Songs from the Arc of Life | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 18, 2015 | |||
Genre | Classical music | |||
Length | 1:07:44 | |||
Label | Sony Classical | |||
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott chronology | ||||
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Songs from the Arc of Life is a collaborative album by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott released in 2015. The album peaked at position 137 on the Billboard 200.
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott had their first performance together in 1984 and have since been longtime friends and collaborators. [1] Reflecting on their lengthy past together, Ma and Stott created the album to reflect change over a life with compositions they enjoy. [2] The album's title is a likely nod to Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder. [1] Ma and Stott released the album just before Ma's 60th birthday. [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was well-received. Fiona Maddocks wrote for The Observer that the album was "warm, engaged, vital music making by two of the finest musicians around." [4] James Manheim for AllMusic called it a chart-topping "exceptional package". [3] Classic FM named it their "Album of the Week" for the week starting on September 14, 2015. [5]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Ave Maria" | 2:43 |
2. | "Lullaby, Op. 49, No. 4" | 1:49 |
3. | "Songs My Mother Taught Me, Op. 55, No. 4 (from Gypsy Songs)" | 1:56 |
4. | "Papillon, Op. 77" | 2:48 |
5. | "Tango Jalousie" | 3:42 |
6. | "I. Vanitas vanitatum" | 3:03 |
7. | "Was It a Dream? Op. 37, No. 4" | 2:16 |
8. | "Après un rêve, Op. 7, No. 1" | 2:40 |
9. | "Salut d'amour, Op. 12" | 2:44 |
10. | "Prelude No. 1" | 1:51 |
11. | "Romance for Cello and Piano" | 6:25 |
12. | "La Gitana" | 3:32 |
13. | "Tema III" | 7:34 |
14. | "The Swan" | 2:54 |
15. | "The Wounded Heart" | 2:29 |
16. | "Valse sentimentale, Op. 51, No. 6" | 2:16 |
17. | "Louange à l'éternité de Jésus" | 10:17 |
18. | "Beau Soir" | 2:31 |
19. | "Ave Maria, Op. 52, No. 6" | 4:14 |
Total length: | 1:07:44 |
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [6] | 137 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [7] | 68 |
US Top Classical Albums (Billboard) [8] | 1 |
US Traditional Classical Albums ( Billboard ) [9] | 1 |