Mother Tales

Liliya Ugay

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Duo

2021

11 min.

Piano

Violin

Program Notes: Composers-mothers have been vastly underrepresented in the history of music of the past and present. The restricted timing of female physicality and intensity of professional activity that is necessary to sustain one's composition career force women-composers to choose between childbirth and dedication to their profession. Ironically, nearly all music we know that was inspired by parenthood or/and young children was composed by men. The lack of mothers in this field led to the huge gap in representation that does not fairly reflect the reality of our world. Mother Tales were inspired by the early parenthood routine, much of which consists of putting the child to sleep and playing. The first movement is a lullaby that starts from humming and turns into expression of mother's thoughts, both excitement and fear of the future unknown mixed with tenderness and vulnerability this little world embodies. The second movement, perpetual delight, plays with tiny, tinkly, twinkly, rattly, and shaker-y toys that become a world of discoveries for a new curious mind. Mother Tales are composed for the wonderful duo - Sunmi Chang and Clara Yang and premiered at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in April 2022. The duo released the recording of the piece on Navona Records in December 2023.
Record Label: Navona
Ensemble Name: Sunmi Chang and Clara Yang