Celebrate & Collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma!

To celebrate the release of Songs of Joy & Peace, Ma teamed up with Indaba Music, the leading social network and online collaboration tool for musicians. Ma has recorded the melody "Dona Nobis Pacem" and is making it available for other musicians to record to it – creating a virtual collaboration. The music can be downloaded as part of a contest hosted on Indaba Music to create the most original and interesting counter melody or most creative set of variations. The Indaba Music community will vote for their favorites and Ma will choose the winner who will have the opportunity to record with him.

Yo-Yo recorded the melody to "Dona Nobis Pacem" (Give Us Peace), on www.indabamusic.com, for users to download and collaborate with him. Indaba allows users to add a counter-melody to Yo-Yo's part, or to record an entirely new set of their own variations. When done, users re-upload their final version and will then be entered into the contest, and featured on the Indaba page. You can listen to what current contest participants have already recorded, by clicking on their picture icons, down the left side of the Indaba page.

To get started, first click on the album image to the CELEBRATE & COLLABORATE with YO-YO MA contest page:

  1. Users will first need to "Sign Up,"  (top right) to participate in the contest.

  2. After sign up, you will return to the Indaba home page…Scroll down the right side, and click on the: CELEBRATE & COLLABORATE with YO-YO MA contest page icon, and download the audio file of Yo-Yo performing "Dona Nobis Pacem." The sheet music for the tune is also available as an electronic download.

  3. Feel free to use the Indaba Session Console or your own recording software to put the finishing touches on your composition. When your rendition is ready, mixdown your final mix from the Indaba Console or your software, and upload, to submit it to the contest.

  4. Get the word out. After the submission period is over, (submissions are due by December 31, 12:00 PM EST) your friends can nominate you as their favorite. Click on "tell a friend" when you submit, spread the word about the contest (and your entry), and get your friends to stop by, take a listen, and vote!

Voting starts December 31. First place winner will record with Yo-Yo Ma in a special one-on-one collaboration! The winner's rendition will also be featured on www.yo-yoma.com, Yo-Yo's MySpace page, and on Indaba Music.

The Top Ten winners as voted by the Indaba community, will each receive a signed copy of Songs of Joy & Peace.

For inspiration, a counter-melody recorded by Yo-Yo is included, as well as a variation from Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer. Check them out in the Source Files section to the right of the Indaba page.

GOOD LUCK!