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.
Wake Up...And Die
Yo-Yo Ma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just need to wake up I need a blunt in my hand
I need that good stuff I need that green
Need that steam I need it rolled up
And I stay mean I need team
I need gang, yeah
Yeah you see me you see yoco im the king, yeahI rep the P to the G
the whole state yuh
We smoke that green, smoke that steam
We got the big nugs You think we reppin' peace
Like we in the east
If you think these boys Gon' stick you down, you big dumb
You just need to wake up
Need to realize all of this shit fake, huh
You tellin' big lies stuck under a big rug
I got that demon, got that eye up in that big hood
I'm finna burn off in this bitch, it make me feel good
I'm finna burn this bitch up, this is a big wood
And I just heat this shit up like I'm the big cook
I just need to wake up Need to realize all of this shit fake, huh
I just need to wake up Need a big blunt
Need that shit rolled up
I just need to wake up
I need a blunt in my hand I need that good stuff
I need that green Need that steam
I need it rolled up
I just need to wake up I need a blunt in my hand
I need that good stuff I need that green
Need that steam I need it rolled up And I say me and I need teamI need gang, yeah Yeah, you see me, you see yoco
I'm the king, yeah I need team
I be rollin' around ridin' with my kin If I learn anything, it stay till end
That's why we stay ten toes to defend
I just need to wake up
I need a blunt in my hand I need that good stuff
I need that green Need that steam
I need a rolled up. Yeah, you see me you see yoco
im the king yuh
These lyrics from Yo-Yo Ma's song "Wake Up...And Die" convey a sense of nostalgia, reflection, and a call to seize opportunities before it's too late.
The first paragraph reminisces about a time when the singer and someone else walked together, feeling comfortable and at ease. It suggests a closeness and a shared bond between them. This sets the stage for the overarching theme of the song.
The chorus, "Wake up, there's another chance, to make up, all the time that's washed away, don't be afraid to wake up," serves as a wake-up call to the listener. It urges them to take advantage of the present moment and not let opportunities slip away. It speaks to the notion that time constantly passes by and emphasizes the importance of not being passive or fearful but instead seizing chances and making amends.
The second paragraph highlights the passage of time and the unknown future. It suggests that if one remains stagnant or hidden behind a metaphorical screen, they will never know how their life will evolve. It emphasizes the need to break free from comfort zones and embrace change. The reference to December ending could symbolize the passing of a year, urging listeners to appreciate companionship amidst the march of time.
The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the central message of the song. It urges the listener to wake up, make amends, and embrace life fully. The lyrics encourage the audience to recall the reasons why they laughed and dreamed in the first place—perhaps suggesting that these motivations can reignite passion and purpose.
Overall, these lyrics encourage introspection and advocate for actively engaging with life's opportunities. They remind us that we should not let time slip away by being complacent or fearful, but instead to wake up and make the most of every chance we have. Life is fleeting, and we should value the connections, laughter, and dreams that bring meaning to our existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when we walked together
Reflect on the time we spent walking side by side
To that place where we had felt at ease
To the destination where we found comfort
Remember when we came together to laugh and dream
Recall the moments when we united to share joy and aspirations
Wake up
Rise and become aware
There's another chance
A new opportunity awaits
To make up
To reconcile and mend
All the time that's washed away
Time lost and faded
Don't be afraid to wake up
Do not hesitate to awaken
And you'll never know how the years will grow
You won't comprehend the growth that comes with time
If you stay behind the screen
If you confine yourself to a virtual world
But remember when December ends that you'll have my company
Yet recall that when December concludes, I'll be there for you
As the years go by let's remember why we took the time to laugh and dream
While the years pass, let's not forget why we dedicated moments to laughter and aspirations
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Colton Huntington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind