Artist Spotlight: Pablo Casals

Pau Casals i Defilló or Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain. Like many children of the time born to a musical family, Casals learned at an early age many instruments including flute, piano, organ, violin, etc. His talent led him to first study at the Escola Municipal de Música where he studied cello and graduated with honors. He would later be appointed as faculty at the Escola. He also studied at the Madrid Royal Conservatory.

Casals played for a list of who's who during the 20th century and is seen not only as one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century, but one of the greatest ever. There is a cello competition held in Germany every four years in his honor.

Casals, is best known for his rediscovery and recording of the Bach Suites for Solo Cello. At age 13 Casals found a Grützmacher's edition in a thrift shop in Barcelona; eventually while in his 60s (Casals lived into his 90s) he recorded the Suites, from 1936-1939. He also revolutionized the way we play cello--apparently they used to hold a book under each elbow to learn how to play "properly" before Casals; cellists everywhere are happy he changed this!

I recommend you listen to his recordings as they are still the standard for the suites today.

Another song associated with Casals is "Song of the Birds"

Recommended reading: The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin.

Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A163856011%2Ck%3Acasals+bach+suites%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A625150011&keywords=casals+bach+suites&ie=UTF8&qid=1465320474

Watch: (Starts around 50 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhcjeZ3o5us