As a cellist I am of course a Yo-Yo Ma fan, as much for his crossover work as traditional performances. Goat Rodeo Sessions is one of my most listened albums of his! I also admire the way he “wears his celebrity lightly” as you said—the most memorable thing about the time I saw him in concert was when his endpin slipped while he was playing and during the bows he gave the endpin an acknowledgment 😂
I am such a fan of Yo Yo Ma and love these annotations. Thanks, John. I'm saving this Spotify playlist for writing and generally living. Once, walking with my mom in Harvard Square, a popular hangout for neighboring suburbanites, we walked right by him having a walk-chat with someone on the same sidewalk. We looked at each other -- "Was it him??" He is one of those people with an aura about him, and yet he comes across as so personable and optimistic. Have you listened to his Desert Island Discs interview? I thought it was a very good one. It's so interesting to hear what music influenced him.
Yo-Yo is one of humanity’s greatest gifts to the world. Back in my days as an orchestral musician, I had the honor of playing the Dvorak concerto with him, and not only was his performance everything one could imagine, his exuberance was contagious. In those lengthy orchestral passages where the soloist is silent, he would turn around and smile as his eyes danced around the orchestra, taking in the community of players he was a part of for the weekend. It was like a child’s awe and joy surveying the goods at their favorite candy shop.
His latest recording of the Bach suites has made it difficult to listen to any other recording. And when it comes to Shostakovich — the sonata, second piano trio, and first concerto especially — I also reach for his recordings as definitive readings.
It took me ten or twelve years to read Anna Karenina. My sister gave me a copy for Christmas when I was in high school, and every time I tried to read it, I got hung up around page 54. I finally decided I was going to just get through it one year and spent a month or so doing it. I was so proud of myself when I finally turned the last page.
Kim, I think young people should get some type of badge if they can get through the Russian agriculture portions of the novel. I am so glad you were able to get through AK (and that it only took you 10-12 years as opposed to my 30). Page 54 would be around Chapter 16, I think. There are so many characters and we are still into establishing the characters... no real drama yet, so it is understandable to stop at that point.
There was so much farming! That may have been one of the things that bogged me down in my first attempts. I grew up in a rural community and didn't want to hear about more farms.
Thanks for this Yo-Yo Ma list! Working my way through it. Every listen makes the day better. I finish in a state of peace, awe and wonder. I find this state of being any time I'm presented with someone that has such demonstrated excellence in what they do. I do not really have adequate language for being in the presence of such talent and artistry. It's transformative. I want to carry the feeling as long and share it as widely as possible.
What a wonderful surprise this morning to find this recommendation, John! I admire your work as well, and I think we have a lot in common in terms of what art and culture mean to us. Beauty, as found through art and culture, has a unique way of moving our souls, as if straining to be outside our corporeal existence. I have always appreciated how knowledgeable you are and how you help us all develop our own personal canons. And I enjoy the community that has formed around your Substack, these wonderful people who, like me, are in the long process of curating meaningful things that shape our lives.
A long time ago, I went to a Young Artists Concert in the DC/Maryland area and heard Yo-Yo Ma (not when he was seven) but a young man: The performance blew that audience away -- and more recently, in Chicago in Hyde Park at a high school, he joined mostly African American students in a special concert where he sat in as second cellist, next to a young cellist. What a remarkable artist for his own talent and his generosity. Thank you this post and for the mention of what Eleanor and I are doing.
Oh, yes! I loved Zina's post on Anne Karenina. These stories of lifelong journeys with the same book are always fascinating to read about.
Thank you, Simon!
As a cellist I am of course a Yo-Yo Ma fan, as much for his crossover work as traditional performances. Goat Rodeo Sessions is one of my most listened albums of his! I also admire the way he “wears his celebrity lightly” as you said—the most memorable thing about the time I saw him in concert was when his endpin slipped while he was playing and during the bows he gave the endpin an acknowledgment 😂
Yes! I absolutely love the Goat Rodeo Sessions. They did a brilliant Tiny Desk Concert too which I watch regularly.
I am such a fan of Yo Yo Ma and love these annotations. Thanks, John. I'm saving this Spotify playlist for writing and generally living. Once, walking with my mom in Harvard Square, a popular hangout for neighboring suburbanites, we walked right by him having a walk-chat with someone on the same sidewalk. We looked at each other -- "Was it him??" He is one of those people with an aura about him, and yet he comes across as so personable and optimistic. Have you listened to his Desert Island Discs interview? I thought it was a very good one. It's so interesting to hear what music influenced him.
(should also be on Spotify and Apple) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wywd
Thanks for that link—will listen forthwith! Happy to know that the playlist will be accompanying you.
Yo-Yo is one of humanity’s greatest gifts to the world. Back in my days as an orchestral musician, I had the honor of playing the Dvorak concerto with him, and not only was his performance everything one could imagine, his exuberance was contagious. In those lengthy orchestral passages where the soloist is silent, he would turn around and smile as his eyes danced around the orchestra, taking in the community of players he was a part of for the weekend. It was like a child’s awe and joy surveying the goods at their favorite candy shop.
His latest recording of the Bach suites has made it difficult to listen to any other recording. And when it comes to Shostakovich — the sonata, second piano trio, and first concerto especially — I also reach for his recordings as definitive readings.
Came very close to including the Shostakovich sonata.
You played with him?! Legend.
Thanks for the extra recommendations as well.
It took me ten or twelve years to read Anna Karenina. My sister gave me a copy for Christmas when I was in high school, and every time I tried to read it, I got hung up around page 54. I finally decided I was going to just get through it one year and spent a month or so doing it. I was so proud of myself when I finally turned the last page.
Kim, I think young people should get some type of badge if they can get through the Russian agriculture portions of the novel. I am so glad you were able to get through AK (and that it only took you 10-12 years as opposed to my 30). Page 54 would be around Chapter 16, I think. There are so many characters and we are still into establishing the characters... no real drama yet, so it is understandable to stop at that point.
There was so much farming! That may have been one of the things that bogged me down in my first attempts. I grew up in a rural community and didn't want to hear about more farms.
Thanks for this Yo-Yo Ma list! Working my way through it. Every listen makes the day better. I finish in a state of peace, awe and wonder. I find this state of being any time I'm presented with someone that has such demonstrated excellence in what they do. I do not really have adequate language for being in the presence of such talent and artistry. It's transformative. I want to carry the feeling as long and share it as widely as possible.
I’m so glad that you are enjoying it! I feel exactly the same about this music: there really are no adequate words.
Thanks for the deep-dive John. Always have liked YYM music
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy the playlist.
Thanks for posting these amazing recommendations!
You’re welcome!
What a wonderful surprise this morning to find this recommendation, John! I admire your work as well, and I think we have a lot in common in terms of what art and culture mean to us. Beauty, as found through art and culture, has a unique way of moving our souls, as if straining to be outside our corporeal existence. I have always appreciated how knowledgeable you are and how you help us all develop our own personal canons. And I enjoy the community that has formed around your Substack, these wonderful people who, like me, are in the long process of curating meaningful things that shape our lives.
I completely agree, Zina. Looking forward to following your work for a long time to come!
A long time ago, I went to a Young Artists Concert in the DC/Maryland area and heard Yo-Yo Ma (not when he was seven) but a young man: The performance blew that audience away -- and more recently, in Chicago in Hyde Park at a high school, he joined mostly African American students in a special concert where he sat in as second cellist, next to a young cellist. What a remarkable artist for his own talent and his generosity. Thank you this post and for the mention of what Eleanor and I are doing.