November Cellist of the Month
Yo-Yo Ma
The below quote is one of Yo-Yo Ma’s favorite ways to describe his musical philosophy, and is attributed to the cellist Pablo Casals:
“I am a human being first, a musician second, and a cellist third. ”
Yo-Yo Ma’s philosophy of compassion and gratitude pairs perfectly with the spirit of Thanksgiving, and I cannot think of a cellist better suited to meet this moment in time. For those of you who know Yo-Yo Ma, I hope to give you a more in-depth look at his musical and personal philosophy, and for those who are learning about him for the first time, it is my great pleasure to introduce you to one of the greatest musicians of our time. Throughout Yo-Yo Ma’s storied career, he has used music to bridge cultures and bring people together. It is exceedingly difficult to distill Yo-Yo Ma’s career highlights into a “Fast Facts” column, but below is a brief look at his legacy.
Fast Facts
His parents are both musicians.
He was born in France to Chinese parents and moved to the United States as a child.
He began playing the cello at the age of four and his father was his first teacher.
He was a child prodigy and made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 9!
He attended Juilliard as a child, and later attended Harvard University.
He had scoliosis and made the decision to have surgery as an adult. He knew that if the surgery was not successful, it could prevent him from physically being able to play the cello ever again and cause irreparable nerve damage. It was a huge risk, but he made the decision that his life and health were more important. Luckily for him, the surgery was a success, and he was able to resume the cello after a short hiatus.
Due to Ma’s surgery, his style of playing is very unique.
He has released 90 albums in many genres.
He has recorded several albums of the Bach Cello Suites throughout his life, as his perspective changed.
He has 18 Grammy awards and has been nominated 27 times.
This is a beautiful visual representation of Bach’s first cello suite prelude and exemplifies the idea that music is part of a creative force that flows through all of us, manifesting itself in different ways. By tapping into that creative force, it connects us to something greater than ourselves. Ma makes a point that music is just one way for this creative force to manifest, and that this force exists throughout all aspects of life.
Here is a clip of Yo-Yo Ma performing in a non-classical setting. The mark of a great musician is to be able to command the stage for solos, and also to know when to sit back and support other musicians. Here he provides a rhythmic and support role to Bobby McFerrin. Note how they have their music memorized and how this song feels like a musical conversation between the musicians.
Listen to a short clip about what shaped Yo-Yo Ma’s philosophy as a musician.
Part of Yo-Yo Ma’s worldwide fame comes from his appearances on children’s shows. He introduced an entire generation of children to the cello!
Bonus Listening/Reading
If you feel inspired, below are a few videos, articles, and playlists to continue exploring!