Maurice Gendron Archives

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 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, Paul Tortelier, Chopin, Andre Navarra, Jules Delsart, Maurice Gendron|

Conversation with Thomas Demenga (May, 2007)

Interview by Tim Janof Thomas Demenga, born 1954 in Berne, Switzerland, studied with Walter Grimmer, Antonio Janigro, Leonard Rose and Mstislav Rostropovich, among others. Important chamber-musical influences were Claus Adam, Felix Galimir, and Robert Mann at the Juilliard School in New York As an internationally renowned soloist, composer and teacher, Thomas Demenga counts among the most outstanding cellists and musicians of our time. He has performed at important festivals and musical centers around the globe and shared the stage with fellow musicians such as Heinz Holliger, Gidon Kremer, Thomas Larcher, Paul Meyer, Aurèle Nicolet, Hansheinz Schneeberger, Thomas Zehetmair, and Tabea Zimmermann. He has worked with conductors such as Moshe Atzmon, Myung-Whun Chung, Charles Dutoit, Claus Peter Flor, Howard Griffiths, Heinz Holliger, Armon Jordan, Okko Kamu, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dennis Russell Davies, [...]

By Tim Janof|2024-07-05T20:19:30-04:00January 31st, 2022|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Interviews|Tags: Bach, Walter Grimmer, Leonard Rose, Bent Endpin, Technique, String Types, Mstislav Rostropovich, Internet Cello Society Archive, ICS, Maurice Gendron, Thomas Demenga, Felix Galimir, Antonio Janigro|

Conversation with Cordelia Wikarski-Miedel (1993)

Interview by Tim Janof Ms. Wikarki-Miedel is Instructor of Cello, the Northwest Artist in Residence, and Director of the Chamber Music Department at University of Puget Sound. Comprehensive Bio TJ: You were born in Berlin? CWM: I was born in Berlin shortly before World War II, when Berlin was not divided between East and West. TJ: Were your parents musicians? CWM: My father was professor of piano at the "Hochschule fur Musik" in Berlin, the equivalent of the Juilliard School in New York. He taught from 1927 to 1945, when he was killed by Russians who had invaded Berlin in the last days of the war. My mother was a fine pianist, and was able to play the major piano literature. My parents often played together, sometimes she accompanied him [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-08-02T17:42:18-04:00July 29th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Beyond the Traditional, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Pedagogy, Germany, Maurice Gendron, Richard Klemm, Teaching, August Eichhorn, Technique, Berlin Wall|

Conversation with Colin Carr (January, 2003)

Interview by Tim Janof Colin Carr has appeared throughout the world as soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and teacher. As a soloist, he has played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, The Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, and the orchestras of Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia, and Montreal. He is a regular guest at the BBC Proms, he has twice toured Australia, and he recently played concertos in South Korea, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Last year he returned to the Philharmonia in London and made his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Mark Elder. This year he toured with Mr. Elder and the Halle Orchestra, playing the Dvorak, Elgar, and Walton Concertos. Other highlights included a performance of the Dvorak Concerto to close the Prague Autumn Festival, [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-06-28T04:45:27-04:00June 14th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: Anner Bylsma, William Pleeth, Interpretation, Maurice Gendron, Teaching, repertoire, Technique|