Violoncello or "Yankee Church Bass" 1800 - 1850

Editor: This is a photograph of the "Violoncello or 'Yankee Church Bass,'" crafted sometime between 1800 and 1850. Its elegant shape really strikes me; there’s a simplicity that's incredibly powerful. What captures your imagination when you look at this instrument? Curator: Oh, the stories this "Yankee Church Bass" could tell! You know, back then, instruments weren’t just objects; they were voices of a community. Imagine the hymns it accompanied, the weddings it serenaded. It whispers of simpler times, a more communal spirit in early America, don't you think? The black and white really intensifies that sense of history. Editor: I hadn’t really thought of it that way, but I see what you mean. The starkness does lend a kind of gravitas to it. Why "Yankee Church Bass" though? Is that a regional thing? Curator: Exactly! These were often homemade or produced by local artisans, not Stradivarius, but with just as much heart. They were built to fill the meetinghouses with sound and, in their own way, filled the spiritual void, too. Think of each curve as a prayer, each imperfection a testament to human endeavor and hope. The photograph somehow sanctifies its essence, don't you agree? Editor: That's a lovely way to think about it – each curve a prayer. I guess it is easy to forget these aren’t just artifacts; they're echoes of real lives and experiences. I think I'll hear it differently now. Curator: Exactly! So will I. I am going to make a recording on my Cello, just now, of some simple Hymns from that era...