In addition to recordings of the standard classical repertoire, Ma has recorded a wide variety of folk music, such as American bluegrass music, traditional Chinese melodies, the tangos of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, and Brazilian music. He has also collaborated with artists from a diverse range of genres, including Bobby McFerrin, Carlos Santana, Chris Botti, Diana Krall, James Taylor, Miley Cyrus, and Sting.
Ma has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2006. He has received numerous awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize in 1978, The Glenn Gould Prize in 1999, the National Medal of Arts in 2001, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, Kennedy Center Honors in 2011, the Polar Music Prize in 2012, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize in 2022. He was named as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020. Aside from English, Ma is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and French.
Ma's primary performance instrument is the Davidov cello, made in 1712 by Antonio Stradivari
Ma's mother, Marina Lu, was a singer, and his father, Hiao-Tsiun Ma, was a violinist, composer and professor of music at Nanjing National Central University (now relocated in Taoyuan, Taiwan; predecessor of the present-day Nanjing University and Southeast University). They both migrated from the Republic of China to France during the Chinese Civil War. Ma's sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma, played the violin and piano professionally before obtaining a medical degree from Harvard and becoming a pediatrician. The family moved to New York City when Ma was seven.
From the age of three, Ma played the drums, violin, piano, and later viola, but settled on the cello in 1960 at age four. When three-year-old Yo-Yo said he wanted a big instrument, his father went to see Etienne Vatelot, a foremost violin maker in Paris who, after a chat, lent him a 1/16th cello. He jokes that his first choice was the double bass due to its large size, but he compromised and took up the cello instead. When his father realized that Yo-Yo was ready for a better teacher, a well-known cello instructor, Mme Michelle Lepinte, was selected. He began performing before audiences at age five and played for presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy when he was seven. At age eight, he appeared on American television with his sister in an event introduced by Leonard Bernstein. In 1964, Isaac Stern introduced them on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and they performed the Sonata of Sammartini. He attended Trinity School in New York but transferred to the Professional Children's School, where he graduated at age 15. He appeared as a soloist with the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations.
Ma studied at the Juilliard School at age 19 with Leonard Rose and attended Columbia University, but dropped out. He later enrolled at Harvard College. Prior to entering Harvard, Ma played in the Marlboro Festival Orchestra under the direction of cellist, conductor and Ma’s childhood hero Pablo Casals. He spent four summers at the Marlboro Music Festival after meeting and falling in love with Mount Holyoke College sophomore and festival administrator Jill Hornor during his first summer there in 1972.
Even before that time, Ma gained fame and performed with many of the world's major orchestras. He has also played chamber music, often with pianist Emanuel Ax, with whom he has a close friendship from their days at Juilliard. Ma received his bachelor's degree in anthropology from Harvard in 1976, and in 1991 received an honorary doctorate from Harvard.
Yo-Yo Ma has been referred to by critics as "omnivorous" and possesses an eclectic repertoire. In addition to numerous recordings of the standard classical repertoire, he has recorded Baroque pieces using period instruments; American bluegrass music; traditional Chinese melodies, including the soundtrack to the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; the tangos of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla; Brazilian music, recording traditional and contemporary songs composed by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Pixinguinha; a collaboration with Bobby McFerrin (where Ma admitted to being terrified by McFerrin's improvisation); and the music of modern minimalist Philip Glass, in such works as the 2002 Naqoyqatsi.
Ma is known for his smooth, rich tone, soulful lyricism, and virtuosity. He released a cello recording of Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 24 for solo violin and Zoltán Kodály's Solo Sonata.
On May 1, 2019, he performed at Paranal Observatory in the Atacama desert. He said that his interest in astronomy motivated him to visit and perform there.
Ma's albums include recordings of cello concertos, sonatas for cello and piano, works for solo cello, and a variety of chamber music. He has also recorded in non-classical styles, notably in collaboration with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Carlos Santana, Chris Botti, Chris Thile, Diana Krall, James Taylor, Miley Cyrus and Sting.
Largo
Yo-Yo Ma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y extrañamente eso me sienta bien
El viento me regala
El movimiento de los árboles
Y que puedo elegir
Elijo El Camino Más Largo
Voy camino el camino más largoEn el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
Voy camino el camino más largo
El Camino Más Largo
En mitad del camino
Es dónde suceden las cosas
Si te paras a escuchar
Escucharás alguna que otra
Voy camino el camino más largo
En el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
Voy camino el camino más largo
El Camino Más Largo
El Tesoro que encontraste
Guarda mucha materia
Guárdalo en el bolsillo
No lo vayas a perder
Llévalo siempre contigo
(pegadito a la pechera)
Y si vas a cruzar
Mira antes de cruzar de acera
Voy camino el camino más largo
En el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
Voy camino el camino más largo
El Camino Más Largo
The lyrics of "Largo," as envisioned by Yo-Yo Ma, resonate with a profound exploration of life’s journey, imbued with metaphors of nature and personal choices. The opening lines portray a sense of melancholy intertwined with serenity as the singer feels the raindrops and finds a strange comfort in them. This juxtaposition serves as a powerful metaphor for how life can bring both sorrow and solace simultaneously. The wind, which "gifts" the movement of the trees, symbolizes change and the inherent unpredictability of life. By stating “puedo elegir” (I can choose), the singer asserts their agency in the midst of life's uncontrollable elements. This leads to the resolution to take "El Camino Más Largo" (The Longest Road), suggesting a willingness to embrace a more profound, perhaps more challenging journey instead of opting for the easy way out.
