Yo-Yo Ma: A Biography

Greenwood Biographies

by Jim Whiting

A musician of rare artistry, the self-effacing yet charismatic Yo-Yo Ma connects with his audiences with startling effectiveness. He remains devoted to the classical repertoire yet has long roved far beyond the Western classical music canon. Despite his real superstar status and thriving solo career, he has often sought out musicians outside the classical sphere and collaborated with them on fascinating recordings. Above all, he is committed to the ever-evolving musical odyssey of his Silk Road Ensemble, itself part of a broader Silk Road Project aiming to explore the deep and varied artistic connections between East and West. Ma's legions of admirers seek out his musical genius in his recordings. Here they can become acquainted with the energetic and charming Ma himself and trace the trajectory of his unique and distinguished career.

Genres: Biography, Music

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2008

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this day and age, when everyone from twenty-something rockstars to the latest internet sensation would rush to publish their memoirs, you'd think that someone with the stature of Yo-Yo Ma would already have a substantial biography written - but there isn't. As an introduction to the great musician's life, this book is not bad. Perhaps one day there will be a book that deals with not only Ma's life, but his substantial influence on the cello, its literature, as well as the musical world.

[Juv · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pretty good layout of his life up to around 2008. I learned that his parents spent significant time in France, that he has a sister and other interesting tidbits like his connection to Pablo Casals.