Four string virtuosos — renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bluegrass fiddler Stuart Duncan, bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolin wizard Chris Thile, each a prominent figure in his own musical sphere — have come together as an ensemble to create what critics are now hailing “a most remarkable and organic cross-genre project in which the fire and drive of the bluegrass world meets the clarity and class of the classical music world.
As viewers will quickly note, the program is an out-of-the-box experience that presents an evening of music both vibrant and varied — composed and improvised, uptown and down home, funky and pastoral — and above all, uniquely American.
It is music that represents the birth of something new. Four virtuosos ignore genre restraints and take viewers along on an inspiring journey that’s full of exhilarating music that ranging from meditative to mind-spinning.
The term “goat rodeo,” often applied to a chaotic situation, is a reference to the challenges of melding classical and bluegrass music. "Goat Rodeo Live" includes interviews with the four musicians, providing background and context for their work.
Viewers are privy to some of the dynamics that have emerged out of four exceptional musicians’ collaboration on a project that all are deeply passionate about.
The song list includes “Quarter Chicken Dark,” “Where’s My Bow,” “Here and Heaven” with vocals by Aoife O’Donovan and Chris Thile, “Franz and the Eagle,” “Helping Hand,” “13:8,” “Hill Justice,” “No One But You” with vocals by Aoife O’Donovan and Chris Thile, “Attaboy” and “All Through the Night.”
"Goat Rodeo Live" is hosted by Yo-Yo Ma. Regarded by many as the most famous classical musician of the modern age, Ma was a child prodigy who began performing at age five, enrolled in Julliard at nine and later went on to perform with most of the world’s major orchestras while winning dozens of Grammys.
Yo-Yo Ma is on Facebook. Follow @christhile on Twitter. "The Goat Rodeo Sessions" CD is now available.
