Documenting the cello
A growing collection of articles focused on the cello and its interpretation, Here you will find information that generally is not so much purely biographical, but more, the styles, performing and teaching influences and other worthy considerations from the cello world and its performers and composers. As always, all content is free to read, print or share, in line with Johnstone-Music’s non-commercial spirit.
All articles are presented in ENGLISH unless otherwise stated!
Cadenza Preparation for cellists
VLC001 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC001-Cadenza_Preparation_for_cellists_j-m.pdf
A brief introduction to the Cello Suites of J.S.Bach / Una breve introducción a las Suites para Violoncello de J.S. Bach
VLC002 – by David Johnstone / in English and Spanish / en español e inglés
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC002-article-BACH-Cello_Suites_j-mENG-ESP.pdf
Understanding Grutzmacher
VLC003 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC003-Understanding_Grutzmacher_j-m.pdf
The Career and Music of Fitzenhagen – and the Rococo Variations
VLC004 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC004-The_Career_of_Fitzenhagen-and_the_Rococo_Variations_j-m.pdf
Hugo Becker and the German transition to the Modern Cello Age
VLC005 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC005-Hugo_Becker-The_German_transition_to_the_modern_cello_age_j-m.pdf
Robert Hausmann – the cellist of Brahms
VLC006 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC006-Robert_Hausmann-Cellist_of_Brahms_j-m.pdf
Robert Lindley – the first great English cellist
VLC007 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC007-Robert_Lindley-First_great_English_cellist_j-m.pdf
The Late-Romantic English Cello School
The Late-Romantic English Cello School – featuring Whitehouse, Walenn, Squire, Such, Mukle, James, Trowell, Salmon, Sharpe, Harrison, Kennedy, Pini, Kilby, Cameron, Clark, Reiss, Butler, Hampton, Hooton, Joseph and Pleeth
VLC008 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC008-The_late_romantic_English_Cello_school.pdf
The Late-Romantic German cello school – an introduction to Julius Klengel
VLC009 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC009-An_intro_Julius_Klengel_and_his_compositions_j-m.pdf
The romantic French cellist Franchomme… and his friendship with Chopin
VLC010 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC010-Auguste_Franchomme_and_Chopin_j-m.pdf
Guilhermina Suggia – woman cellist of fire
VLC011 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC011-Guilhermina_Suggia-Woman_cellist_of_fire_j-m.pdf
Carl Davidov – The romantic virtuoso Russian cellist
VLC012 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC012-Carl_Davidov-The_Romantic_Russian_Virtuoso_Cellist_j-m.pdf
Paul Bazelaire – The transition to the modern French cello age
VLC013 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC013-Paul_Bazelaire_j-m.pdf
Gaspar Cassadó: His relationship with Pablo Casals and his versatile musical life
VLC014 – by Nat Chaitkin
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC014-GASPAR_CASSADO-by_N_Chaitkin.pdf
Leo Viola – Una luz para el violoncello desde Argentina / A light for the Cello from Argentina
VLC015 – by David Johnstone / in English and Spanish / en español e inglés
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC015-Leo_Viola_j-m-ENG_ESP.pdf
Bloch y Schelomo, Rapsodía Hebraica
VLC016 – por Walter Anibal Ravanelli / en español
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC016-Bloch_y_Schelomo_j-m-ESP.pdf
The music of Goltermann – a largely forgotten German romantic cellist
VLC017 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC017-GOLTERMANN-Georg_j-m.pdf
Jules de Swert – Belgium’s unsung Cello Hero
VLC018 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC018-De_SWERT-BELGUIMS_UNSUNG_CELLO_HERO_j-m.pdf
Maurice Marechal – the Voice of the Cello in France
VLC019 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC019-Maurice_Marechal_j-m.pdf
Leonard Rose (Stephen Honigberg) – A Book Review
VLC020 – by Jayne I. Hanlin
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC020-Leonard-Rose-Book_review_j-m.pdf
The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece (Eric Siblin) – A book review
VLC021 – by Jayne I. Hanlin
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC021-Casals_and_Search_for_Baroque_Masterpiece-Book_review_j-m.pdf
A Brush with Immortality
VLC022 – by Aaron Minsky
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC022-A_Brush_with_Immortality-A_Minsky_j-m.pdf
Dotzauer – the founder of the Dresden school of Cello playing
VLC023 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC023-Dotzauer_j-m.pdf
Kummer – Progression of the Dresden School of Cello Playing
VLC024 – by Annapaola
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC024-Kummer_j-m.pdf
Janigro – A poetical Italian cellist
VLC025 – by Annapaola
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC025-Antonio_Janigro_j-m.pdf
La Música formó parte de mi vida desde el día que nací – Carlos Prieto habla de su vida
VLC026 – por Jorge Vázquez Pacheco / in English and Spanish / en español e inglés
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC026-Carlos_Prieto-j_m-ESP.pdf
Beethoven – The Sonatas and Variations for Cello – a wealth of Historical Information
VLC027 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC027-Beethoven_sonatas_and_variations_j-m.pdf
21 Great and Unusual Twentieth Century Cellists (Brief biographies)
VLC028 – by…various authors / in English
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC028-GREAT_AND_UNUSUAL-TWENTIETH-CENTURY-CELLISTS_j-m.pdf
Bernhard Romberg – An evaluation of his career and influence
VLC029 – by Celloheaven
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC029-Romberg-Evaluation_of-career_and_influence_j-m.pdf
Gregor Piatigorsky
VLC030 – por Celloheaven – S. y S. Applebaum
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC030-Gregor_PIATIGORSKY-j_m.pdf
The Magician of the Cello – The Rags-to-Riches Story of the Dutch cellist Auguste Van Biene
VLC031 – based on the investigative work of Dr. Brenda Scott
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC031-Auguste_Van_Biene_j-m.pdf
The innovative concerto of Robert Volkmann
VLC032 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC032-VOLKMANN-Cello-Concerto-j_m.pdf
Tchaikovsky’s Cello Concerto (newly constructed)
VLC033 – by Yuriy Leonovich
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC033-Tchaikovsky-Cello_Concerto_j-m.pdf
Visiting the Pablo Casals Museum (Parts I & II)
VLC034 – by Jayne I. Hanlin (orig. published by Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc)
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC034-Visiting_the_Pablo_Casals_Museum_PARTS_1_and_2-j-m.pdf
Stringing Along – Rostropovich
VLC035 – by Jayne I. Hanlin (orig. published by Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc)
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC035-Rostropovich_Hanlin_j-m.pdf
ROSTROPOVICH – What works did he champion?
VLC036 – by Cello org
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC036-What_works_did_Rostropovich_champion_j-m.pdf
LEV ARONSON (Forgotten Cellists)
VLC037 – by Janet Horvath (first appearing in “Interlude”) – this important cellist overcame horrific experiences in concentration camps during World War II to become principal cello of the Dallas Symphony, and a beloved cello teacher to following generations of great cellists. Here is his life story.
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC037-ForgottenCellists-Lev_Aronson_j-m.pdf
JANOS STARKER: Igniting a Spark
VLC038 – by Janet Horvath
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC038-Janos_Starker_Igniting_a_Spark-Horvath.pdf
The Connection of Susan Metcalfe with Pablo Casals and where Guilhermina Suggia was positioned within!
VLC039 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC039-Connection_METCALFE_CASALS_Suggia.pdf
That unfortunate incident – PAU CASALS and EDUOARD JACOBS – what really happened?
VLC040 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC040-JACOBS_and_CASALS.pdf
THE PAU CASALS FOUNDATION
VLC041 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC041-THE_PAU_CASALS_FOUNDATION.pdf
Feature on the Orquestra Pau Casals
VLC042 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC042-ORQUESTRA_PAU_CASALS.pdf
A MUCH MALIGNED CELLIST: The True Story of Felix Salmond And The Elgar Cello Concerto – Tully Potter tries to lay a myth to rest
VLC043 – by Tully Potter
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC043-A_MUCH_MALIGNED_CELLIST-FELIX_SALMOND-Tully_Potter.pdf
Composer ERNEST JOHN MOERAN, his CELLO CONCERTO, and his wife – the cellist PEERS COETMORE
VLC044 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC044-EJ_MOERAN-P_COETMORE.pdf
Truths and Rumours on Saint-Saens Cello Concerto in A minor
VLC045 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC045-Truths_and_Rumours_on_Saint-Saens_Cello_Concerto_in_A_minor.pdf
Over one Hundred Years without Max Reger – An introduction to his Music for Solo Cello
VLC046 – by David Johnstone
https://johnstone-music.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/VLC046-REGER-sIntro-solo-cello.pdf
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David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.
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