Simply Baroque Yo-Yo Ma

Simply Baroque

1	Cantata No. 167, "Ihr Men
2	St. Matthew Passion (Matt
3	Cantata No. 147, "Herz un
4	Cantata No. 22, "Jesus na
5	Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu
6	Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom
7	Cantata No. 163, "Nur jed
8	Cantata No. 136, "Erforsc
9	Orchestral Suite No. 3 in
10	Cello Concerto in G major
11	Cello Concerto in G major
12	Cello Concerto in G major
13	Cello Concerto in D major
14	Cello Concerto in D major
15	Cello Concerto in D major
16	Cello Concerto in D major
Simply Baroque
1.	Cantata No. 167, "Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe," BWV 167 (BC A176): Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren- Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren 2:17
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
2.	St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b): Erbarme dich- Erbarme dich 7:20
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
3.	Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174): Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring 2:44
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
4.	Cantata No. 22, "Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe," BWV 22 (BC A48): Ertot' uns durch dein' Gute- Ertot' uns durch dein' Gute 1:30
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
5.	Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I), chorale prelude for organ (Orgel-Büchlein No. 41), BWV 639 (BC K68) 2:28
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
6.	Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 6), BWV 650 (BC K27) 3:07
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
7.	Cantata No. 163, "Nur jedem das Seine!" BWV 163 (BC A158): Lass mein Herz die Munze sein- Lass mein Herz die Munze sein 3:00
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
8.	Cantata No. 136, "Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz," BWV 136 (BC A111): Dein Blut, der edle Saft- Dein Blut, der edle Saft 0:51
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
9.	Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air- Air 5:04
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
10.	Cello Concerto in G major, G. 480- No. 1, Allegro 7:37
	Composed by Luigi Boccherini
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
11.	-- No. 2, Adagio 4:51
12.	-- No. 3, Allegro 5:04
13.	Cello Concerto in D major, G. 478 (doubtful)- No. 1, Allegro 7:14
	Composed by Luigi Boccherini
	Performed by Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, Ton Koopman and Yo-Yo Ma
	Conducted by Ton Koopman
14.	-- No. 2, Larghetto 5:46
15.	-- No. 3a, Rondo 4:11
16.	-- No. 3b, Rondo comodo assai 5:53

Barnes & Noble

No one could accuse Yo-Yo Ma of being afraid to try new things. The intrepid cellist has tangoed with Astor Piazzolla's band, fiddled Appalachian style with Mark O'Connor, and jazzed it up with Claude Bolling. Now he's venturing into the realm of period instruments, pulling out the end pin from his 1712 Stradivari cello, using gut strings, a Baroque-style bow, and other antique fittings. These alterations soften Ma's normally rich sound but enhance his warm tone. The first half of the CD offers nine pieces by J.S. Bach -- including the famous "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Air on the G String" -- transcribed for cello and orchestra by the conductor Ton Koopman. The second half of the disc is devoted to a pair of concertos by Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805), whose music actually bridges the intricacies of the Baroque style and the simpler charms of the rococo. But while his creative juices were less potent than Bach's, Boccherini was a fine craftsman in his own right, and his concertos are quite lovable. Ma plays both composers' music with the zeal of the newly converted, and his infectious enthusiasm will coax even the most jaded connoisseur to share in the joy of discovery. Andrew Farach-Colton

All Music Guide

Performing on the Baroque cello (outfitted with gut strings and without an endpin, making it so that the performer has to clutch the instrument between his/her legs), Yo-Yo Ma delivers the warm, listener-friendly classical music that he has become known for. Supported by conductor Ton Koopman's period Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ma presents a wholly unusual interpretation of some of Bach's better known Baroque works, as well as some lesser known pieces by Italian composer Luigi Boccherini.

The sound of the Baroque cello changes the mood of each familiar piece to something warmer and more intimate. The string composition has a less dry tone than the usual wound string, and the absence of the endpin means that there is no sound traveling through the floor, therefore all of the sound comes directly from the body of the instrument. Ma's skilled handling of the pieces evolve Simply Baroque beyond an interesting experiment and into a beautiful listening experience. Zac Johnson

Gramophone

As superior ‘light’ listening goes, I cannot conceive of a happier 70 minutes’ worth. It also provides an ideal ‘soft-option’ introduction to the sound of period instruments.