Yo-Yo Ma (and others) at the Inauguration
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Artist:
A post was made earlier about Aretha Franklin's performance at the Inauguration today, but I haven't seen much mention made of this other performance there, the quartet of Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Anthony McGill and Gabriela Montero playing a John Williams arrangement of a classic piece of American music. I'll be honest, the name and composer escape me, if anybody wants to fill it in. Either way, I thought this was amazing, and for me was one of the high points of the ceremony.
Comments (33)
It was Air and Simple Gifts by John Williams, famous for the Star Wars theme, among others. I about kicked a hole in my tv when Anderson Cooper felt the need to start talking over the performance. Otherwise, it was, as you indicated, a pretty wonderful moment.
I agree
Hadn't seen the video ... thanks for posting.
I know what you mean--on CBS they showed a live feed from Philadelphia during the song, and the sound was on, so naturally everyone in the room started cheering loudly. About drove me crazy. and thanks for the info.
Nick, you're welcome!
I thought it was so great to see and hear. Felt bad for the president though, in order to watch he basically had to turn a full 180 to see.
I wondered about that, too.
Yo Yo Ma was so full of joy as he played, it was infectious. I watched on CNN with only minimal distractions, and was impressed with the performance and the piece.
beautiful. missed it earlier today, but a perfect way to end a day of national celebration. gave me wonder-chills! thanks for posting Chuck!!
no prob--glad you liked it!
I know this will be a shock but I was wrought with emotion.
My day somehow seemed brighter. I don't know ... seeing Cheney go out in a wheelchair somehow seemed poignant.
Ma is a treat. He comes across as the icing on a cake.
2 'somehows' in a comment?
Now I just sound stooo-pid. I only checked my spelling.
Don't sweat it Chris. "Somehow" seemed . . . somehow okay. And I agree with everyone else, watching Ma was a treat in and of itself.
I wonder if being in that wheelchair brought Cheney a certain degree of humiliation? Or humility? I'd like to think so.
No way. The guy is a robot. He's locked in to his way of life and there is nothing we can do but wait till he dies.
He's a bastard and good riddance.
amen.
glad i wasn't the only one rocked by the quartet.....so f*ckin' special!
This was a highpoint for me as well. And yes, even the BBC guy had to talk over it - something they normally don't do. Yo Yo Ma's face and body language said everything about the moment.
Chill-inducing. Very nice...
That was so beautifully done, I was choked up watching it yesterday.
To fill in the blanks a little more, Williams' composition is based on the classic Shaker piece "Simple Gifts" which was composed by Joseph Bracket in 1848, and was later popularized by it's adaptation in Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring. I think I also remember it being used as part of an airline commercial jingle in the 70's-80's?
The original lyrics:
... in other words, an appropos choice for the day ...
thanks for the extra info, GMO! I didn't know any of that!
Erin, where have you been? I saw you were busy.
Copeland, I should have known that.
I aim to please, Groon. Thanks for posting the clip. :)
Chris — Nowhere exotic, unfortunately! Life is nutty on every level but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things here. Cool to see you and Chuck had a meet and greet. Did he show up in his Creature from the Black Lagoon outfit?
No I think that was his normal look. Though with Chuck it's hard to tell.
It was at the cleaners.
I watched and listened to none of it.
Eric, that does not surprise me. I figured no matter what happens, this was an event that would be taught in my grandkid's history class, and even further out. I figured you don't get to watch history like that live every day, and even less when you know you're watching it. Couldn't pass it up!
i heard the other day that it was recording...it was so cold, they didn't want to play and risk breaking strings and such.
i'm sorry if that lessens anyone's enthusiasm; i enjoyed it along with the rest of you!
At first I was a little put off by it, but having played outside before I can completely understand their reasoning. Even masters of their instruments such as they are would be pretty much unable to keep their instruments in tune with it being so cold. So they made the right choice there.
I wonder if people will ask each other: Where were you when Obama was elected? the way people ask: Where were when JFK died?...
Yes, Sir Bartleby, I think most of us will mark this day. It was inspirational to see & hear.
I would address this to Chris, who says....
No way. The guy is a robot. He's locked in to his way of life and there is nothing we can do but wait till he dies. He's a bastard and good riddance.
>>>>clearly not a charitable man, eh? The odd thing is...Pre-Bush, Dick Cheney inevitably was refered to in the press as one of the wisest, most respected man in politics. We're talkin' all the time....each time his name was mentioned all in the press & politics genuflected. and it all changed on a dime when he signed on with Bush. In some cases, (NY Times), the smears & lies perpertrated bordered on ridiculous...but some had to believe. Their rabid hatred demanded it. So be it.
Dick Cheney, for all his faults (ie: he didn't like the press) he was a great Vice-President in very difficult times in this respect....He drew a hell of a lot of fire away from his boss. His boss was in many ways a terrible president but he made the most momentous desicion in American History since WW II. & And stood by it though it cost him every bit of cred he had. & he was right.
Well, for your sake and his, I hope history judges him that way. I've never been a big Bush supporter, although I don't vehemently hate the man like so many do. I think, honestly, he was doomed from the beginning. That whole Florida election thing got his presidency started off on a footing of divisiveness and hatred. And let's be honest here, people--whatever you may think of the man, that election was fair. I'm sorry, and I know you'll hate me for saying so, but that's how it is. The democrats moaned and complained for years over that, even though we all know that they weren't mad that an election was "stolen," they were mad it was stolen from them. And if the situation had been reversed they would've done the same thing, and the next four years would've been full of left-wingers talking about how the consitution dicates this and that yada yada yada. So let's stop hearing you all whine about it!
But still, for many, he was a lame duck president three weeks into his first term, and while 9/11 may have shocked us all out of our bitterness for a brief time, all too often people will revert right back to where they were before.
Now, the man didn't do himself any favors afterwards, and I'm not defending him here. Like so many others, I was glad to see him vacate the office when his time was up. (but I'm so far not too happy with the new tenant, for the record).
uh . . . I forgot my original point.
....Your point is well expressed & well taken. Though it has appeared at times that I am a strong Bush supporter, I was & remain less than luke-warm about his presidency....Except as it pertains to foreign policy.
But too often I heard the man slandered & smeared in ways way beneath intelligent discussion and it would touch off something in me. Even here on the MOG little folks felt free, comfortable in the herd, taking pot shots at the President. I do not like to hear of our president spoken of in such ways regardless of who holds the office. I strongly disagree with many elements of our new President's stated agenda thus far, but I do not doubt his intelligence, or his patriotism, or his character.
For the last eight years G.W.B. has been the target of some of the most viscious attacks from every facet of the media save one (talk radio; thus the Orwellian "fairness Doctrine"). From comedians to pundits to editorials to celebrities the shit-slinging was constant & sickening. .....and then we're told that the man has the lowest rating ever recorded for a sitting president!.....well duh! But mention of Congress's even lower rating is never made. Odd, Huh?
His "Iraqi Surge" was the bravest move I have ever seen a President make........and let there be no doubt....he knew the cost.
Our feelings about Obama are very similar, it seems. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not that optimistic. Still, he is our president, and with that office comes an inherent respect.
I guess you could say I'm hopefull but not optimistic