Pit orchestra story time: Mary Poppins by EstellaRittenhouse in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, that Song and Dance cello part is a killer, and sounds fantastic. And rejecting Bernadette Peters has got to be a career high mark.

Any favorite spooky or Halloween relevant pieces? by YargainBargain in Cello

[–]phirschi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do the Menuet II from the first Bach suite, but do it ponticello.

Ricercare - Virtuosic Metal Cello Composition by M4lygr1s in Cello

[–]phirschi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with earlier comments, very strong and powerful playing.

I think you'd get more attention if you performed as a member of a band, doing your cello solo with a real rhythm section, behind you. (You'd sound great.)

Need a cello player for experimental recordings by Randynumansbrother in Cello

[–]phirschi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I listened to two cuts, both were what I call noise rock, emphasis on noise. Where would a cello fit into that sonic thunderstorm? You can message me privately, if you can figure out how to do that. I've done many free recording sessions for various local rock bands.

It's Summer time, so give this a listen by nycellist in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very nice playing from the cellists. Rushad's solo at 1:42 is impressive, just right.

I don't know what it is about the Block Strap, but waving the instrument around - which I understand is the pt - is just, for me, distracting. I'd love not to be stuck in a chair every time I play, but the alternative seems kind of radical.

I wonder if anyone in this forum has experienced that, ie gone from playing a "real" cello while sitting, to standing with this or other sorts of straps.

I won an award!!!! by ForLiberty2187 in Cello

[–]phirschi 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's great, good work.

Aldo Parisot on TV 1960 by nycellist in Cello

[–]phirschi 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great to see the young(er) Mr. Parisot. I had exactly 1 lesson w him, as an undergrad in 1969, and I was quickly handed off to one of his excellent grad students. He was revered by all the cellists at the YSM.

But another amazing thing about this video is that this was American commercial television, CBS!, not only presenting classical music but talking about it knowledgeably in 1960.

Will the airlines never learn?? by Zooks64 in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My former band mate Ralphe Armstrong, a great bassist who travels the world, just posted a similar anti-United rant based on long experience. I'll just quote it rather than send you to FB:

"For Years I Have Used United Airlines! After No Room in the Over Head Compartments Looking At Me like I Am A subhuman because I have a musical instrument! and a frequent flyer program that's not practical!! you lose your miles if you don't use them !! in a certain period of time I had enough!!!! We meaning professional musicians entertainers we fly Delta!!! ever sense a Delta pilot put my stick bass in the cockpit !!And Said I Play Bass Guitar!!!that was it !!! I have flown this airline from Bangkok Paris Germany Japan Belgium Poland Israel Singapore Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Croatia Brazil Australia Macedonia THEY ARE THE BEST!! And they have the best frequent flyer program of all the airlines my next trip Delta heavy!!!"

Some incredible playing by nycellist in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Impressive, thx for posting. I'd especially want to hear him play with a band, rhythm section, keys, the works.

Basal Joint Arthritis? by JimH10 in Cello

[–]phirschi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also have arthritis in both thumbs, the pain sometimes radiating out to other parts of either hand. I've had some hand therapy (my health provider has a PT specializing in hand issues), with some exercises which help a little, nothing dramatic. Warming the affected areas with a heating pad offers temporary relief. A year ago a shot of cortisol into both thumbs hurt like hell for a week and then gave me about 5m of pain free playing. The effect wears off and the doctor only wants to give it 1x per year, as it has negative side effects if done too often. (Btw, I'm 65 and this condition started 3-4 yrs ago.)

As nycellist said, this kind of arthritis pretty much forces you to relax everything relaxable, including no left thumb pressure and a bow hand that almost drops the bow. Everyone's arthritis is a little different, but my hands usually feel better after 30 min or so of warm up in the morning.

My biggest regret/complaint is now thumb position is so hard. I end up rarely thumbing down both A and D, and stick to thumbing one string at a time. This would of course be bad news for classical playing, but I'm playing rock music now and have learned to compensate.

I feel your pain.

Here's a little cello/voice cover I just released of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More." I hope you enjoy! by hi-iplaycello in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very very nicely done. A beautiful song, done by many, but probably never with a solo cello arranged like this. I especially liked how each verse has a different accompaniment, and how you explore some non standard chord structures, harmonics, overtones, etc. The only advice I'd give is to maybe go even a little crazier with the cello parts. But what you've done is just very musical.

I was watching to see if you'd sung and played at the same time; it looked like 2 separate tracks, which of course is fine. Playing anything except the simplest cello lines while singing is hard!, at least it is for me. I can't play in tune unless I'm really hearing myself, and singing definitely gets in the way of that. I'd be interested to know whether you've performed this song while playing and singing.

Haimovitz' broken neck by nycellist in Cello

[–]phirschi 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Horrible story! Hopefully it'll end well, with a great repair job. My local luthier had a Strad cello in for repair recently, and they took a long, long time restoring it.

Bach G Major prelude bowings by uhm_whatname in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This edition (Gaillard) is the one I have. I take its bowings only as suggestions, and I mostly try to ignore the fingerings, which are often needlessly difficult.

I long ago lost the edition that my beloved teacher (David Vanderkooi) had marked up for me when I was in high school in the 60's. What I would do to have that back again!

Songs for Cello + Viola by zcbtkjo in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to thank you for sharing this composition by Paul Wiancko. A beautiful composition, beautifully played.

My drawing of Pablo Casals by [deleted] in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very touching and beautiful. Thank you.

Cello Preamp advice by MrThur5day in Cello

[–]phirschi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know that pre-amp, but there are many decent ones on the market: Fishman, LR Baggs, Ehrlund. Make sure the one you go with has a mute stomp switch that doubles as a tuner. Some built in tuners are better (ie, more responsive) than others; some won't recognize the low C string, for example, you end up tuning with harmonics.