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Yo-Yo Ma

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, born in Paris in 1955 to Chinese parents. His father, a violinist and composer, gave him his first cello lessons at the age of four. When he was seven the family moved to Boston and later to New York. He played for President Kennedy, appeared on American television at the age of eight under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, and studied at the Juilliard School. He then took a degree in anthropology at Harvard. He became world famous as a soloist with major orchestras.

Music and breakthrough

Ma has recorded more than ninety albums and won twenty Grammy Awards. His best-known recordings are Bach's six solo suites for cello. On his instrument, a 1712 Stradivarius that once belonged to Jacqueline du Pré, he plays with a smooth, warm tone and a great deal of lyricism. For films he played on the scores of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Seven Years in Tibet and Memoirs of a Geisha. He also worked with Ennio Morricone.

Influence

Ma is called an omnivore, because he has also recorded Argentine tango by Astor Piazzolla, Brazilian music, bluegrass and Chinese melodies. He has made music with Bobby McFerrin, Carlos Santana, Sting, James Taylor and Miley Cyrus. He founded the Silk Road Ensemble, a collective of musicians from countries along the ancient Silk Road. In this way he shows that a classical soloist can build a bridge between cultures and genres.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to his recording of the Sarabande from Bach's fifth solo suite, or to his cello in While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Carlos Santana. Notice the warm tone and how the cello almost sings.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsChinese cinema: Hong Kong, Fifth Generation and wuxia