The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble

Filmmaker Morgan Neville's HBO-aired documentary centers on cellist Yo Yo Ma's “Silk Road Ensemble,” an international group of musicians that has flourished since its founding in the year 2000, releasing six albums and performing for two million people. Although it had shaky beginnings (including insinuations that the effort was “cultural tourism”), the Silk Road Ensemble has worked hard to create a new form of music from so many other forms. In the opening segment set in a bustling waterfront courtyard, a large canvas is laid out on the ground as the musicians and a vocalist begin to play, after which an artist starts to draw a figure on the canvas, energizing the crowd gathered to witness this celebration of art, music, and dance. The musicians play a mix of both native instruments and others common to all cultures, such as the drums, clarinet, and—of course—cello. The musicians include clarinetist Kinan Azmeh of Syria; pipa player Wu Man of China; kamancheh player Kayhan Kahlor of Iran; and bagpiper Cristina Pato of Spain. Viewers will learn that Ma was a child prodigy who performed for President Kennedy (in Leonard Bernstein's orchestra) at the tender age of 7. Although many child prodigies burn out early, Ma went on to become an international star. The Silk Road Ensemble is both a response to Bernstein's quest for a universal musical language and a key waypoint on Ma's personal journey of discovering the “why” behind his life's work. The musicians share powerful stories (such as Kahlor's perseverance through revolutions) and sometimes engage in funny antics (Wu Man plays Black Sabbath's “Iron Man” through a wah wah pedal in a music store). The cultural backdrops of the musicians mesh seamlessly here and the film beautifully captures both their passion and their art. [Note: this is also available with public performance rights for $395 from Ro*co Films Educational at www.rocoeducational.com.] Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Block)