GUITAR DAD

So it has come to light that the performance of Yo-Yo Ma and other notable maestros at the presidential inauguration was something akin to lip-syncing.

I guess I don't have a problem with that, except that I've always appreciated the imperfections of live performance – a touch of over-emphasized vibrato here, a few rhythmic surprises there, even an occasional wrong note. That's what makes a live show sound, well, live and become an enjoyable extension of the slick studio recording (which is what millions of people worldwide heard from Mr. Ma and his colleagues).

Apparently the musicians and producers felt strongly that the sounds, the intonation, the delivery needed to be unblemished for such a monumental occasion, and the frigid weather prevented such precision. That's cool. The music was magnificent and moving. I bet the live version would've been fun, too.

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