Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman Perform at Barack Obama's Inauguration Celebration

[Donnachaidh]

Run time: 04:31 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQzZEK7jVaE   Posted on YouTube: January 20, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 21, 2009 By DU Member: Donnachaidh Views on DU: 772

 
This just blew my socks off!

[panader0]

1. That was an unexpected highlight for me. What talent.

[KittyWampus]

2. Thanks so very much. This performance provided a profound sense of peace and...

Community. A much loved hymn that is actually a dance tune

[Highway61]

3. Beautiful...

Just beautiful. Refreshing change, no? We have a president who has taste in fine music, class and grace. (I'm still pinching myself)

[Brucie Kibbutz]

7. You summed it up nicely.

If it was a McCain/Palin' inauguration, we would have been subjected to Toby Keith and Charlie Daniels in sequin covered American flag pattern suits and do rags.

BTW, Their fingers had to be freezing. Didn't seem to hinder them a bit, though.!

[monmouth]

4. Best music of the day by far. Thanks for posting...n/t

[snappyturtle]

5. K&R Thanks for posting. When I listened yesterday I thought the

piece sounded "historical". Yet the enthusiasm of the four was so modern. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the music was timeless....could have fit in during the fledgling years of our nation as well as it did yesterday. Lovely. Peaceful.

[skooooo]

6. Yo Yo was a big rap star in the late 90s.

You wouldn't guess it now thought, would you?

[mt13]

8. simply beautiful

i adored the expressions of shear joy on all of their faces.

[wryter2000]

9. K&R

I'm not a big fan of John Williams, but that was sublime.

[ourbluenation]

10. Thx. It was beautiful. Does anyone know the name of the piece?

[hvn_nbr_2]

11. Yo-Yo Ma looked like he was having the time of his life. nt

[keith the dem]

13. Don't you just love it when somebody so loves their work

And their work is so wonderful.

There are few people I admire more than Yo-Yo Ma.

[keith the dem]

12. This piece set the tone perfectly!

I was in absolute tears. The joy in Yo-Yo's face was wonderful. I am so glad you posted this!
When we watched the concert on Sunday, we wondered why Yo-Yo wasn't there. His mission of unity worked so well into Sunday's theme. I was so happy to see why he was left out of Sunday's program, this was perfect...absolutely perfect.

I ran across this story about Anthony McGill, the fantastic clarinetist that was part of the ensemble:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-01...

The whole performance was perfect for so many reasons: The ethnic rainbow of the ensemble, the jazz elements of the composition mixed with what could only be a pure American sound. The obvious references to Aaron Copland, an openly gay man who was blacklisted in the 1950's, the lyrics to Simple Gifts , the hymn that is the theme of the piece, beautifully echo both Obama's address and the poem recited later:

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Refrain:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

This was real relevant American art. Art is back!

[unclechuck]

14. Fabulous Choice

What a wonderful addition to a perfect, except for Roberts
screwing up the oath, day.  Not only did they play
flawlessly, they looked like they were have the time of their
lives.  
By the way, as a guitar player I know how hard it is to play
under those conditions.  Your instrument feels like a rock. 
The strings are cold and hard and will not stay in tune due
to the temperature.  It was a remarkable performance.