Hush

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

Hush is a collaboration between cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Bobby McFerrin, released on the label Sony Masterworks. The two met in 1988 at a celebration for Leonard Bernstein. McFerrin and Steven Epstein produced the album. McFerrin wrote five tracks and together they arranged three compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. According to McFerrin, the cellist hesitated to improvise during the recording.

The programme mixes classical, folk and original work: Vivaldi, Rachmaninov, Gounod and Rimsky-Korsakov, the children's song Hush Little Baby and McFerrin's own pieces. One newspaper heard in his compositions mainly New Age with cleverly layered overdubs, apart from Hoedown!, which contains many country fiddle licks. Another newspaper praised Stars as the best track. The Washington Post appreciated the combination of the expressive cellist with the humour, playfulness and musicality of the singer. The record reached number 93 on the Billboard 200.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Grace3:54Apple Music ↗
2. 2Andante from Concerto in D minor for 2 Mandolins4:03Apple Music ↗
3. 3Flight of the Bumblebee from the Legend of Tsar Saltan (Excerpt)1:09Apple Music ↗
4. 4Stars4:04Apple Music ↗
5. 5Hush Little Baby2:36Apple Music ↗
6. 6Vocalise6:27Apple Music ↗
7. 7Musette from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (With Intro from Purple Haze)4:13Apple Music ↗
8. 8Coyote2:52Apple Music ↗
9. 9Allegro prestissimo from Sonata for Two Cellos2:37Apple Music ↗
10. 10Ave Maria2:38Apple Music ↗
11. 11Hoedown!5:39Apple Music ↗
12. 12Air from Orchestral Suite No. 35:12Apple Music ↗
13. 13Good-Bye1:11Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