'TUTTI CELLI' Newsletter

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        / `  INTERNET CELLO SOCIETY © 

        |    http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/

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      \_/    TUTTI CELLI'  Bi-Monthly Newsletter, July/Aug. 1995

TUTTI CELLI CONTENTS

ICS New Members Message--450 members!
ICS News and Announcements--ICS Registration Form/Search Tool
John's Jabber
Letters to the Editor
New Membership Letters
Feature Article--****LED ZEPPLIN AND THE CELLIST***
Featured Artist--****JEFFREY SOLOW***
Member Spotlight--***RACHEL SEGAL***
Forums
- Young Cellist
- Cello Teacher--Arnold Trowel's collection
- Professional Performer--Baritone Sax playing cello music
- Cellist-By-Night--"BREAK THE CELLO"?
Department Highlights
- ICS Librarian--Stravinsky Suite Italienne Duo
ICS Library--Forum Bulletin Boards
Activities and Notes Board-EDIP International Competition
Other Internet Music Resources--Newsgroups+
Classifieds and Advertisements--Camp Directory

(For easier readability, you may want to print out this electronic newsletter.)

NEW ICS MEMBERS MESSAGE

WELCOME to the Internet Cello Society! We are currently 450 members strong and represent 17 different countries around the world! Countries represented include the United States, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Russia, Singapore, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Norway, Australia, France and Israel.

'TUTTI CELLI' is the Internet Cello Society's bi-monthly newsletter and serves several purposes: 1.) to make announcements of what is new at the ICS World Wide Web site, within the Internet music world, and throughout the real music world. 2.) to feature a distinguished cellist, an ICS member, and interesting articles. 3.) and to summarize activities in ICS cello forums and departments.

The WORLD WIDE WEB houses the Internet Cello Society at this address:

http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/
The WWW allows for the quick transfer of information in the form of text, graphics, movies, and sounds to anywhere in the world. If you have direct Internet access, all you need is a World Wide Web browser like Mosaic, Netscape, MacWeb, or the text only Lynx application (Netscape is highly recommended!). After opening your browser application, simply open the URL address of the Internet Cello Society WWW site:

http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/

ICS ONLINE SERVICES include the following:
*A Cello Introduction, an interactive multimedia presentation
*'Tutti Celli', an online copy and back issues
*Young Cellists, Professional Performers, Teachers, Cellist-By-Night Forums
*Library archives including various cello society newsletters, articles, etc....
*Membership register (optional) searchable by various criteria
*Classifieds and advertisements via The Web Classical Music Store
*Links to other Internet music resources

ICS MEMBERSHIP affords benefits as well as responsibility. As a virtual community of cellists, ICS relies on its membership to write articles, volunteer time, share expertise, and submit archive materials. If you have any documents that you would like to share with the global society of users, send them directly to CelloTalk@aol.com or on disk via snail mail. For a truly global perspective of the music world, the Internet Cello Society needs the active cooperation and contribution of each of its members.

As of this month, members can now fill out a complete REGISTRATION FORM to be added to our ICS online directory. The Netscape browser is recommended for form submission. The form is located at the URL address:

http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/ics/cello.html

As more ICS members voluntarily register in our online directory, members can search for other cellists by name, address, schools attended, teachers, city, country and more!!! Check out this incredible database of cellists from around the world:

http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/ics/cellosearch.html

Again, our WWW homepage was visited 1,000 times last month! We continue to revel in the popularity of our site. This month, we have made several additions to our WWW site. Check out our"What's New" page:

http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/new.html

Membership continues to grow, and several new cello societies plan to archive their newsletters at the Internet Cello Society.

Until the ICS membership reaches 500, forum discussion will be done via e-mail correspondence. Please continue sending questions and letters to the appropriate forum leaders below.

JOHN'S JABBER

I have had a bit of time to 'powder up' the Internet Cello Society WWW site, adding a few more graphics and special backgrounds. I believe that the browser Netscape is the only one that supports the background feature at this time. On the more practical side, I am proud to say that we have our online registration form and directory search tools up and running! I look forward to the day that we have a database of thousands of cellists from around the world.

