Yo-Yo Ma is funny

Yo-Yo Ma Brings 'Joy' in New Album

World-famous cellist Yo-yo Ma holds a press conference to promote his new album ``Songs of Joy and Peace'' at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, Gangnam, Wednesday.

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma wanted to recreate and share the ``joy'' of the holidays with his latest album ``Songs of Joy and Peace.''

``I'm happy this album has come out at this particular moment because for me, music is a personal thing that we all share, but sometimes I feel there's a distance between what goes on stage and what happens at home when we listen to music,'' Ma said, during a press conference at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Gangnam, Wednesday.

Ma said his family and friends usually spend the holidays at home having fun and playing music, which includes him ``playing the piano badly.'' He wanted to recreate these special moments on an album, but this time with his ``best musical friends, who feel like family.''

As a result, ``Songs of Joy and Peace'' features collaborations with top artists like Dave Brubeck, James Taylor, Renee Fleming, Chris Botti, Diana Krall, Pacquito D'Rivera and the Assad family.

``This is an album that can never tour. It's impossible to bring everyone together to do five minutes of music each. I think recording the album was like watching all the Korean athletes at the Beijing Olympics… Every day, there would be one extraordinary artist like Krall coming in the studio, and I'd say, `this is the best thing ever.' The next day, someone would come in, and I'd be wide-eyed and amazed at so much talent and generosity that came in the room,'' Ma said.

There were no difficulties while recording the album in New York last June. Ma asked each of the artists to choose a song that represented joy. Taylor chose the Beatles classic ``Here Comes the Sun,'' which they recorded in a barn.

Another special collaboration is ``Joy to the World,'' featuring jazz legend Brubeck and Cuban musician D'Rivera. Ma admitted he always wanted to perform with the 87-year-old Brubeck, so he asked his friend and Brubeck's son Matt to help him. Fortunately, Brubeck agreed and D'Rivera also joined the project.

Ma personally picked the song ``Dona Nobis Pacem'' (Give Me Peace),'' which was always performed during a community winter event held in Cambridge, Mass. ``It's amazing when the entire hall is doing something together, and the focus is music. It becomes a moment of joy and I wanted to capture it and put in on the CD,'' he said.

He even started an online contest in which anyone could create their own variation of ``Dona.'' The winner of the contest will have a chance to record with Ma.

``My job with the CD is not over when you buy it. It's when you open it and play it and hopefully like it enough to remember something about it. For young and old people, nothing makes it more memorable than if you're a participant,'' he said.

Throughout the press conference, Ma showed his sense of humor. He even elicited giggles with his antics during the photo call, as he struck funny poses as the photographers clicked away.

Ma also collaborates with several Korean musicians including Kim Dong-won and Kim Ji-hyun in the Silk Road Ensemble, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

``We've taken Korean traditional music all over the place. People are moved by the music because it's so strong,'' he said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr