Extreme Cello

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Extreme Cellists

Extreme Cello is an extreme sport and a performance art in which people take a cello to an unusual, often outdoor, location and perform music. It is synonymous with the cello trio known as the 'Extreme Cellists'. They are an amateur group inspired by the sport of Extreme Ironing. Their performances are generally given to raise money for various charities. Since 2006 the Extreme Cellists have had a particular association with the spinal injuries charity 'Aspire'. According to their official website, Extreme Cello aims to:

"take musical performances to new heights, and depths, by giving performances in many extreme locations."

1 History
2 Group Members
3 Musical style
4 Performances
5 Discography
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

The formation of the Extreme Cellists in 2003 to raise money for the Westways Primary School, Sheffield music fund is believed to have been the first organised Extreme Cello event. Prior to this a number of individual cellists are known to have performed in unusual locations but did not use the phrase 'Extreme Celling' to describe their activities.

Since then the Extreme Cellists have undertaken a range of challenges, most notably a tour of 42 English Cathedral rooftops in 2006.^[1] In July 2008 they will attempt the Four Peaks Challenge, playing at the summits of the tallest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.^[2]

[edit] Group Members

Jeremy Dawson, lecturer
Clare Wallace, teacher
James Rees, teacher

[edit] Musical style

The group's repertoire is wide and varied. They perform arrangements of classical pieces such as Bach's Wachet Auf, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and the Adagio Cantabile from Beethoven's trio for 3 cellos. They also perform more popular pieces such as Up on the Roof, originally sung by The Drifters; Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music (Rogers & Hammerstein); Hi Ho Silver Lining, originally sung by Jeff Beck; and I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles; and Hey Jude (Lennon & McCartney). Many of the pieces were arranged for cello trio performance by group member Jeremy Dawson.

[edit] Performances

Date	Performance title	Performance locations
24 May 2003	The Original Extreme Cello Day	Mam Tor, Derbyshire; Blue John Cavern, Derbyshire; Sheffield University Arts Tower; Grindleford Station, Derbyshire; Padley Gorge, Derbyshire; Winter Garden, Sheffield
18 June 2005	The Extreme Cello Walk	Manchester Cathedral; Compstall, Cheshire; Hayfield, Derbyshire; Edale, Derbyshire; Bamford, Derbyshire; Sheffield Cathdral (NB some perfomances were vocal perfomances of Byrd's mass for Three Voices for wihich the Extreme Cellists (also singers) were accompanied by Chris Tyler, Rachel Tyler and Laurie Cottam.
24 July-4 August 2006	The Extreme Cello Cathedral Roof Tour	Truro Cathedral; Exeter Cathedral; Wells Cathedral; Bristol Cathedral; Gloucester Cathedral; Hereford Cathedral; Worcester Cathedral; Christ Church, Oxford; Salisbury Cathedral; Winchester Cathedral; Portsmouth Cathedral; Guildford Cathedral; Chichester Cathedral; Canterbury Cathedral; Rochester Cathedral; Southwark Cathedral; St Paul ’s Cathedral; St Alban’s Cathedral; Chelmsford Cathedral; St Edmundsbury Cathedral; Norwich Cathedral; Ely Cathedral; Peterborough Cathedral; Leicester Cathedral; Coventry Cathedral; Birmingham Cathedral; Lichfield Cathedral; Derby Cathedral; Southwell Minster; Lincoln Cathedral; Sheffield Cathedral; Wakefield Cathedral; Manchester Cathedral; Chester Cathedral; Liverpool Cathedral; Blackburn Cathedral; Bradford Cathedral; York Minster; Ripon Cathedral; Durham Cathedral; Newcastle Cathedral; and Carlisle Cathedral
24 July 2007	The Extreme Cello Monopoly Board Challenge	London specifically Old Kent Road; Whitechapel Road; The Angel, Islington; Euston Road; Pentonville Road; Pall Mall; Whitehall; Northumberland Avenue; Bow Street; Marlborough Street; Vine Street; The Strand; Fleet Street; Trafalgar Square; Leicester Square; Coventry Street; Piccadilly; Regent Street; Oxford Street; Bond Street; Park Lane; and Mayfair.