Today, Harry's come on board to tell us all about the orchestral piece he wrote and performed at Carnegie Hall on what would have been his mom's 100th birthday, the subsequent release of that recording, and of course, the accompanying book, rich with photos and memories.
This book is Harry’s debut as an author, and he looked to the one person most influential in his life for it’s inspiration. It’s part of a larger project, a tribute to his mother, who passed away when Harry was just 13 years old. Anita-Fracis Livingston Connick, was affectionately known as “Babe” by those who loved her.
Harry first unveiled Babe: Elaboratio, an original three-part orchestral musical composition, during his long-awaited Carnegie Hall debut performances in May on what would have been his mother’s 100th birthday. He chose the profoundly meaningful occasion to finally step onto the Carnegie Hall main stage, fulfilling his mother’s dream that her tiny piano prodigy would one day perform there.
He then released an album of the recording on September 25, with the accompanying book, Babe: Elaboratio A Tribute to My Mother following on the 29th. It celebrates his mother’s legacy through music, memories, and love, offering an intimate look into the emotional and creative journey behind the musical composition.
In these pages, Babe’s story unfolds as a magnificent symphony, rich with emotion and layered with history. From her early childhood in New York to the serendipitous meeting with her husband in Morocco to the impressive career as one of the first female judges in New Orleans, Babe’s life was a testament of love, determination, and wisdom.
“What you’re about to read is an elaboration, an elaboratio, a swirl of truths and legends as I remember my mother, which also serves as a blueprint for the music by the same name that I’ve written in her honor. I hope that this book provides insight into not only the musical score but also the infinite love I have for the magnificent woman for whom I’ve composed it,” Connick shares.
Harry Connick Jr.’s career has exemplified excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world over the past three decades. His live and recorded musical performances, achievements in film and television, and appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer have received Grammy and Emmy Awards, as well as Tony Award nominations. The foundation of Connick’s art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of five. He continues to establish himself as a best-selling musician and singer, composer, actor (in over 20 films, Broadway, TV shows), and legendary live performer, with millions of recordings sold around the world.