As the song progresses, the repeated phrase "Voy camino el camino más largo" emphasizes a commitment to this choice. The long road is laden with significance, embodying the idea that the journey itself holds value beyond just reaching a destination. The detours along this path symbolize the unplanned and often daunting challenges encountered in life. The line “me desvío, paso de largo” (I diverge, I pass by) signifies an acceptance of imperfection, acknowledging that the path chosen is not linear and is likely to be filled with moments of hesitation and redirection. This honesty in reflecting on one's route reveals an understanding that every twist and turn contributes to personal growth and discovery.
Midway through the journey, the lyrics delve deeper into self-awareness and mindfulness. The phrase “Es dónde suceden las cosas” implies that the heart of experiences lies in moments of stillness and reflection rather than constant motion. The invitation to "escuchar" (listen) encourages a contemplative approach to life, suggesting that valuable insights and revelations emerge when we pause and engage with our surroundings intentionally. Here, the singer hints at the wisdom gained through observation and reflection, reinforcing the importance of being in tune with life's subtleties. This insight often comes at unexpected moments on the path, further affirming that the journey is as significant as any endpoint.
The lyrics conclude with a tangible metaphor about treasure, which represents the invaluable lessons and experiences gathered along the journey. Advising the listener to "guardar" (keep) this treasure close, it implies an understanding of its significance and the need to carry it forward in life. The encouragement to be cautious when "cruzar" (crossing) reinforces the idea of mindfulness and intentionality in our choices and actions. This final reflection encapsulates the essence of taking the long road, underscoring the importance of preserving insights while navigating the complexities of life. Ultimately, the song speaks to the beauty in the journey itself and the treasures it bestows upon those willing to embrace its length and unpredictability.
Line by Line Meaning
Siento las gotas de lluvia caer
I feel the drops of rain falling, emphasizing a heightened awareness of the environment and the sensory experiences it brings.
Y extrañamente eso me sienta bien
And strangely, that brings me comfort, revealing a connection to nature that fosters a sense of peace despite the external circumstances.
El viento me regala
The wind gifts me, illustrating the unexpected joys that nature can bestow upon us, inviting reflection and appreciation.
El movimiento de los árboles
The movement of the trees, symbolizing life's constant change and the graceful dance of nature in response to the wind.
Y que puedo elegir
And that I can choose, highlighting personal agency and the power to make decisions that shape one’s path.
Elijo El Camino Más Largo
I choose the longer path, suggesting a preference for depth and richness over immediate convenience, valuing the journey over mere destination.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, reinforcing the commitment to embrace a more challenging, yet rewarding journey.
En el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
On the detour, I stray and pass by, acknowledging the inevitable distractions and diversions that life presents.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, reiterating the importance of the chosen journey and its significance in personal growth.
El Camino Más Largo
The longer path, encapsulating the essence of the narrative as a metaphor for life's deeper exploration.
En mitad del camino
In the middle of the path, suggesting that the core of experiences often occurs during moments of transition and uncertainty.
Es dónde suceden las cosas
Is where things happen, signifying that transformative events typically unfold away from the familiar or the expected.
Si te paras a escuchar
If you stop to listen, inviting an awareness of subtleties that might otherwise go unnoticed in the rush of life.
Escucharás alguna que otra
You will hear here and there, pointing to the small, yet profound insights that can arise from taking the time to be present.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, a continual affirmation of one’s choice to embark on a meaningful adventure.
En el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
On the detour, I stray and pass by, recognizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability in life's journey.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, emphasizing a sustained commitment to explore life's deeper meanings.
El Camino Más Largo
The longer path, a repeated mantra underscoring the value found in choosing depth and complexity.
El Tesoro que encontraste
The treasure you found, symbolizing valuable insights or experiences acquired along life’s journey.
Guarda mucha materia
Holds much substance, expressing that this treasure contains significant meaning or lessons.
Guárdalo en el bolsillo
Keep it in your pocket, suggesting the importance of protecting and cherishing these valuable insights.
No lo vayas a perder
Do not let it slip away, emphasizing the need to remain mindful and aware to retain these insights.
Llévalo siempre contigo
Always carry it with you, advising that these treasures should be incorporated into everyday life.
(pegadito a la pechera)
(tightly against the chest), evoking the idea of holding these insights dear to one’s heart.
Y si vas a cruzar
And if you are going to cross, serving as a metaphor for making decisions that require caution and awareness.
Mira antes de cruzar de acera
Look before crossing the street, a reminder to stay vigilant and consider the consequences of each action.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, reiterating the individual's choice to prioritize an enriching journey.
En el desvío me desvío, paso de largo
On the detour, I stray and pass by, emphasizing the acceptance of life's unpredictability and its associated learning.
Voy camino el camino más largo
I am walking the longer path, solidifying the significance of consciously choosing a life rich in experience.
El Camino Más Largo
The longer path, embodying the essence of exploration, patience, and the pursuit of deeper truths.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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