The strings of Rostropovich

dochog · #1 12-19-2007, 04:58 AM

To all,

Does anyone know what kind(s) of strings were used by Rostropovich?

Thanks for any guidance, folks!

Eric Swanson · #2 12-19-2007, 06:14 AM

Do you mean Mstislav, the 'cellist and conductor?

Jazz Ad · #3 12-19-2007, 06:36 AM

Well there's always Grigori Rostropovitch the fishmonger, 2 blocks down my house but I doubt he's talking about him.

Eric Swanson · #4 12-19-2007, 06:46 AM

Does Grigori use string to wrap his packages?

**Francois Blais** · #5 12-19-2007, 08:23 PM

Cellist & retailer Chris Quinn told me he saw his name of Spirocore pouches.
However he thinks that he did play them, it was the tungsten C & G, and that noone plays Spiro D & A. (among cellists of course...)

Uncletoad · #6 12-19-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Well there's always Grigori Rostropovitch the fishmonger, 2 blocks down my house but I doubt he's talking about him.

I like that. Excellent profession. Even better name.

Is he a reputable fishmonger? Hard to find that these days.

Bobby King · #7 12-19-2007, 11:01 PM

Rostropovich was a brilliant cellist and a great humanitarian as well. He was a thorn in the side of the Soviet leadership, outspoken against their repressive regimes, and he got into a lot of hot water for it too.

Anyone looking for arco inspiration should listen to him. One particular favorite is a recording of Tchaikovsy's "Andante Cantabile" for cello and string orchestra. This is a beautiful piece of music, and it's playable on bass if you're a thumb position whiz (which I'm sure not!)

dochog · #8 12-20-2007, 07:10 PM

Yup, Mstislav Rostropovich the cellist. I know this is a bass website, but the reason I ask is, so help me, I heard one of his recordings where he grabbed that low string wide open on his cello, dug that bow in for all he was worth, and managed to confute the laws of physics by making it sound like an upright bass. I thought to myself, now how did he get that sound (aside from being a genius and playing a Stradivarius) so I thought I'd ask you guys about it.

Marcus Johnson · #9 12-20-2007, 07:33 PM

www.celloheaven.com

Seems like these folks know what they're talking about. Make sure that you greet them with "Nice bass".

PS... I think Rostropovich was one of those guys who could play any cello with any string and make it sound like that.

Jazz Ad · #10 12-21-2007, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I like that. Excellent profession. Even better name.

Is he a reputable fishmonger? Hard to find that these days.

Oh yeah, very reputable. I think there are only 3 left in a town with 200,000+ people.
Fish is great but so damn expensive.
I don't think he ever played cello though.

Uncletoad · #11 12-21-2007, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Oh yeah, very reputable. I think there are only 3 left in a town with 200,000+ people.
Fish is great but so damn expensive.
I don't think he ever played cello though.

Only two fishmongers left here in a metro area of just under 2 million. Lots of fish in grocery stores but not like what's at the fishmonger.

Of course we are 100 miles from the great lakes and 500 miles from the ocean so I guess that's to be expected.

Ironic for a town named after a famous navigator of oceans.