Yo-Yo Ma

While listening to music, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, asks the questions "where do goose bumps come from?" and "what's going on in my brain that allows the goosebumps to happen?" Levitin leads a group of researchers as they investigate music's fundamental physical structure; its biological, emotional and psychological impact; its brain altering and healing powers and its role in human evolution. (pbs)

Yo-Yo travels to Japan to work with "his favorite Kabuki actor" Bandō Tamasaburō to choreograph a dance for the Fifth Suite. The process is not easy as Bandō finds himself struggling to express emotion while keeping up with the tempo of the suite, especially in the Allemande movement. (en.wikipedia.org)

After explaining how the first Cello Suite always conjures up images of nature, Yo-Yo Ma recruits architect Julie Moir Messervy to help design a garden based on it. Boston City Hall, showing interest in the project for City Hall Plaza as a way to beautifully meet the demands for security. But the filming of the project turns out to unreasonable for Boston and they pull out. The city of Toronto expresses interest in the project and work Yo-Yo and Julie to the point where construction can begin. (en.wikipedia.org)

Yo-Yo Ma brings the music of the Second Suite together with the etchings of the 18th century Italian architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi in this film. The film explores the connection that music and architecture share as architects and a music historian contribute to the discussion between the performances of the movements. (en.wikipedia.org)

Yo-Yo Ma collaborates with Mark Morris to create a dance for the Third Suite. Morris expresses reservations about interpreting the work as choreographer, which he feels is less than that of a musician. Over the course the film Morris works with his troupe and then with Yo-Yo to create a dance. The title, as Morris explains, comes from a dream he had where he saw one of his dancers falling down a flight of stairs in time with the opening scale of the Suite. (en.wikipedia.org)

Perhaps the most enigmatic of the films in the series, Sarabande, as Egoyan explains in his interview for the series, came out his meeting Yo-Yo to begin working on the film. Egoyan came to realize the relation that he and Yo-Yo had as listener and performer when Yo-Yo played for him. The film explores the relationships that a limousine driver, a doctor, and a real estate agent have amongst each other and with Yo-Yo as he travels to Canada to perform the Suites. (en.wikipedia.org)

Rozema and Yo-Yo explore the life of Bach when he wrote the Cello Suites with the help of ice dancers Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean as well as Tom McCamus, who plays Bach. Each of the movements of the Suite is equated to a gesture. Over the course of the film we see Bach encounter joy at having the freedom to do "music for music's sake", question whether he is growing more isolated from the world-at-large, suffer the waning attentions of his patron, and grieve the loss of a wife. (en.wikipedia.org)

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and other international artists of The Silk Road Project discuss their philosophies on music and culture.

An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers.