Name: Paulina Ptak
Main Subject: Baroque Cello
Research Coaches: Maggie Urquhart, Job ter Haar
Title of Research: The violin-type fingering and oblique left hand position in the history
of cello technique
Research Question: what were the possible reasons for the application of diatonic
fingerings and violin-like left hand position in the history of the cello technique?
Summary of Results:
Before 1800, cellists did not have a consistent manner for fingering scales with the left
hand. From the origins of the instrument till the beginning of the nineteenth century
different systems were used. One of the styles seemed to be more identified with the
violin than with the cello technique. It was represented by fingering and left hand
position, different than used today. By looking at the history of development of the cello
fingering I will try to answer questions about possible reasons of applying violin-like
fingering on the cello. I will examine methods employed on early bass instruments, much
debated system proposed by Corrette, and Lanzetti’s and Baumgartner’s approach which
transitions the diatonic and chromatic systems. I will see how Romberg and others, even
though fingering had evolved to the final level, applied oblique violin-like, left hand
position until the beginnings of twentieth century. Finally I will look at the examples
from cello repertoire which contain fingerings, and I will analyze them in terms of the
system used and possible ways of execution.
Biography:
Paulina Ptak embarked upon her musical education in two of the most important Polish
musical centres – the city of Cracow and Wroclaw. After completing her Master’s
degree, she decided to specialise in baroque, classical and early romantic repertoire
performed on authentic instruments. Her motivation to a historically informed approach
was inspired by the unique timbre of period instruments. Currently she studies baroque
cello for a Master’s degree with Jaap ter Linden. Paulina is interested in the history of
cello technique from eighteenth until twentieth century.