Some good friends of mine just welcomed their beautiful new daughter into the world. For another installment of “musical gifts,” I decided to write a lullaby for the baby. You may be thinking to yourself, “man, he’s a cheap bastard, forcing his music onto his friends instead of getting them a proper gift.” And maybe you’re right, but either way this was a lot of fun to compose.
I started out like I usually start out, by making a list of characteristics that I wanted the piece to embody. There are certain expectations that lullabies typically live up to – simple harmonic motion (I-V), a triple meter, and a slow, cradle rocking type of feel. I intended to incorporate all of these elements. Texturally, I wanted all instruments involved to be playful and youthful in nature. Bell type tones have always indicated innocence to my ears, so I included a piano in the higher register, a glockenspiel/toy piano hybrid, and low marimba to round out the range. I also had to include some ukulele, because, well just because.
The melody is built on the musical letters in the baby’s name (D-E-A). I then washed the mix down with a big glass of reverb and called it a day. I gave the gift this past weekend, and my friends seemed to enjoy it. I hope that you do, too.
Too COOL Brendan! You’ve done it again!!!