Violoncello

As Printed on a Score

The full name, or the plural Violoncelli, labels the cello staff on the first system; later systems use Vc., Vcl. or Vlc. In Classical scores one staff often serves cellos and basses together (Violoncello e Basso), with the instruments named over any passage where they part company.

Abbreviations: Vc., Vcl., Vlc., Vc, Vcl, Vlc

Also spelled: Violoncelli, Violoncellos, Celli

How Composers Use It

Written in bass clef at sounding pitch, moving to tenor clef for the upper register and treble clef for the highest passages (some older scores write treble-clef passages an octave high). The A string carries the cello’s singing tenor voice, the C string its dark foundation; doubling the basses an octave above gives a bass line definition. Divide the section (div.) for full low chords, and write Solo or 1 Vc. when you want one player.

Example

Beethoven, Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93, third movement (Tempo di Menuetto), cello part, m. 48: “Vc.” is printed at the start of the Trio, where the bass part, labelled “Cb.”, turns “pizz.” at m. 49 and the two instruments go separate ways.

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