Inauguration: Air + Simple Gifts By John Williams

[evilgenius0701]

I love the way Yo-Yo Ma always plays like he is having the time of his life.

[freein2339]

@zebragirl2011 Listen little girl , I thought it was boring..that's my opinion so get over it....

[phoenixandtheflame]

@freein2339 "Little girl"? For your information, I am studying Biology Health Careers with a music minor at University. I've put together several marching band shows. I've lived in central Africa. I am not a "little girl."

[freein2339]

@phoenixandtheflame Then stop whining like a little girl and grow up....little girl...

[phoenixandtheflame]

@freein2339 I am not whining. And I am more grown up than someone who is intentionally insulting someone for no cause.

[freein2339]

@phoenixandtheflame As I recall you asked me if I had ears and I put you in your place..So stop acting like a little girl and grow up..If you don't like being exposed don't advertise your ignorance...thus ending the lesson...

[phoenixandtheflame]

@freein2339 You've taken my question out of context, thus exposing your ignorance.

[freein2339]

This was so boring....

[Trioptio]

Any1 knows what cello is Mr. Ma using?

[Twifreak1412]

@Trioptio The Davidov Stradivarius

[clarkferry]

@Twifreak1412 @Trioptio Ma isn't using a Strad. He's using a modern instrument, for the sake of the weather. He planned to use a Luis and Clark, but didn't want to distract the audience with it's appearance. (This according to his New York Times interview)

[jeritulcomplete]

4:42 had me in musical epilepsy ,,John Williams is a God amongst men

[zsdg34]

Its like a movie so perfect for a historical event

[condican]

"Simple Gifts" It's a melody from "Appalachian Spring" from Aaron Copland

[oewnaynailf]

Amazing!

[JeremyImp]

I wish Perlman isn't growing old... I keep forgetting people do grow old one day. :(

[lhrmeonom]

@JeremyImp what I am afraid of is not being able to hear him perform until I die.... and I am only 14....

[sharpdemon]

i think all those ppl in the crowd just come to listen to this

[theaws0m3guy]

Can anyone please tell what kind of setup McGill has? Thanks!

[Lovelymiz]

@theaws0m3guy Anthony McGill is the principal clarinetist for the New York Metropolitan Opera and an instructor at the Peabody Institute (School of Music) - Johns Hopkins University.

[PrUnEJuIcEtHeThIrD]

Dude it would be the thrill of your life to play in front of a crowd like that.

[SpiderPig01]

I still think they should have played the 1812 overture

[jellyxxxx]

thats what I thought!

[Anarchemitis]

That was written to commemorate the defense of a Russian city in the 19th century.

What relevance does it have to a modern US President?

[neon0325]

@SpiderPig01 as much as i agree about that the 1812 overture was written to celebrate the war of 1812 which was all about Russia so that would just a weird but i love that piece anyway

[easy1688]

I think another reason they chose Yo Yo Ma besides his skill, Yo Yo is presidential player since he was a child, he performed for JFK when he was 7 years old, and he is 55 now and still in excellent conditions for his music and age, he look great as well.

[easy1688]

The music is prerecorded in broadcast, too cold to have the player stand in perfect condition of performance.

Yo Yo Ma received the most warm cheering when she announce his name.

[chick7489]

This video was very interesting. I really enjoyed it since the video was fun to watch and pretty much awesome! :)

[aurenwander]

What aggravates me, is that today they told people that the music you are hearing is in fact a recording. They didn't broadcast this live...

[TakashiYasuo]

it was broadcasted live, the thing is that the people around them could only hear it. everyone else listened to the recording of what they did 2 days before the inauguration.

[guisteh]

best sound quality! thx for uploading

[jdbrown371]

Why is John Williams getting credit for composing this piece? Aaron Copeland composed Simple Gifts. This is Williams' arrangement of Copeland. Only the Boston Globe got this correct in their description of the piece

[Ephesians1957]

I thought James Bracket the 1848 composer wrote this piece? But either way they got it wrong ,it was played wonderfully .

[sfan1]

John Williams did not compose this piece. He arranged it, but even here, it shows what a great arranger he really is.

[KHowlett1981]

Simple Gifts is a Shaker hymn. Aaron Copland incorporated it into Appalachian Spring. When the piece is introduced in the video it is correctly identified as being "arranged" by Williams.

[knockknockflowerpot]

Appalachian Spring is the most epic piece of all time!!!!!!!

[slasher8765]

lol Yo-Yo Ma is having the time of his life

[dormanchorusgirl]

I had to drop my orchestra class for a semester last year and I just rejoined today. Witnessing this beautiful performance made me remember the reason I began playing the violin.

[mutterpukker]

John Williams is the man!

One of the highlights of the inauguration.

[whatchamini]

wow...this is one of the most beautiful pieces of music i have ever heard!

[zulubeat]

ditto

[elriop1]

this music is amazing. It was good to have some culture in the inauguration.

[zulubeat]

I could hear bits of pieces of Williams' "Glory" soundtrack in it

[GettysburgBattle]

James Horner composed the soundtrack to "Glory"

[orchdorkviolist]

thank you so much for posting this! i broke down and sobbed when i saw this on TV for three reasons:

1) john williams is my absolute favorite modern day composer

2) it's yo yo ma. enough said.

3) izthak perlman is my idol of all things music.

absolutely amazing. thankx again!

[Ecko50100]

aggh i need to find a mp3 of this!

[CelticDragonflyFairy]

I love the interaction between the musicians. It was an amazing performance very worthy of this inauguration.

[hypedONE2]

The performance was a wonderful surprise, and I to hope it is the sign of enlightment to come. A special thanks to all of the talented individuals involved.

[yoyoloveT]

Thank you!!!

[falsehope13]

amazing to the limit...

[slasher8765]

simply speechless and in awe

[roninmediaoutlet]

this song sent chills up my spine - i didn't even hear the familiar hymn that echoes through this piece until it was half over.

beautiful music for a beautiful day in history.

[saxandviolin]

I heard this on the radio - I had no idea they had this memorized! Excellent performance by all! It must not have been easy in the cold. I hope we'll see the Obamas embrace some culture!

[ShibaInu123]

I was walking out of one of my classes at school today, and I heard them announcing this performance, so I just had to stay and listen to it, even meaning if I had to be late to my next class, but it was 100% worth it.

[WretchedDrake]

john williams is awesome, thank god he redeemed the inaguration's music after that terrible 'country tis thee' bullshit. john williams is a true musical icon

[Swalka1991]

I'd love just to have the songs for my iPOD but can't find them anywhere!

Does anyone know of a recording I can access?

[madpoiuyt]

Since this was written *for* the inauguration, this video is the only performance as far as i know. they'll probably put it on iTunes eventually. for a very similar setting of "simple gifts", see "Appalachian Spring" by Aaron Copland. for another piece using the same instruments, see "Quartet for the End of Time" by Olivier Messiaen.

[Swalka1991]

I was hoping that they'd already have it... *le sigh* Thanks, though ^^

[historydean507]

I was just looking for one myself. Alas, I have been unsuccessful thus far.

This piece was utterly brilliant!!!

[Y03SINCLAK]

it was amaaazing :)

[felipe7x]

excellent song

[undone001]

Incredible.

[frizzychic5]

Absolutely gorgeous.

[zeonicninja]

This was a fantastic performance!