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Songs from the Arc of Life

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Songs from the Arc of Life
Studio album by
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2015 (2015-09-18)
GenreClassical music
Length1:07:44
LabelSony Classical
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott chronology
Paris – La Belle Epoque
(2003) 		Songs from the Arc of Life
(2015) 		Songs of Comfort and Hope
(2020)

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.

Background

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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]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Observer[4]

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]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
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

Charts

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Chart performance for Songs from the Arc of Life
Chart (2015) Peak
position
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

References

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  1. ^ a b c Tsioulcas, Anastasia (September 9, 2015). "Review: Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott, 'Songs From The Arc Of Life'". NPR. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "What Yo-Yo Ma is learning about life and music at 60". PBS News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Manheim, James. "Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott – Songs from the Arc of Life: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Maddocks, Fiona (September 27, 2015). "Various: Songs from the Arc of Life CD review – a joyful celebration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "Album of the Week: Yo-Yo Ma - Songs from the Arc of Life". Classic FM. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Yo-Yo Ma Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  7. ^ "Yo-Yo Ma Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  8. ^ "Yo-Yo Ma Chart History (Top Classical Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "Yo-Yo Ma Chart History (Traditional Classical Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
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