Pauline Frechette’s Song For Michael is perhaps her most emotionally driven creative offering yet. Despite the simplicity of the music, the lone piano sound, there is something extremely captivating about those opening few notes and the softly dramatic way in which they appear.
The music has you hanging hopefully on every moment, somehow following this instrumental story with intense concentration. The classical genre would be a somewhat irrelevant label in this case, as really the first thing to grab you when listening is the reality of the art. The title suggests a realness, a devotion, and the music almost immediately explores the feelings behind the song, the concept, and it hints at the possibilities as to who Michael is and what the song truly represents.
There are distinct moments of sadness within the track, the energy moves around in a manner not dissimilar to a life if it were laid out on a canvas – there are moments of calm, of reflection, and there are moments of manic intensity and uncertainty. Whatever the track means to the artist is conveyed in a way that is likely to be received uniquely by everyone who hears it. The more you listen, after three or four sessions, for example, the more the story-line of this melody and the intensity with which the notes are performed starts to become familiar; in the way that a song with a more standard structure might.
In so many unusual and unexpected ways the music is effective and memorable, and that’s a huge part of what makes its beauty so striking. It’s an expression of experience that only the artist may truly understand at first, but it’s undeniably accessible – not portrayed as some distant, unwelcoming thing. It works brilliantly as it is and it’s a pleasure to witness the notes and the emotions unfolding around you as the track progresses.
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Hi Rebecca,
I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate the beautiful reviews you’ve taken the time to write for my music.
I came across this review from 2017 that you wrote for my piece, “Song for Michael” and thought you might be interested to know that it is being performed, along with another of my compositions, by the New West Symphony this Feb. 9th and 10th. Let me know if you would like to attend.
You can reach me at: pauline@paulinefrechette.com.
Warm Regards, Pauline
Hi Pauline – you’re absolutely welcome, thank you for the comment!
That’s amazing – you must be so excited. I would genuinely love to be there, but unfortunately I’m based in the UK so it’s a little out of reach at the moment. Thank you so much for the invite – I’m sure it will be an incredible evening… enjoy and all the best for the year!
Rebecca.