The Most Influential Cellist: Yo-Yo Ma

Improved Essays
One of my favorite instruments is the cello. The cello is known as the bass instrument of the violin family. In respects to solo work, the cello is very important in the works of an orchestra. Today, the cello is adored and played by many. One of the most acclaimed cellist is a Yo Yo Ma. He is a songwriter of Chinese decent known for playing the grand classics. Yo Yo Ma is not only an artist of music, but diversifies one’s understanding of what music was like in the past. One example is how he had the role of serving as the artist director of the Silk Road Project. The Silk Road Project explores music that was present, established and exchanged during the Triangle Trade. Yo Yo Ma uses various directions of art, form and grace in his works. The cello, however, is his greatest work of art. Today, he is known as the greatest cellist yet. Yo Yo Ma was born in Paris, France on October 7, 1955. His mother is Marina Lu and she was a singer. Ma’s father was Hiao-Tsuin Ma. He composed and taught music. Ma’s parents knew the importance of music and how much it could embrace his life. …show more content…
Some of his recordings include Argentine tango, Brazilian bossa nora, bluegrass and American. One of my favorite is the soundtrack for the movie, Crouching Tiger: Hidden Dragon. Ma’s work touches base on both theatre and traditional. Some examples are the two albums of Vivaldi’s music. He recorded with the conductor Ton Koopman. Another great accomplishment that Mas was recognized for was being named Peace Ambassador of the United States in 2006 and was appointed to the Presidents Committee for Arts and Humanities in 2009 by President Barack Obama. Yo Yo Ma’s playing style includes a focused and warm tone with a fast vibrato. He has a unique spontaneous music making skills, however, very rigorous. No doubt due to an easy going success, his personality and adventures through music has molded him into the person he is

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His dad was Joe Bryant, and used to play for Philadelphia 76ers player. Kobe Bryant started playing basketball at 3 years old, and his favorite team was the Lakers. Kobe was six years old when his father moved to Italy to play basketball, leaving the NBA behind. He grew up in the newer places and learned to speak the local language.…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A hero is a person who works hard day in and day out and who faces challenges on a regular basis and is able to succeed. This is a good example of Amaru Shakur or better known as Tupac. Tupac was a regular person just like any other people in the world. Tupac live wasn’t easy it was full with challenges and odds against him. Throughout this paper we will read things you may or you may have known.…

    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Berry Gordy Jr. was born in November 28, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to his parents Bertha and Berry Gordy Sr., he was number seven of eight children. Gordy was brought up in a tight knit family with strong morals. Berry Gordy Jr., dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade, with hopes of becoming an professional boxer and hopes of becoming rich quick. A career he followed until the 1950, when he was drafted in the United States Army for the Korean War. After his return from Korean in 1953, he married Thelma Coleman.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I understand that Dr. Melinda Brou is a nominee for the Piper Professor Award. Dr. Brou is the professor that I have had the most pleasure studying with, and she is the best candidate to receive the Piper Professor Award. Being Dr. Brou’s student has been extremely rewarding. She is a passionate music educator who inspired and taught me to learn in effective, meaningful, and memorable ways. Dr. Brou’s passion for teaching music and her exceptional devotion to her expertise is passed on to her colleagues and students resulting in students who are passionate and devoted to their expertise as well.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aaliyah Thesis

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Aaliyah was “The princess of R&B” an american singer, she also was a actress, dancer, and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York but she was raised in Detroit, Michigan. The daughter of Diane and Michael Haughton. Aaliyah was born on January 16,1979 and died on August 25,2001. She signed a contract with Jive Records at the age of 12 and was killed at the age of 22.…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Berry Gordy Jr was born on 28 November 1929 in Detroit. After a period as a professional feather-weight in the late Forties, Gordy was then drafted for service in the Korean War in 1951. Discharged in 1953, he married 19-year-old Thelma Coleman. Then in 1959, at the age of 30, Berry Gordy Jr. started a company called Motown based off a eight-hundred dollar loan from his family. Little did Gordy know that his automobile assembly line based music label would be starting a revolution.…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Kanye Omari West

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Rapper, record producer and singer Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977. His parents divorced when he was three. He was raised on Chicago's South Side by his mother, an English professor, and spent summers with his father, an award-winning photographer who became a church counselor. West graduated from Polaris High School and completed one year of art school at Chicago State University. After spending time rapping and working with local artists, West moved to New York in 2001 to pursue his music career full time.…

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John Marshall: Chief Justice

    • 2257 Words
    • 10 Pages

    John Marshall is most famous for being the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding for 34 years. Some would say he was the greatest chief justice of all time. Being a chief justice was not his only role. He was a lawyer, Federalist, Virginia native, husband, father and to some a national hero. Marshall’s legacy lives on and we are reminded time and time again why he was such a fundamental Supreme Court Chief Justice.…

    • 2257 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marsalis Vs Bryson

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Occasionally, musicians become “crossover artists” whom can per- form good in more than one field of music. For example, Wynton and Branford Marsalis was train in jazz by their father, the great pianist Ellis Marsalis. Both of the sons has became successful classical artists. Bran- ford’s saxophone captures the richness of pieces by Ravel and Stravinsky. Wynton’s albums of classical trumpet music from the Baroque period has brung him many awards.…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Success is never given to those who wish for it, it is given to those who work for it. It's not an easy task working for your success. In order for a person to succeed in life, they have to work hard and never give up on their dreams. Everybody has the chance to become successful in their lifetime, but the thing is, it's whether you want to work hard and never give up or just sit around the rest of your life. Kobe Bryant is one of the most inspirational basketball player to ever play the professional game of basketball.…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    George Lopez Essay

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages

    George Lopez was born on April 23, 1961 in Mission Hills, California. He and his mother were abandoned by his father when he was only two months old. At the age of ten he was then abandoned by his mother. He was told by his mother that his father had died, but when she left to he found out that he did not. Lopez never found him, but he thinks he is now living in Mexico.…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Jeffrey Zanolini Mr. Saleeba English IV 4 October 2017 John Gotti The leader I have chosen to do is the notorious mob boss of New York and the head of the Gambino family. Born on October 27, 1940, in the South Bronx, New York. He had 12 siblings. His mother Fannie and father Joseph were Italian immigrants who moved often before settling in east New York. By the age of twelve he was working as an errand boy for an underground club in his neighborhood run by Carmine Fatico.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    African Influence On Jazz

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages

    “I see trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom, for me and you, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” These are lyrics from “What a Wonderful World” created by a mastermind of jazz named Louis Armstrong. There are many famous jazz composers, including Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden, and Miles Davis. Most people consider jazz being created in New Orleans, but its roots began from African rhythms. Freed African-American slaves helped create jazz at the end of the 19th century.…

    • 1376 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many modern day celebrities and leaders are able to follow the hero's Journey to get to the point that they are at today. Kanye West is one of those people who went through the trials to reach the success he is at today, but it sure wasn’t an easy journey. Kanye Omari West was born on June 8th, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kanye’s parents got divorced when he was three and he rarely saw his father.…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Drake Research Paper

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Did you know the rapper Drake's real name is Aubrey? He also grew up with divorced parents. Drake, the rapper, Singer, Music Producer, Comedian, Composer, and Child Actor, had to grow up with faith and trust in others due to a challenging past. You might know him from his most recent song God's Plan and that's not all. He has sold over 10 million albums only in the US.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays