Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Callum was born on the 16th of April, 2015. As a tribute to his birth I chose to turn to the 'cello, perhaps the most personal expression of my music.

When I composed Lullaby for Owen in 2012, Owen's musical curiosity had already announced itself. Callum, however, is made happy simply by being with his family (especially his big brother!), and hearing his mother singing the celtic lullaby, Dream Angus, is more than enough to send him peacefully to sleep. I decided to recompose the Lullaby for Owen- this time emphasising Dream Angus- as a 'cello Sonatina to represent Callum's connection and love for his family.

This original version of my Lullaby for Callum was reworked for chamber ensemble as the last movement of Songs in December, 2015. When I did that version I much better understood Callum's very individual personality, and was more able to give him an accurate portrait in music.

On reflection, having just completed my Lullaby for Elliott, I can see that this 'cello version of Callum's lullaby is a transitional work in the series of three lullabies - a private working out of the material before embarking on the last two proper.

Work Details

Year: 2015

Instrumentation: Cello.

Duration: 4 min.

Difficulty: Medium

Dedication note: dedicated to my wife Claire, my son Owen and, of course, our newest family member, Callum.

First performance: by Greg Woodward at New Music Concert (Farrell Centre, Friends' School) on 30 Jun 2018