I've been meaning to write this blog for a few weeks now. I've been working on quite a few projects as of late (with Elaine Martone - an extreme pleasure to work with!) which means I have to spend a lot of time in ear buds around the kids or away from them. It gets tough.
But then I run across a piece I'm editing and I get that chill. You know moms, that one. When suddenly you remember what it was like to hold your baby for the first time. The cuddles at night when they are afraid, the unconditional snuggles, the last time all three were piled in your lap vying for huggable space.
I'm fortunate. This music thing has been a part of my life since I can remember and it's what I do and very much who I am. So when I am at work, detached physically from the kids - I get to have an emotional connection to my motherhood. I can't wait to share the record I am wrapping up currently. But for now - I will rely on Spotify to give a taste of what motherhood feels like musically to me. These are Corelli Variations for Piano by Rachmaninoff.
Variation 14 reminds me of Soren's infancy. The newness of being a mother. The 15th is like a lullaby - I think of what it means to be the parent of three. Watching them grow - how fast it moves and remembering to breath and take it all in. I've included the slow movement from Brahm's first piano Concerto (played by Hélène Grimaud. Do yourself a large musical favor and check out some of her other works). Then Dvorák's New World. The Largo is breathtaking. My favorite reminder of what motherhood is like for me.
The last may seem out of place but is important. This is the lullaby my husband sings the children every night as we settle from our busy days into a massive cuddled mess. I love to hear his voice rock the kids to sleep. I hum along, grateful for our family.