Pianist/composer Nat Bartsch always favoured quietness, lyricism and intimacy in her piano playing and composing.

When she became a parent herself in 2017, she began to consider the potential of composing a new set of works specifically for babies and their parents (particularly those who find repeats of Twinkle Twinkle on the baby monitor infuriating).

Music therapy research recommends certain musical parameters to relax babies to sleep. Particularly in the neonatal intensive care unit, music is known to relax premature babies when it has the same tempo as the mother’s heartbeat, uses simple harmony and rhythm, gentle soft-sounding instruments and repetition. Relaxing the parent is equally important. Music that babies have heard in utero makes them feel safe and secure once they are in the world.

This album, with its melodic and harmonic diversity, improvisation and range of tempos, is not a therapeutic device as such. It is also important to note that music therapy is about working with a trained music therapist who tailors the music to suit the individual family and their circumstances, often performing it live. Every baby is different. However, it is influenced by this research wherever it could be. Listening to this album whilst pregnant and including it in a regular sleep-settling routine might help to maximise its potential.

You might find that some songs resonate with your baby more than others, and making a playlist of their favourites might be useful.

This album is dedicated to Nat’s son. Most of these compositions were written with one hand, whilst holding Will in the other. The titles of most of these lullabies are inspired by his stage of development at the time of composition.

Says Nat of the title: “It feels as though Will has been in my life forever, and for no time at all”.

1. Breathing In and Out

2. Guy Smiley

3. Forever, and No Time At All

4. Rockabye

5. Lights and Shadows

6. Grizzlepot

7. Here I Am, Just For You

8. And Until Tomorrow

9. Day Past Due

10. Leap One

11. Lullaby for Hugo

12. The Little Possum

13. Call and Response

Nat Bartsch - piano, celeste

Engineered and mixed by Luke Howard
Additional engineering by Russell Thomson
Mastered by Lachlan Carrick
Produced by Nat Bartsch and Luke Howard
Artwork by Luci Everett
Photography by Brett Scapin and Luke Howard

Special guest vocals on Call and Response by Will Hopkins

Recorded at ABC Studio 345, February 2018
Additional recording at Lukktone, December 2017

First released on ABC Classic with thanks to Toby Chadd, Hugh Robertson, Basil Cook, Natalie Shea, Natalie Waller and Virginia Read

All compositions by Nat Bartsch (control) except And Until Tomorrow — Bartsch/Howard

Nat plays Yamaha Pianos

CD via natbartsch.com
LP via natbartsch.com
digitally via IDOL
also on bandcamp