ICS is running out of Member Spotlights. We need the participation of each member to create an interesting and truly internet-ional society. Please submit original articles, or articles that you think warrant reprinting.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

***If you would like to respond to something you have read in 'Tutti Celli', write to CelloTalk@aol.com and type "Letter to Editor" in subject field. (Letters may be edited.)***

Hello! I congratulate you on a terrific networking organization! As a cellist in a remote area (West Virginia) I am thrilled to have already discovered friends and acquaintances from years past! I look forward to meeting up with more of them, and meeting new cellists online!

Susan Tephly

Assistant Professor of Cello at Marshall University, WV

YOUTH SYMPHONY SPIRIT

Hello, I don't use the Internet often, I don't even have it on my computer, right now I'm at the Scripps Institute in La Jolla. I just wanted to convey my admiration and wonder at this cello society. It seems to cover just about anything any cellist could possibly need. When I return home to Atlanta, subscribing to the ICS will be one of the first things I do.

My main reason for sending this post is to respond to your comment on Youth Orchestras. I am seventeen years old and a cellist in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. I have heard from many who have attended our concerts that our sound is quite different from the Atlanta Symphony. While, of course, we lack the experience of such a professional orchestra, and our brass (as well as string) sections may have an occasional counting or intonation problem, we always pull together by the concert, and people claim that our sound is extremely enthusiastic and youthful, vibrant-form the fact that you mentioned earlier- that we live the music. Perhaps this is because of our inexperience- we haven't been playing the music long enough that it has become ordinary to us. Each member of our orchestra is very enthusiastic and can often not wait for the next rehearsal. Our youth orchestra had the honor this year of collaborating with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a Side by Side concert this year with Yoel Levi, playing Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. The concert was such a success (Tchaikovsky with 200 + musicians on stage) that we may do it again next year. I only wished that there were more occurrences such as this.

Thank for your time and please continue the good work.

Micheal Grogan

NEW MEMBERSHIP LETTERS

Hello, I began my cello studies in Santa Clara,Ca. with Gloria Noble at the age of 33. While a student at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA. I studied briefly with Ariel Whitbeck. Prior to moving to the Sacramento area, I auditioned with Lazlo Varga, a professor at San Francisco State University. Unfortunately, I was not able to complete my studies with him. If any ICS member knows how to get in touch with Mr. Varga, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them. I am really glad that there is a online cello forum. After an 8 yr. absence from the cello, I have recently contacted Andrew Luchansky here in Sacramento, CA to resume my studies.

Thanks again,

Dwain S. Barefield at HW1.DBAREFIE@HW1.CAHWNET.GOV

I have a long history with the cello (44 years) and a short history with the internet (little more than 44 days), but I'm interested in participating as a member.

Thanks,

Paul Silverman, Rockville, MD

FEATURE ARTICLE

PLANT, PAGE AND ME --

A CELLIST TELLS HOW HE ROCKED THE CIVIC ARENA

By Paul Critser

A reprint of an article published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, this article is about a refreshingly different experience of cellist Paul Critser, playing back-up to the Led Zepplin band.

"We still listen to the music of Bach and Beethoven, but in 200 years will people still listen to Led Zeppelin? My parents convinced me with this argument, intellectually, that a rock 'n' roll concert was not so much music as it was an event. Nonetheless, I continued to listen. My parents' reasoning simply added to the exciting tinge of naughtiness which accompanied intellectual rebellion.

I was jolted by that same rebellious spirit upon being hired for Led Zeppelin's backup orchestra last month. Finally, a kind of revenge on my parents. Not only was I going to be playing rock 'n' roll on my cello, I was going to be playing with the very band about whose music my parents used to scream, "Turn it down!"

FEATURED ARTIST

JEFFREY SOLOW
by TimFinholt

Jeffrey Solow is currently Associate Professor of Music at the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University. He is a renowned performer, cello pedagogue, and author. Two of his articles were recently voted to be in the top 10 of the last ten years in American String Teacher magazine. Mr. Solow shares his experiences of studying with Piatigorsky, his ongoing discovery of a more efficient cello technique, and some of his teaching philosophy. He also offers interesting, and sometimes different opinions on several questions. Are competitions useful? Is it wrong that many more performance degrees are given than jobs? Is there such a thing as a wrong interpretation?

