The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

This is the essential collection from one of the most popular musicians of our time and includes 34 tracks spanning Yo Yo Ma's entire careere from his Academy Award-winning performance on 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' to his Grammy-winning 'Soul of the Tango', to his latest hit, 'Silk Road' and more.

Time and time again, Yo-Yo Ma has captivated audiences with his stunning masterpieces and truly awe-inspiring performances. The Essential Yo-Yo Ma 2-Disc set includes 35 of Yo-Yo Ma's greatest masterpieces ranging from The Swan from Carnival of the Animals, Cristal, Gabriel's Oboe and even the epic The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Sony Classics. 2005.

Notes & Reviews:

The Essential Yo-Yo Ma seems to be a presentation of the recordings in which the esteemed cellist has participated that might have the widest appeal to the general market. There's nothing wrong with that. But it isn't too easy to select a "best-of" for an artist such as this, grounded in classical music but adding his talents to forms of popular and world music as well. So this two-disc, 35-track set might not be pure enough for the classical devotee, nor have enough accessible non-classical pieces for the popular music-oriented listener. What it does offer, indisputably, is a lot of the music recorded by the musician between 1978 and 2004, and a lot of different kinds of pieces. Disc one is the more classical-based of the pair, with works by Bach, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Brahms, and Dvorák (as well as George Gershwin's "Prelude No. 1"). Yo-Yo Ma's cello is placed in diverse contexts here, within orchestras at times of course, but also in settings in which he's accompanied only by a pianist or a few musicians (including, on Rachmaninov's Vocalise, singer Bobby McFerrin). On disc two are tracks that put the cellist's talents into various forms of Latin music (as an accompanist to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Astor Piazzolla), folk (on numbers composed by Mark O'Connor and "Simple Gift," with Alison Krauss as vocalist), traditional Chinese sounds ("Mido Mountain"), soundtracks (extracts from Ennio Morricone's score to The Mission), and even Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" (with jazz great Stéphane Grappelli on violin). The cello playing is stellar throughout and the varying ensembles very well recorded. However, more specialized listeners might prefer individual works on which the artist has performed, rather than an eclectic stylistic assortment such as this. ~ Richie Unterberger

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Works Details

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Suite for solo cello no 1 in G major, BWV 1007 :: Prélude

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 2 min. 19 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1720
Studio/Live: Studio

Vivaldi, Antonio : Concerto for Violin in F major, Op. 8 no 3/RV 293 "L'autunno"

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Ton Koopman (Harpsichord)
Conductor: Ton Koopman
Ensemble: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Notes: The violin solo in this selection is performed on cello.
Running Time: 1 min. 46 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Concerto
Written: 1725
Studio/Live: Studio

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Cantata no 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174) :: Jesus, bleibet meine Freude

Performers: Ton Koopman (Harpsichord); Ton Koopman (Organ); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Ton Koopman
Ensemble: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Running Time: 2 min. 42 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 07/02/1723
Studio/Live: Studio

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Cantata no 208, "Was mir behagt," (Hunt Cantata), BWV 208 (BC G1, G3) :: Schafe können sicher weiden

Performers: Ton Koopman (Organ); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Ton Koopman
Ensemble: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Running Time: 3 min. 37 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 02/23/1713
Studio/Live: Studio

Bach, Johann Sebastian : Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale no 1), BWV 645 (BC K22

Performers: Ton Koopman (Organ); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Ton Koopman
Ensemble: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Running Time: 3 min. 48 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1748-1749
Studio/Live: Studio

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921) : Carnival of the animals

Performers: Gaby Casadesus (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Philippe Entremont (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1886
Studio/Live: Studio

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921) : Havanaise, for violin & piano (or orchestra) in E major, Op. 83

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Kathryn Stott (Piano)
Running Time: 8 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: 1887
Studio/Live: Studio

Massenet, Jules : Meditation (from "Thaïs")

Performers: Kathryn Stott (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 5 min. 48 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Studio/Live: Studio

Kreisler, Fritz : Liebesfreud

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Patricia Zander (Piano)
Running Time: 3 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Written: by 1910
Studio/Live: Studio

Gershwin, George : Preludes (3) for piano :: Prelude no 1. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso

Performers: Jeffrey Kahane (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 1 min. 43 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1926
Studio/Live: Studio

Rachmaninov, Sergei : Songs (14), Op. 34

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Bobby McFerrin (Voice)
Running Time: 6 min. 26 sec.
Period Time: Post Romantic
Studio/Live: Studio

Shostakovich, Dmitri : Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 :: IV. Allegro

Performers: Emanuel Ax (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Notes: Composition written: 1934.
Running Time: 4 min. 25 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1934
Studio/Live: Studio

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich : Andante cantabile for Cello and Strings, Op. 11

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Lorin Maazel
Ensemble: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Running Time: 8 min. 21 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Written: 1888
Studio/Live: Studio

Brahms, Johannes : Quartet for Piano and Strings no 1 in G minor, Op. 25 :: IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto

Performers: Emanuel Ax (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Jaime Laredo (Viola); Isaac Stern (Violin)
Running Time: 8 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Chamber Music
Written: 1861
Studio/Live: Studio

Antonin Dvorák (1841 - 1904) : Concerto for Cello in B minor, Op. 104/B 191 :: III. Finale. Allegro moderato

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Kurt Masur
Ensemble: New York Philharmonic
Running Time: 12 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Romantic
Form: Concerto
Studio/Live: Studio

César Camargo Mariano : Cristal

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Cesar Mariano (Piano)
Running Time: 2 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : A Lenda do Caboclo, W 166

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Sérgio Assad (Guitar); Odair Assad (Guitar)
Running Time: 3 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1920
Studio/Live: Studio

Jobim, Antonio Carlos : Chega de Saudade

Performers: Rosa Passos (Voice); Nilson Matta (Double Bass); Rosa Passos (Guitar); Cyro Baptista (Percussion); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Kathryn Stott (Piano)
Running Time: 5 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Language: Portuguese
Studio/Live: Live

D'Rivera, Paquito : Wapango

Performers: Paquito D'Rivera (Clarinet); Kathryn Stott (Piano); Cyro Baptista (Percussion); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 3 min. 46 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Live

Piazzolla, Astor : Libertango

Performers: Leonardo Marconi (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Horacio Malvicino (Guitar); Nestor Marconi (Bandoneon); Hector Console (Double Bass); Antonio Agri (Violin)
Running Time: 3 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1974
Studio/Live: Studio

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : Appalachia Waltz

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 4 min. 20 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

O'Connor, Mark [Violin] : Butterfly's Day Out

Performers: Edgar Meyer (Double Bass); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Mark O'Connor (Mandolin)
Running Time: 4 min. 46 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

Meyer, Edgar : 1B, for violin, cello & double bass

Performers: Mark O'Connor (Violin); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Edgar Meyer (Double Bass)
Running Time: 4 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

Williams, John : Pieces (3) for Cello solo :: Pickin'

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 2 min. 34 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 2000
Studio/Live: Studio

Traditional, Shaker : Simple Gifts

Performers: Alison Krauss (Voice); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 2 min. 31 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Written: 18th Century
Language: English
Studio/Live: Studio

Morricone, Ennio : The Mission :: Gabriel's Oboe

Performers: Gilda Butta (Piano); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Conductor: Ennio Morricone
Ensemble: Roma Sinfonietta
Running Time: 3 min. 11 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Film Score
Written: 1986
Studio/Live: Studio

Morricone, Ennio : The Mission :: The Falls

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Gilda Butta (Piano)
Conductor: Ennio Morricone
Ensemble: Roma Sinfonietta
Running Time: 2 min. 28 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Film Score
Written: 1986
Studio/Live: Studio

Tan Dun : Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, film score :: The Eternal Vow

Performers: Alimjan (Rawap); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Kasim (Drums); David Cossin (Drums)
Conductor: Xieyang Chen
Ensemble: Shanghai Percussion Ensemble
Running Time: 3 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Form: Film Score
Written: 2000
Studio/Live: Studio

Wilde, David : Cellist of Sarajevo, Op. 12

Performer: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Running Time: 6 min. 57 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

Azzaiolo, Fillippo : Chi passa per 'sta strada, for voices, lutes & violin

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Silk Road Ensemble (Cello)
Ensemble: Silk Road Ensemble
Running Time: 4 min. 41 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance
Written: circa 1557
Studio/Live: Studio

Traditional, Chinese : Mido Mountain

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Silk Road Ensemble (Cello)
Ensemble: Silk Road Ensemble
Running Time: 3 min. 51 sec.
Studio/Live: Studio

Sandeep Das / Indrajit De : Mohini (Enchantment)

Performers: Silk Road Ensemble (Cello); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello)
Ensemble: Silk Road Ensemble
Running Time: 1 min. 47 sec.
Studio/Live: Studio

Bolling, Claude : Suite for cello & jazz piano trio :: Baroque in Rhythm

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Claude Bolling (Piano); Jean-Luc Dayan (Drums); Marc Michel (Double Bass)
Ensemble: Claude Bolling Ensemble
Running Time: 4 min. 25 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Studio/Live: Studio

Porter, Cole : Anything Goes, song (for the musical Anything Goes)

Performers: Roger Kellaway (Piano); Jon Burr (Double Bass); Daniel Humair (Drums); Marc Fosset (Guitar); Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Stephane Grappelli (Violin)
Running Time: 5 min. 53 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Studio/Live: Studio

Loewe, Frederick : I Could Have Danced All Night, song (for the musical My Fair Lady)

Performers: Yo-Yo Ma (Cello); Stephen Prutsman (Piano)
Notes: Composition written: United States of America.
Running Time: 3 min. 43 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Studio/Live: Studio

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