this and more are illuminated in this fascinating volume. Artists include: David Finckel, Ralph Kirshbaum, Laurence Lesser, Yo-Yo Ma, Kermit Moore, Carlos Prieto, Hai-Ye Ni, Kenneth Slowik, Bion Tsang, Jian Wang and Peter Wispelwey..
Price: $9.65 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Drawing on thirty years of teaching experience, Cornelia Watkins presents a healthy physical and psychological approach to learning the cello. Based on the premise that the study of a stringed instrument can have a powerful, positive effect on developing the whole person, Watkins offers teaching ideas that promote self-awareness, problem-solving skills and creative thinking. Rosindust presents teaching ideas ranging from cello-specific techniques to comprehensive, easily transferable concepts, applicable to many learning situations..
Price: $28.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

GRISHA: The Story of Cellist Gregor Piatigorsky This books tells the story of a struggle between father and son, both aspiring musicians. While the father fails in the musical world of Tsarist Russia, his son becomes a world famous cellist. For Gregor Piatigorsky, success meant escaping the grip of his father, surviving the murderous Russian pogroms, fleeing from the Bolshevik Revolution and twice escaping the Nazi Holocaust. It also meant falling in love with the daughter of the Baron de Rothschild, the wealthiest family in Europe. While Piatigorsky found fame and fortune as a musical artist and entertained presidents, kings and emperors, he was still a man without a country. As World War II destroyed everything he had ever known, Piatigorsky found sanctuary at Windy Cliff, an abandoned castle in Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York. In 1942, he achieved his dream of becoming an American citizen and finally stopped running..
Price: $19.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

From London to New York, Emily Barr’s feisty new heroine charms both sides of the Atlantic

Evie Silver appears to have it all. A semi-celebrity in the British tabloids, she’s known as much for her fame as a “lite” classical musician as for her own fabulous sense of style. But this self-made diva is dissatisfied with her stale, safe marriage to her college sweetheart and her artistically shallow career. An extended trip to New York seems just the thing, but Evie’s problems in London make the transatlantic journey with her: the media demands on an emerging pop starlet; the increasing threats of a determined stalker; and a long kept secret that could ruin her image and all of the relationships she holds dear.

Praise for Emily Barr’s novels:
“Barr’s voice is sharp and bright, her writing darkly funny.”
—Washington Post Book World

“Gives the tired single-girl school of fiction a much-needed shot in the arm.”
—Publishers Weekly
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Price: $0.01 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Solos for Young Cellists is an eight-volume series of music compilations with companion CDs. The series ranges from elementary to advanced levels and represents a truly exciting variety of musical genres and techniques. This collection of wonderful music offers young cellists the opportunity to work in various positions, techniques, meters, keys and musical styles. Many of the works have long been recognized as stepping stones to the major instrumental repertoire, while others are newly published pieces and original compositions, providing an exciting and diverse choice of study. The collection will become a valuable resource for teachers and students of all ages and levels. The piano track recorded on the second half of each CD gives the cellist the chance to practice performing with accompaniments.
Contents:

* Romance-Debussy

* Bourree-Squire

* Serenade Basque-Adorian

* Sicilienne-Faure

* Sonata in E Minor, Op. 38, No. 1-Romberg

* Sonata in E Minor, Op. 38, No. 1-Romberg/Farrar (quartet arrangement)

* Fond Recollections, Op. 64, No. 1-Popper

* Harlequinade-Squire

* Humoresque-Squire.
Price: $9.85 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Janos Starker, King of Cellists, The Making of an Artist", is written from the standpoint of one who has studied the man, his music, his teaching, and his relationships to discover the influences that shaped who he is, a fantastic cellist, recording artist, and teacher of the instrument. He is one who has made an indelible impact on the world of music..
Price: $15.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]