Giovanni Sollima is a contemporary composer and cellist whose music is at once fiercely modern and lushly romantic. Witness Daydream: the first half is a rich, warm trio, and the second half is a virtuosic cello solo that is, for lack of better words, punk as fuck. His longer composition Violoncelles, Vibrez! is a lush, pulsating piece that builds to an incredible climax. My favorite work of his, L. B. Files, is a four-part work that rapidly shifts styles and colors and textures – simply glorious all around.
posted by Rory Marinich on Mar 6, 2013 - 24 comments

Election Day Divertimento: Mischa Maisky plays Bach Cello Suite No.1 in G (SLYT)
posted by growabrain on Nov 6, 2012 - 21 comments

Ron Minis' Not-Sober Lullaby. (SLYT)
posted by flibbertigibbet on Jan 7, 2012 - 8 comments

Tricks for getting your violin on a plane, by Lara St. John.
How about an upright bass? A cello? A guitar? (previously) A trombone? A tuba (and other horns)? What about lutes, a djembe, a hurdy-gurdy, or bagpipes?
(Some general tips. More general tips - part 1, part 2.)
posted by flex on Dec 27, 2011 - 36 comments

In their 25 year career San Fransisco-based Kronos Quartet might be most famous for creating the go-to dramatic movie trailer music but they've recently courted controversy with their latest album, 9/11, with Steve Reich (NPR First Listen). The album is another in a long line of collaborations with composers such as Phillip Glass, Terry Riley, and Pēteris Vasks. And like any good instrumental ensemble, they've covered Hendrix, Sigur Ros, and Tom Waits. Oh, and they've been on Sesame Street. [more inside]
posted by The Whelk on Sep 17, 2011 - 34 comments

Observe a classy penguin. It's worth it. Take time. If you don't expect something big huge and exciting, usually, um... [more inside]
posted by kaibutsu on Sep 8, 2011 - 30 comments

George Mason Green Machine athletic band plays Killing In The Name Of... Welcome To The Jungle played on two cellos. One by Apocalyptica. The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain plays the theme from Shaft.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul on Jun 10, 2011 - 16 comments

Cellist Kevin Olusola incorporated beatboxing into a piece called Julie-O. [more inside]
posted by gman on Apr 18, 2011 - 16 comments

Cellist Zoë Keating describes her music as "the fusion of information architecture and classical music," and uses a traditional French cello and a foot-controlled MacBook to create lush, multi-layered cello music. From 2002 to 2006 she was a member of Rasputina, and more recently she played with Amanda Palmer. Keating has prospered online through iTunes and her website; her new album, Into the Trees, is streaming free and can be purchased on her website, and you can watch her perform some older pieces on her Youtube channel. [Via]
posted by homunculus on Jun 25, 2010 - 22 comments

Remember Lasse Gjertsen? Now he's helping cellist Giovanni Solima, and has created an awe-inspiring multi-armed, multi-location music video for his piece, 'DayDream'. (video links youtube)
posted by Happy Dave on May 12, 2007 - 17 comments

Pachelbel Rant (YouTube) by Rob Paravonian (official site). A few more of his videos, including a comedy bit on the Friends theme and Sugar Ray lyrics. (previous reference on MeFi here)
posted by Melinika on May 9, 2007 - 39 comments

A Cello Rondo A cello piece digitally combined from 37 different cello parts all played by the same musician. With funky video. [Qucktime, 45mb], [Quicktime, 22mb]. Other formats available through the link. via Digg.
posted by ontic on Feb 26, 2006 - 17 comments