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.
Zui-Zui-Zukkorobashi
Yo-Yo Ma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
我很安静陪着你
有些怀疑
能不能陪我到最终目的
我的安静不怀疑
就别再提
能不能让我回到最初的记忆
The lyrics of "Zui-Zui-Zukkorobashi" by Yo-Yo Ma express a complex emotional landscape that revolves around themes of uncertainty, companionship, and the yearning for nostalgia. The opening lines, "我还不能妥协" (I still can't compromise), suggest a deep inner conflict. The singer is grappling with a situation where they feel the need to hold their ground, refusing to give in to the pressures around them. This refusal to compromise can symbolize a commitment to one's own principles or emotions. It creates a sense of tension, indicating that there are important stakes involved in the relationship or circumstance being described, which may keep the singer feeling restless or unresolved.
As the lyrics progress to "我很安静陪着你" (I quietly accompany you), we see a shift from the conflict to the act of presence. The singer appears to be in a supportive role, offering a quiet companionship to someone else. This indicates a deep sense of loyalty and emotional intimacy, where silence becomes a form of communication. However, there is also an underlying sadness or frustration, as the singer subtly reveals their own doubts about whether the connection will last ("能不能陪我到最终目的"—Can you accompany me to the ultimate goal?). This line underscores the fear of abandonment or the possibility of an unresolved journey where one’s emotional needs might not be fully met.
The reflections on doubt and uncertainty continue with "我的安静不怀疑" (My silence does not doubt). Here, the singer acknowledges their own state of tranquility even amidst feelings of insecurity. This moment shines a light on the complexity of human emotions; sometimes, we may remain calm or composed while grappling with worries or fears underneath. The singer's reassurance of their silence acts as a contemplative space, indicating an acceptance of the present moment—even when it is filled with ambiguity. Additionally, the phrase "就别再提" (So let's not mention it again) reflects a desire to avoid further discussions about these uncertainties, suggesting that perhaps some topics are too painful or complex to address openly.
Finally, the yearning expressed in "能不能让我回到最初的记忆" (Can you take me back to the original memories) reveals a deep nostalgia and longing for simplicity—a return to a time when things felt more certain or fulfilling. This plea highlights the importance of memory in shaping one’s emotional state and the desire to reclaim a sense of innocence or clarity lost in the present turmoil. It strongly signifies that the past holds emotional weight for the singer, serving as a contrasting backdrop to their current experience. Ultimately, the lyrics cohesively encapsulate a blend of hope, fear, and longing, painting a vivid picture of the emotional journey that accompanies complex relationships and self-reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
我还不能妥协
I am still unable to yield or compromise.
我很安静陪着你
I remain quietly by your side, offering my presence.
有些怀疑
There are certain doubts lingering in my mind.
能不能陪我到最终目的
Will you be able to stay with me until we reach our final destination?
我的安静不怀疑
My calmness and steadiness are unwavering and certain.
就别再提
So let us refrain from bringing it up any further.
能不能让我回到最初的记忆
Can you allow me to return to the memories of the very beginning?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind