American violinist Rachel Barton Pine is a powerhouse, in the best possible sense. But her first taste of motherhood reminded her of the appeal of music as a pacifier, not just goosebump-raiser. She channelled that realisation into a wonderful album of 25 lullabies culled from the surprisingly vast repertoire of the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are also little-known treats, such as an exquisite Berceuse by American composer Amy Beach and the I-dare-you-not-to-be-seduced Wiegenlied by Max Reger that closes the album.
Pine has unbelievable control over her bow, teasing out impressively subtle dynamic shifts and seamless long phrases. Matthew Hagle’s work at the piano is equally impressive.
Pine writes so eloquently in the album notes — words that are not hyperbole, given the beauty of her playing: “Short and beautifully elegant, these pieces are perfect for a classical music novice of any age. Yet a connoisseur will find this repertoire as compositionally sophisticated as longer works by the same composers. In each interpretation, I strove to express the love that fills my heart each day I spend with my precious baby.”
No matter how gorgeous, this is one of those albums that quickly begins to wear thin, unless one is actually aiming for sleep. Each one of these little gems deserves to be shuffled into a larger playlist which can only serve to highlight the calm, still beauty of the musicianship on offer.
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John Terauds