As much as I love music, I cannot compose it, write it or really play it. Sure, I can pick around the piano, but that's not playing music really.

NPR and Yo-Yo Ma ran an amazing contest.

Ma played the very traditional “Dona Nobis Pacem” on his cello and challenged people to write, arrange and record an accompaniment.

The winner would get to record with Ma.

Wow.

He ended up picking two winners that sounded so amazingly different.

The first is a handbell choir.

Now, to me, handbells are the instruments they'll play in heaven – not the clunky old organ – so I found this winner to be enchanting.

The second winner played electric guitar!

How unusual.... I would never have thought to pair a rockin' guitar with the cello.

You can hear both arrangements here.

This is precisely why I love NPR. Fascinating stories about interesting things. If you're not already addicted, tune in (or log on) and check it out!

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Maryann   |2009-01-19 14:17:28 Could just be my mood but I am preferring the handbells over the guitar although I acknowledge I couldn't even think of being that talented. The bells were just calming, just what my headache needed...not the guitar! Reply | Quote 0   0

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