Janet Horvath, Author at CelloBello

About Janet Horvath

Janet Horvath, the associate principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1980-2012, is a soloist, writer, and award-winning advocate for injury prevention for musicians. She has appeared internationally in recital and as soloist and has performed Kol Nidre, her signature work, for many decades. Her first book Playing (less) Hurt – An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians has received international critical acclaim. Her numerous publications include a recent story in The New York Times and essays in The Atlantic and more. Ms. Horvath completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing from Hamline University, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Her memoir in progress is an absorbing creative non-fiction story that centers around George Horvath, Janet’s father, who from 1946-1948 played hundreds of morale building concerts in Displaced Persons camps throughout Bavaria for Holocaust survivors like himself. Leonard Bernstein, the legendary maestro, was at the helm of the seventeen-member ensemble for two of these concerts bringing solace to thousands of refugees after World War II.

Playing the Cello: The Best Icebreaker

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. You’ve probably heard the cello on numerous occasions either because you love its deep baritone sounds or because the cello is used whenever someone dies in a movie. The cello—its vibrant sounds so close to the human voice—is the perfect instrument to portray a melancholy or heartfelt or gripping mood. What if I told you the cello is the best icebreaker too? Wilhelm Kaiser: Lindemann Mambo for Six Cellos https://youtu.be/_V4STcRqSjY We cellists never get used to the endless quips, (Don’t’cha wish you played the flute?) and the original jibes (that’s bigger than you are!) Large trunk for cellos Traveling with a cello is never without issues. When you’re a member of an orchestra and you go on tour, large trunks—coffins we [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:03:14-04:00October 22nd, 2022|Categories: Interpersonal Relationships|Tags: Eating with cello, traveling with cello, Playing the Cello, Icebreakers, Biking with cello, Shopping with cello|

Cellos and Cellists Star IN the Movies

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Hepburn and cello When I mention that I play the cello, people say, “The cello is my favorite instrument.” Hollywood has picked up on that sentiment. No longer merely the provider of soulful background music, although it is not yet an Oscar category, the cello or cellists play leading roles in several movies. Gauche the Cellist, a 1934 short story by Japan’s Miyazawa Kenji, features an unexceptional professional cellist who is scorned by the conductor of the town’s orchestra. Goshu is criticized for not understanding the emotions of the music and when Goshu returns to his isolated cottage in the forest to practice, animals such as the cuckoo, the cat, the mouse and the badger teach Goshu the deep meaning of music. Several [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:10:09-04:00May 23rd, 2022|Categories: Beyond the Traditional, News|Tags: Miyazawa Kenji, Love in the Afternoon, The Living Daylights, cello, The Witches of Eastwick, The Soloist, Movies, Audrey Hepburn, Woody Allen, James Bond, Take the Money and Run, Gauche the Cellist|

Cello Concerto Overview: The Should Haves (Part II)

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Rostropovich Here are six more cello concertos a cellist should have in their repertoire. Robert Schumann studied the cello as a youngster and although he was unable to continue due to an injury to his right hand he developed a deep affinity to the instrument. Schumann’s Cello Concerto departs from traditional structure. Initially intended as a “Conzertstück”, each of the three movements meld seamlessly into the next. Perhaps the structure is due to Schumann’s aversion to interruptions from the audience. In any case the work breaks with tradition. Written late in his life, it is deeply lyrical, almost enigmatic and mystical in its sparse use of thematic material, which returns throughout the piece. It is best regarded as a one large-movement work. Two unusual features [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:10:22-04:00April 24th, 2022|Categories: Repertoire|Tags: Shostakovich, Sol Gabetta, Rostropovich, Alban Gerhardt, Maria Kliegel, prokofiev, Schelomo, Don Quixote, Richard Strauss, Leonard Rose, Schumann, Janos Starker, Ernest Bloch, Saint-Saëns|

Cello Concerto Overview: The Should Haves (Part I)

