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A Mother of a Playlist: Celebrating Mom with Music at 9 a.m.
This Saturday morning at 9:00, we’re turning up the love—and turning our attention—to the most important woman in many of our lives: Mom. With Mother’s Day arriving tomorrow, we’ve pulled together a playlist that’s sweet, soothing, sentimental, and just a little cinematic (because honestly, motherhood is an epic production).
From lullabies to legends, here’s what’s in store during our musical ode to moms:
🎵 9:00 – Brahms' Lullaby – Renée Fleming (soprano), Hartmut Höll (piano)
It doesn’t get more “mom” than a lullaby. This tender tune—Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, gute Nacht—is practically the soundtrack of bedtime across generations. In the hands of Renée Fleming, it’s as velvety as a freshly tucked-in blanket. Originally composed by Johannes Brahms in 1868 for a friend’s newborn, it’s a universal expression of maternal warmth.
🎵 9:02 – Dvořák: Songs My Mother Taught Me – Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Anna Polonsky (piano)
You might know this as a vocal piece, but in this haunting instrumental version, Weilerstein’s cello sings. Part of Dvořák’s Gypsy Songs, this particular number reflects on the songs—and by extension, the wisdom—passed down from mothers to children. It's nostalgia wrapped in melody.
🎵 9:04 – Ravel: Mother Goose Suite – Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
French fairy tales meet French impressionism. Originally written as a piano duet for children, Maurice Ravel’s Mother Goose grew into a full orchestral suite filled with whimsy and wonder. Think bedtime stories brought to life—with musical depictions of Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and more. Moms are the first great storytellers, after all.
🎵 9:34 – William Grant Still: Mother and Child – Randall Goosby (violin), Zhu Wang (piano)
Part of Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano, this lyrical gem is a serene, soulful meditation on the bond between mother and child. Inspired by Harlem Renaissance visual art, it’s beautifully interpreted here by violinist Randall Goosby. Quiet, radiant, and deeply human—just like Mom.
🎵 9:41 – Miklós Rózsa: The Mother’s Love (from Ben-Hur) – BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba
From the sweeping score of Ben-Hur, this theme is a cinematic tribute to the unconditional power of a mother’s love. Miklós Rózsa, a three-time Oscar winner, knew how to tug the heartstrings, and this piece does just that—with orchestral grandeur and emotional depth.
🎵 9:44 – Mozart: 12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” – Janina Fialkowska (piano)
Wait... “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman”? You might know it better as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Yep—Mozart took that tune and spun it into 12 delightful piano variations. This is a clever little wink to motherhood, childhood, and musical brilliance, all in one.
🎵 9:57 – Amy Beach: Heartsease (from From Grandmother’s Garden) – Joanne Polk (piano)
We wrap up with a piece blooming with love. American composer Amy Beach wrote this suite as a musical bouquet inspired by flowers in her grandmother’s garden. “Heartsease” (also known as wild pansy) is delicate and peaceful—like a quiet moment shared with someone who’s always been there.
So pour yourself a second cup of coffee, let someone else handle breakfast for once, and join us for this heartwarming musical tribute. Because whether it’s lullabies, life lessons, or late-night chats, moms deserve a standing ovation.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend! 💐