Summer Reads for Cello Lovers
Looking for the perfect cello-related summer read? These four books will be right at home on your deck chair this summer—they're intensely readable and full of fascinating stories about emotional connection between cellists and their instruments. Best of all, they steer clear of technical jargon, so even if you don't play cello (or any instrument at all) there's a lot here to draw you into the sound-world of the best instrument. Yes, I know I'm biased :)
The Cello Still Sings: A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music
In her cathartic memoir, Horvath unravels five decades of family secrets, uncovering the amazing story of her Holocaust survivor parents. It's also an unflinching portrait of a contentious father-daughter relationship and a love letter to the cello that both Horvath and her father both played.
Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound
This luminous group biography weaves together the stories of four cellists—Lise Cristiani, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, Pál Hermann, and Amedeo Baldovino—with the poignant story of Kennedy's own career-ending injury. The power of music and the cello to surmount the insurmountable jumps off every page. I couldn't put it down.
A Cello Named Pablo
This charming book is fun for children and adults alike. It tells the story of a cello that belonged to the great Pablo Casals, now in the hands of star cellist Amit Peled. Whimsically illustrated by Avi Katz, this book is a sweet, relatable feel-good read.
The Adventures of a Cello
Carlos Prieto recounts the adventurous life of his Stradivarius cello, tracing its history through previous owners dating back to 1720. If this cello could talk, what tales it would have to tell! Best of all, there are fun cameos from cello superstars, including Yo Yo Ma.
What I love about all these books is how they completely draw you into their stories without getting lost in technical detail. They're the kind of accessible yet substantial writing I was hoping to achieve in my own recent book, Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire —books that welcome everyone into the conversation about why this instrument matters so much to so many of us. So whether you're an amateur, a professional, a teacher, or just a lover of the cello, consider adding these to your summer reading list.
The Cello Still Sings: A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of MusicIn her cathartic memoir, Horvath unravels five decades of family secrets, uncovering the amazing story of her Holocaust survivor parents. It's also an unflinching portrait of a contentious father-daughter relationship and a love letter to the cello that both Horvath and her father both played.
Cello: A Journey Through Silence to SoundThis luminous group biography weaves together the stories of four cellists—Lise Cristiani, Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, Pál Hermann, and Amedeo Baldovino—with the poignant story of Kennedy's own career-ending injury. The power of music and the cello to surmount the insurmountable jumps off every page. I couldn't put it down.
A Cello Named PabloThis charming book is fun for children and adults alike. It tells the story of a cello that belonged to the great Pablo Casals, now in the hands of star cellist Amit Peled. Whimsically illustrated by Avi Katz, this book is a sweet, relatable feel-good read.
The Adventures of a CelloCarlos Prieto recounts the adventurous life of his Stradivarius cello, tracing its history through previous owners dating back to 1720. If this cello could talk, what tales it would have to tell! Best of all, there are fun cameos from cello superstars, including Yo Yo Ma.
What I love about all these books is how they completely draw you into their stories without getting lost in technical detail. They're the kind of accessible yet substantial writing I was hoping to achieve in my own recent book, Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire —books that welcome everyone into the conversation about why this instrument matters so much to so many of us. So whether you're an amateur, a professional, a teacher, or just a lover of the cello, consider adding these to your summer reading list.
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