If I could be in three places at one time, this would have been one of them – the Silk Road Ensemble concert at Damrosch Park last night. Let’s just say yesterday was one of those days when the spirit was willing but my body was weak. Another event which I missed was the Museum Mile Festival of free museum visits, where nine museums were opened to the public for three hours in the evening. Luckily, the Silk Road concert was broadcast live on PBS and surprisingly I was also able to stay up to watch it till finish.The acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma led the Silk Road Ensemble to a journey through different countries by way of their music. I’ve always been a big fan of Yo-Yo Ma and his work, but this truly inspiring group tops it all. The Silk Road Project is composed of about 60 musicians, artists and composers collaborating and making music using instruments indigenous to their native countries.
Last night was a demonstration of a harmony of cultures, performers from the East and West, China, India, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Galicia and many parts of the world, spoke the language of music. Instruments like the pipa lute from China and the Indian tabla, percussion sounds like no other sound you've heard before wowed the audience. The Persian fiddle kamanchech and the tabla are the most fascinating of all.
The charming and very talented Yo-Yo Ma comes from a family of musicians, his father was a professor of music and his mother a singer. His eldest sister Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma is an accomplished violinist and married to Michael Dadap a renowned Filipino classical guitarist.
What is remarkable about Yo-Yo Ma and his family is that they help encourage young kids to cultivate their talents and discover the joy of music by performing, teaching and conducting workshops. Michael and Yeou-Cheng are actively involved with the Children's Orchestral Society, he as the artistic/music director and conductor and Dr. Ma as the Executive Director. Yo-Yo Ma is also committed to educational programs that connect children to music and ultimately opening the rest of the world to children.This extraordinary cellist reaches out to young and older audiences, touring and giving master classes worldwide. What an unselfish way to share his gift and pave the road to harmony and cultural awareness through the language of music. His Silk Road Project is more than just the workings of neighborhood musicians but a brotherhood of artists and a cultural project of nations.
Music conquers all and no translation required.
