Programme Note
I wrote this little piece in 1965, when I was an undergraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It was written to celebrate the birth of my first niece, Jane Ann, and is dedicated to her; but it remained unpublished until I started discussing the repertoire for a new recording of my music for solo piano in 2020. It then emerged as a suitable piece to include, and it is now being published for the first time for pianists of all ages to enjoy.
Lullaby (or Cradle Song) Is cast in ternary form, and whilst the simple melodic outline and gentle 6/8 rocking rhythm of the first section may suggest the world of other nursery rhymes, the middle section suggests a slightly different one – that of Romantic piano music of an earlier period, with its lush textures and melodic sequences. The return of the opening music, this time in varied guise, leads to a peaceful and hopefully sleep-inducing ending!
Lullaby has been recorded by Murray McLachlan on the album Edward Gregson – Complete Music for Solo Piano (Naxos 8.574222).
Listen
Reviews
The piece alludes to the nursery song See Saw Margery Daw and is a gentle and endearing miniature.
Pianodao, October 2020
It’s a most ingratiating miniature, with its gently lilting rhythm. In McLachlan’s intimately delicate performance, though, don’t be surprised if you wake up, only to find that the CD has finished playing already.
Philip R Buttall, MusicWeb International, October 2020
It’s a disarming composition; the music has a gentle lilt and is completely winning.
John Quinn, MusicWeb International, March 2021