Yo-Yo Ma

On a recent flight I came across this audible words+music vol. that I had not listened to and thought that it would be a wonderful way to pass the time at 30k ft. and for sure this was the case. I knew of Yo-Yo Ma and his music but had never explored his life and work in any detail and yet again Audible has done a great job of allowing the artist to share their story as they think is best. He covers his approach to playing the Cello where each time he picks up the instrument it’s like a show more new beginning for him and that he would describe himself as a human, musician and cellist in that order which is all really interesting. Along with sharing details of his immigrant experience and the impact of his parents on his early development this all makes for an immersive experience into his world. Having visited Brazil recently I can confirm his view about the music there being a great combination of their culture which is different based on the different areas and people in that country so I will be listening more to the artists he recommended. I am inspired to listen to more of Yo-Yo Ma's work and I am including his songs in my playlists to bring their calming influence to me on a regular basis. Recommend for all Yo-Yo Ma fans and music lovers in general. show less

Audible produces a Words + Music series, which allows listeners to consume a brief overview of various music artists. I enjoyed learning about legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma in this Audible Original, Beginner’s Mind. Yo-Yo Ma immediately had my attention when the audiobook opened with him describing a remote home he and his wife enjoy that is immersed in nature. He eloquently described the restorative process he enjoys by spending time in nature and away from social obligations. He shared show more about his family’s background and immigration to the United States when he was seven years old. Yo-Yo Ma told a funny story of how he became interested in the cello. As a person who appreciates mindfulness and Eastern philosophy, I admired his explanation of how he approaches playing the cello after all of these years. He explained that each time he plays, he perceives it as his first experience — with a beginner’s mind.

Yo-Yo Ma goes on to talk about marrying his wife, Jill, and their children. He shares about his musical journey and relationships with people he has professionally collaborated with. Before listening to this audiobook, I knew very little about Yo-Yo Ma, but it gave me a great introduction to him as a person, not just his music. I love that Yo-Yo Ma narrates the audiobook. There’s nothing better than hearing the story directly from the artist. It is beautifully produced with his music being played between segments of narrative.

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A Book And A Dog show less

A great listen. Interesting to hear him describe his parents challenges and experiences and how that impacted him.

After listening to this, I listened to a WTF podcast (not my usual fare) in which Maron was interviewing Ma about this and a wider range of topics. Ma is such a regular guy - unassuming and unpretentious; it’d be neat to have a beer (or two) with him and talk about anything, maybe even music

A good listen any time, but especially now as we grapple with our changing lives through pandemic, political and environmental transitions. Insightful and hopeful.