Scotland’s oldest surviving cello will make its public debut after nearly 250 years of silence. The rare baroque instrument, crafted in 1726 by John Simpson, was discovered in an Edinburgh basement.
Details: The historic cello will be played publicly for the first time since the 18th century at Edinburgh’s St Cecilia’s Hall on April 25. The instrument was recently restored by renowned Scottish luthier David Rattray after being found in the basement of Edinburgh University’s Reid Concert Hall. The performance will feature baroque cellist Robert Irvine playing period-appropriate music.
Digging deeper: The cello represents a crucial piece of Scottish musical heritage. John Simpson, its maker, was Edinburgh’s first professional violin maker and helped establish the city’s tradition of instrument crafting. The instrument’s survival is remarkable given that most cellos from this period were either destroyed or modified to meet changing musical standards.
The restoration process, led by Rattray, took particular care to maintain the cello’s original baroque specifications, including gut strings and a shorter fingerboard typical of the period. The instrument’s preservation offers rare insights into 18th-century Scottish musical practices and craftsmanship.
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