Margaret Rowell, prominent pedagogue of the cello and founder of the California Cello Club, passed away on Friday, April 21, 1995. Born on December 11, 1900, she has taught many cellists including distinguished cellists Paul Tobias, Bonnie Hampton, and Irene Sharp. This article by Irene Sharp, professor at San Francisco Conservatory, serves as an introduction to Margaret Rowell and her teaching. This first-hand account of a former student offers a close up look at the life and energetic teaching approach of Margaret Rowell. Margaret Rowell was a pedagogue with an incredible conviction, a sometimes unconventional approach, a warm-heart, and a keen understanding of the natural power of the body.

The obituary of Margaret Avery Rowell is also included in the transcript. (Memorial donations can be made for the Margaret Rowell Scholarship Fund at the Conservatory.)

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

RACHEL SEGAL

I'm currently working for my Ph.D. at Leeds University and my research area is essentially critical theory of the arts and socio-cultural history. My area of specialization is nineteenth-century fin-de-siècle modernist opera, esp. in Vienna, most particularly Franz Schreker's opera Der Ferne Klang but there's a lot more to it than it might seem. I'm a cellist (baroque cello and "modern") and was principal cellist of the MYO (county youth orchestra) years and years ago. Did various masterclasses, with Paul Tortelier (when I was about ten years old!), Andrew Shulman (Britten Quartet), Bruno Shreker (Allegri Quartet) and Mischa Maisky (MAJOR hero).

Academic research and singing medieval music seem to have taken over but I still consider cello to be my principal and favorite instrument. Cannot BEAR cliquey muso cellist types - I am very much an advocate of the enjoy and share music philosophy. Music of all types is for EVERYONE that wishes to experience it.

Nuff said.

Rachel

FORUM HIGHLIGHTS

***This newsletter section will draw from correspondence and discussion in the following on-line departments. All members are encouraged to join a specific forum mailing list. Send any pertinent discussion, questions & answers, articles or other correspondence to the appropriate department. ***

THE YOUNG CELLIST
***Stacy Cowley, forum director at: Isoma@aol.com***
INTRO: The Young Cellists Forum is a meeting and correspondence place for all cellists under 21. Whether you plan a professional career or your playing is strictly for fun, this is the forum for you! Since many of us are shopping around for music schools, camps, and college/conservatory programs, this section will be featuring reviews of several of them. If you've attended a training program, share your experiences with the rest of us!
THE CELLO TEACHER (K-12, College & Private)
***Bret Smith, forum director at BPSmith@aol.com***

"To the Cello Teacher Forum:

I'm a cellist, I teach at the Lisbon Conservatory and as a net surfer I'm always glad to find a really useful site. Let me know if there is something I can do to help keep this forum running.

As for your posting in April's newsletter about nice pieces in the four positions range, I would suggest Arnold Trowel's collection, they're nicely crafted in technical terms and nice to play. My students love them.

migue.ivo.cruz@tpone.telepac.pt (Miguel Ivo Cruz)"

BPSmith replies:

Thanks for the input, Miguel. I know our readers will appreciate the tip. As for keeping the forum running, simply drop me a note from time to time. Our international forum members are a great resource! Let us know what's happening in Lisbon.

THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER (Orchestral, Chamber Music & Solo)
***Paul Critser, forum director can be contacted at CelloPaul@aol.com***
INTRO: What does it take to make a living on the cello?

Paul,
I performed the Vivaldi Concerto for two Celli and Piano at my saxophone workshop this past week. Dave Matthews and I played the Cello parts on Baritone Saxophone. It went very well and was very well received. Thanks for the suggestion and I hope that you don't feel that we saxophonists invaded your territory. I also read through the Mozart Duo but we did not have time to schedule a performance of it. It is a very nice piece of music.

