One day a year we celebrate the difficult, enduring, selfless and wonderful job it is to be a Mom. Sunday, May 14th, let the motherly figure in your life know how much you appreciate their steadfast love and support through the eloquent melodies of the following five composers. These pieces were written with mothers in mind, and say it better than we could ever put into words.
Dvořák’s “Songs My Mother Taught Me”
The melancholic folk melody by Czech composer Antonín Leopold Dvořák is part of his Gypsy song collection. Short and sweet, and it celebrates family tradition by telling the tale of a woman passing down songs from her childhood to her own children. An instant hit in its time, “Songs My Mother Taught Me” is still one of Dvořák’s best known melodies.
Schumann’s “Frauenliebe und Leben”
Carl Loewe, Franz Paul Lachner and Robert Schumann composed a song cycle based on the poems “A Woman’s Love and Life” by Adelbert von Chamisso, of which Schumann’s set (Opus 42) is the most widely known. The lyrical set describes a woman’s life from falling in love through marriage, motherhood, to her husband’s death, and after.
Brahms’ “Lullaby”
While Johannes Brahms “Lullaby” isn’t written for mothers in particular, they will cherish this melody in their hearts, as this beautiful piece of music is one of the most recognizable lullabies; sung to lull babies to sleep since its first performance in Vienna, 1869.
Delibes’ “Flower Duet”
Forego flowers for this melodic delight. With petal-soft melodies, Léo Delibes’ “Flower Duet” is an aural bouquet of flowers for your mother. A duet from Delibes’ opera Lakmé, it celebrates friendship and flowers with upbeat musicality.
Mozart’s “O Zittre Nicht, Mein Lieber Sohn”
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute explores the parent-child relationship in fresh and melodic ways; a childhood favourite for many. In this aria by The Queen of the Night, the message is of comfort from mother to son: “Tremble not, my dear son/You are innocent, wise, pious.”
Thank you, Mom. What songs make you think of your mother? Share with us on our Facebook page!