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Concert Favorites: Cello Concertos That You Should Learn Wilhelm Fitzenhagen My teacher János Starker used to say that cellist soloists have to be ready to play a greater number of concertos than our more brilliant sister, the violinist, who can play an entire season with four or perhaps five concerti under their fingers—think Brahms, Mendelsohn, Barber, and Sibelius; or Bruch, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók. Likewise, audience members are thrilled to hear a pianist perform the masterworks of Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and either of the Prokofiev’s; or, Grieg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Bartók and either of the Ravels. Cellists, though, have the disadvantage of fewer pieces written for their instrument and not all of them are considered the quality of the concertos named above. Some are neglected or obscure [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:10:38-04:00April 10th, 2022|Categories: Repertoire|Tags: Standard Repertoire, Cello Repertoire, Janet Horvath, Gregor Piatigorsky, Cello Concertos, Kian Soltani, Elgar, Jian Wang, Dvorak, Walton, Jacqueline du Pré, Walton Concerto, Dvorak Concerto, Elgar Concerto, Mischa Maisky|

Schools of Cello Playing: Russia and Armenia

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Karl Davidov Another important school of cello playing was developed in Russia, founded by the brilliant cellist and composer Karl Davidov. Named the “Czar of Cellists” by none other than the composer Tchaikovsky, Davidov was born in Russia, (now Latvia), in 1838. Soon after his birth the family moved to Moscow. Davidov showed great musical talent at a very young age, but his father, a doctor and amateur violinist, insisted Karl not only study cello and piano, but also mathematics. Davidov completed his mathematics degree at St. Petersburg University before he focused on music as a career. Davidov’s first cello lessons were with Henrich Schmidt in Moscow and then Karl Schuberth in St Petersburg. Davidov, whose intentions were to become a composer, had [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:10:52-04:00March 18th, 2022|Categories: Historical|Tags: Diran Alexanian, Armenian School, Raya Garbusova, Hugo Becker, Davidov Cello Concerto, Mischa Schneider, Antonio Janigro, Franco-Belgian School, Carl Fuchs, German School, Leo Stern, Schools of Cello Playing, Hanus Wihan, Pablo Casals, Friedrich Grützmacher, Alexander Wierzbilowicz, Bernard Greenhouse, Julius Klengel, Alfred von Glehn, Gregor Piatigorsky, Janet Horvath, Joseph Joachim, Feuermann, Karl Davidov, Fournier, David Soyer, Russian School, Enesco|

Schools of Cello Playing: France

Reprinted with permission from Interlude. Martin Berteau Like the German school of cello playing, the French School had a centuries-long impact, which continues today. When we think of French playing, refinement, finesse, and elegance come to mind, but during the 18th Century in Northern Europe the cello was still considered a lowly, rudimentary instrument compared to the viola da gamba. The French cello school evolved due to the exquisite playing of Martin Berteau (circa 1700-71). Despite maintaining the underhand bow-hold of the gamba, his sweet tone and depth of expression greatly influenced his students, Jean Pierre Duport, Tillière, and Jean Baptiste Cupis. Berteau developed an effortless fingering system, incorporating the use of the thumb, and introducing the use of both natural and artificial harmonics, which was quite unusual [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:11:43-04:00March 6th, 2022|Categories: Historical|Tags: Paul Tortelier, Chopin, Andre Navarra, Jules Delsart, Maurice Gendron, Paul Bazelaire, Frank Miller, Elsa Hilger, Eleanor Aller, French, French Cello School, Bernard Greenhouse, Jean Louis Duport, Leonard Rose, Joseph Platel, Pierre Fournier, Adrien François Servais, Felix Salmond, Auguste Franchomme|

Schools of Cello Playing: Germany

CelloBello is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Interlude.hk, a website featuring wonderful articles on all aspects of music and the arts. In this reciprocal arrangement, our two websites will share blogs of mutual interest to our readers. We encourage you to pay Interlude.hk a visit and explore their wide range of fascinating content. We begin our exchange by featuring one of their most prominent authors, the former Associate Principal Cello of the Minnesota Orchestra, Janet Horvath. Following is the first in her series on the various national schools of cello playing. _____________________________ Bernhard Romberg Tracing one’s roots is a popular pastime today. In music, the schools of cello playing can be traced genealogically through the connection we have with our teachers, and their teachers. Just as [...]

By Janet Horvath|2024-07-05T20:14:13-04:00February 11th, 2022|Categories: Historical|Tags: Friedrich August Kummer, Friedrich Grützmacher, Bernhard Cossmann, Julius Klengel, Janos Starker, Alfred Piatti, Emanuel Feuermann, Friedrich Dotzauer, Hugo Becker, Bernhard Romberg, David Popper, German School, Schools of Cello Playing|