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

Marino Galluzo, Pittsburgh, PA

THE CELLIST-BY-NIGHT
***Tim Finholt, interim forum director can be contacted at editor@cello.org***

INTRO: The Cellist by Night Forum is for those who play the cello purely for the love of it, and want to learn more about our wonderful instrument. If you need help with certain passages in your music, choosing repertoire, thoughts on stage fright, finding good books and articles, or you need to talk about anything musical, then write to Tim Finholt at editor@cello.org.

Hi Tim
I have received the fax. Thank you. Although that article is addressing critical matters, it's amusing and easy to read. I think it was well written.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a 33 year old biology Post Doc. I am playing the cello for just a hobby. I started learning it 14 years ago when I was much younger and full of power. Recently I suddenly noticed I am not young any more. I think the young age helped me to play the cello in a maybe violent way. Now I get tired in this way of playing. My both arms and wrists hurt pretty easily. I am wondering if there should be easier way, because Casals could play the cello in such an old age. So I agree with the opinion "maybe we are making it more difficult than is necessary". I think your article will help me developing an easy way.
Thanks for your help.
Nam

Nam,
If you are in pain when you play, then there is something VERY wrong. Assuming that you are healthy, you should not be experiencing pain. 33 years old is not old at all, so don't blame it on your age. You need to figure out what's going on as soon as possible. You could cause yourself permanent injury!
I highly recommend you buy the book, "New Directions in Cello Playing," by Victor Sazer, which I described in the last newsletter. This book helps you analyze your posture and arm positions to discover points of tension in your body. One interesting thing he says is "Many cellists believe that pain cannot be avoided. Finding no physical relief from their performance-related pain, they are convinced that their art requires the sacrifice of their bodies. There are also many who believe that what is good for the body and the physical requirements of playing the cello represent an unresolvable dichotomy." Don't fall into this trap too!
Are you practicing regularly? If not, your cello muscles may not be in shape and may tire quickly. In this case you need to slowly build up your endurance over days and weeks. So don't sit down and practice for 4 hours after not having played for 3 months. Take a lot of breaks.
I would also recommend you play for a good cello teacher. Perhaps you need some help with your posture and arm positions that can be quickly diagnosed. It's always nice to have an objective observer.
And then you can always go to a doctor who specializes in musician's physical problems. They can sometimes be found at sports medicine clinics.
I can relate to you saying that you used to play the cello in a "violent way." When I was younger, I also was known for "passionate" playing. I emulated (and exaggerated) Casals and the earthy style that I often heard or thought I heard in his records. But I also played with much tension and discomfort like you. This did me more harm than good in the long run.
I took to heart something Casals once said, "Break your cello! It is better to have character in what you play than to have a beautiful sound." (from Casals and the Art of Interpretation, by David Blum, pg. 13) However, this quote is perhaps more dangerous than helpful to a young cellist who hasn't learned much technique yet. I used it as an excuse to downplay the technical aspects of being a musician. I held myself back technically due what I now consider to be artistic arrogance. Because of my attitude, I tended to thrash the cello. The sound was ugly and my technique was sloppy. It has taken me years to undo my old habits, which is still an ongoing process. Learn from my mistakes!
I hope this has helped. Good luck!
Tim Finholt (editor@cello.org)

DEPARTMENTS

REVIEWS of Cello Recordings, New Repertoire, Contemporary Music
***Dale E. Newton, contributing writer***

INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT--Maintenance, Purchasing & Selling
***If you have any questions on this topic, contact KRB100@aol.com.***
CELLO MUSIC LIBRARIAN
***Sarah Dorsey, official ICS librarian at SBDORSEY@steffi.uncg.edu (Please do not abuse this valuable service; check local libraries and resources before contacting Sarah.)***

Gloria,
There is a re-release of the recording you may recall of the Suite Italienne (AKA Pulcinella Suite of Stravinsky). It is put out by RCA Victor Gold Seal and the number is 09026-61762-2. It is part of the Heifetz collection volume 31. The title is "Romantic Fantasy." Piatigorsky is playing with Heifetz. As far as printed music of this arrangement...not sure there was ever one published. If I find something, I'll contact you.
Hope this helps! Enjoy!
Sarah

