The centerpiece of my Three Celtic Pieces is a lullaby written in 2007 based on a text by my mother for the baby of a dear friend of mine.

Dream little baby of beautiful things,
And travel to Dreamland on butterfly wings
Where fairies will dance among the flow’rs,
And dewdrops will fall in silvery showers.

Sleep little baby in your warm next,
The angels will watch over as you rest
While fairies will dance on your fingertips,
And kiss a smile from your rosy lips.

Dream little baby of wondrous lands
Where Teddy Bears take you by holding your hand,
So sleep Ara-Leah in sweet harmony
With all of your world that’s yet to be.

Two lively and quite contrasting movements written in 2011 surround the lullaby with nautical imagery and come to life with accompaniment by Bodhran (an Irish drum) or other similar sounding percussion effect. The Celtic Dance, in ABA form, is a frivolous foot-stomper, only sinking into momentary melancholy in its rather wistful B section. Three Celtic Pieces concludes with a rollicking sea shanty based on an old Irish folk song, “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” Opening and closing with a series of wave-like chromatics in the violin, Shanty is filled with spirited technical feats and a rhythmic energy inspired by 19th century sailing vessels and their rugged crews.

-Amy Barlowe

Be sure to check out a recording Amy Barlowe made with her husband Alan Bodman and their daughter of the Three Celtic Pieces: Celtic Dance, Lullaby and Shanty. You can also watch this video of the Classic Strings Duo with Kevin Matheson playing violin and Bryan Matheson playing viola: