On Tuesday morning, at 6:55 A.M., my 94 year old Mom passed in her sleep. She was an incredible person, she loved life and people and music and poetry.
When she was 91 yrs., she wrote two blues songs and a poem about her dad and growing up in the coal mines in Alberta. Mom had crippling arthritis in her hands and feet and the disease robbed her of her ability to play the piano for any length of time. She could still play but her left hand was not able to do much. We decided that we wanted to record her songs and poem and she came over to my humble 8 track studio and in one night, we recorded her songs. She played the piano and then went into the iso booth to sing her songs. My sisters and my brother and I added our simple back ups and supporting instruments. We didn't want to get to complicated so as to preserve the simple beauty of her songs. I watched as she played the piano, literally throwing her left hand out at the keys and hitting the note she wanted. Then we all gathered around her as she sat and read her poem about her "Busy Bee Dad". She fumbled a few words but we recorded it as it was in one take because the moment was magic.
She was so proud of her songs and when she heard the finished product, she was absolutely excited with her family and proceeded to give copies out to anyone and everyone.
When she was 92, she suffered a stroke that confined her to bed with a paralyzed left side. No more piano. We must have played her c.d. a thousand times and she would close her eyes and nod her head to the music and wave her right hand in time to the music. This gave her great joy and we played it for her as often as she requested.
We loved Mom very well through her life and we showered her with love and attention in the last time of her life. She was a wonderful human being and she loved GOD and is with him in his kingdom in a healthy young body that feels no pain. We Rejoice.
I am posting a link to her songs and poem for any of you to hear. Remember, this was recorded, mixed and burned in one night. I later added a few things but for the most part, what you hear is what was done in a few hours.
Enjoy the songs of Margaret.
Margaret Sabourin Freedman
Domvac
When she was 91 yrs., she wrote two blues songs and a poem about her dad and growing up in the coal mines in Alberta. Mom had crippling arthritis in her hands and feet and the disease robbed her of her ability to play the piano for any length of time. She could still play but her left hand was not able to do much. We decided that we wanted to record her songs and poem and she came over to my humble 8 track studio and in one night, we recorded her songs. She played the piano and then went into the iso booth to sing her songs. My sisters and my brother and I added our simple back ups and supporting instruments. We didn't want to get to complicated so as to preserve the simple beauty of her songs. I watched as she played the piano, literally throwing her left hand out at the keys and hitting the note she wanted. Then we all gathered around her as she sat and read her poem about her "Busy Bee Dad". She fumbled a few words but we recorded it as it was in one take because the moment was magic.
She was so proud of her songs and when she heard the finished product, she was absolutely excited with her family and proceeded to give copies out to anyone and everyone.
When she was 92, she suffered a stroke that confined her to bed with a paralyzed left side. No more piano. We must have played her c.d. a thousand times and she would close her eyes and nod her head to the music and wave her right hand in time to the music. This gave her great joy and we played it for her as often as she requested.
We loved Mom very well through her life and we showered her with love and attention in the last time of her life. She was a wonderful human being and she loved GOD and is with him in his kingdom in a healthy young body that feels no pain. We Rejoice.
I am posting a link to her songs and poem for any of you to hear. Remember, this was recorded, mixed and burned in one night. I later added a few things but for the most part, what you hear is what was done in a few hours.
Enjoy the songs of Margaret.
Margaret Sabourin Freedman
Domvac
Listened to all the recordings and your mom sounded like one cool lady!
