Song Without Words “Lullaby”

The Songs without Words Op 30 are meant to paint a tone picture based on their subtitles. Composition of the Songs without Words was based on the history of classical song writing of Schubert and Mendelssohn with the latter serving as a role model.

The Lullaby is a lyrical “song” akin to “Summertime” by George Gershwin and others. The piece reflects a mother singing her infant to sleep. The C Major melody modulates to the dominant key of G Major in the middle section with an underlying triplet rhythm returning to the key of C Major in recapitulation section. The initial melody is embellished with a contrapuntal figuration in subsequent development sections.

The work was composed from 04 May 2015 through 18 June 2015 and is dedicated to the composer’s husband, Richard S Gordon who indicated that this was one of his favorite compositions.