MUSIC FESTIVAL WATCH
***If you have announcements, comments or reviews of music festivals, please contact Roberta Rominger at roberta@rominger.demon.co.uk***
NETWORK LIAISONS
- CompuServe
  Claudio Jaffe has volunteered to inform CompuServe users of the Internet Cello Society and regularly post the 'Tutti Celli' Newsletter. He can be contacted at 74024.3001@compuserve.com
- America Online
  Chris works for AOL and can be reached at Laphroaig@aol.com or AFA Chris@aol.com
OTHER
***If you would like to contribute an article about other topics, write CelloTalk@aol.com***

LIBRARY ADDITIONS

1. Cellists-By-Night Bulletin Board
Several new articles on various aspects of playing
http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/bulletin.html

If you know of cello society newsletters, bibliographies of music, teaching materials, references, indices, lists or articles that should be added to ICS Library, please send data to CelloTalk@aol.com or send disks to Internet Cello Society; 1309 Skyline Drive; Ellensburg, WA 98926.(Library contents will be available to all Internet users; please include author and written statement of release for unlimited or limited reproduction.)

ACTIVITIES AND NOTES BOARD

***All members are welcome to post announcements or news that are pertinent to our global cello society. Send information to BPSmith@aol.com***

JOB OPENING: The Midland-Odessa Symphony will be holding auditions for Co-principal Cello for the 1995-1996 season. The Midland-Odessa Symphony is a non-union per service orchestra in West Texas. During the 1995-1996 season 8 subscription concerts, a family concert, 2 Nutcracker performances and 12 youth concerts will be performed. A private teaching position is available in the Ector County Independent School District to provide additional income. For application and audition information please call Tim Young or Rob Hunt at (915) 563-0921. Application deadline is July 15, 1995. submitted by: LEE_S66@gusher.pb.utexas.edu

1995 EDIP INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Solo Violin-Solo Violoncello-Clarinet/Percussion Duo

Composer Statement: The objective of this competition is to discover the best individuals to record my original compositions and to present them to the American public in a nationally distributed recording.- Edward J. Hines

The competition is open to violinists, cellists, clarinetists and percussionists of all ages. There is no entrance fee. Winners will be chosen exclusively by the composer. Winners will receive $500 each as part of a standard recording contract to professionally record Yeni Makam 2,3 or 4. For more information write Edward J. Hines at the address EDIP International Competition, Wendell, MA 01379 USA or at 74742.2031@compuserve.com.

OTHER INTERNET MUSIC RESOURCES

***Paul Critser, ICS Internet Surfer at CelloPaul@aol.com***

We'll have fun fun fun till our daddy takes the PC away!!!

1. Newsgroups
rec.music.classical
rec.music.classical.performing
rec.music.early
rec.music.makers
rec.music.makers.bass
rec.music.misc
2. EMail Lists/Listserves:
allmusic@auvm.bitnet
acmp-list@isi.edu (Amateur Chamber Music Players)
amslist@ucdavis.edu (American Musicological Society)
bass@uwplatt.edu (The "Bottom Line" list)
ASTA-L@cmsuvmb.bitnet (American String Players Association)
ATMI-L@uiowa.edu (Ass. for Technology in Music Instruction)
classm-l@brownvm.bitnet
music-ed@uminn1.bitnet (music education)
MUSPRF-L@cmsuvmb.cmsu.edu (Music Performance and Pedagogy)

CLASSIFIEDS & ADVERTISEMENTS

1. Camp Directory by Sandy Caviezel

Classifieds are now possible via the Web Classical Music Store! Any businesses or individuals that might be interested in posting advertisements, please write CelloTalk@aol.com and type "classifieds" in subject field.

Address letters to the appropriate department editors listed above and any other correspondence to John Michel at CelloTalk@AOL.COM

_ / ` INTERNET CELLO SOCIETY © | http://tahoma.cwu.edu:2000/~michelj/ -|- | \_/ TUTTI CELLI' Bi-Monthly Newsletter, July/Aug. 1995

TUTTI CELLI CONTENTS