Mediterranean Lullaby
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Description
All too often the notion of creating webs of gentle sounds to help ease babies, toddlers, even children into sleep leads to overly synthetic musical concoctions. Mediterranean Lullaby (like its sibling Cuban, Brazilian, Celtic, Latin, African, and Guitar lullaby collections) takes a very different, more organic approach. Here you have singers and music from Mediterranean regions, including Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, and Spain. The music is so unadorned that you can't miss the heartfelt reverence for children, the respect for their ears, and the overall commitment to gentle sweetness. Guitar and vocals are the main fare, but there are mandolins, sentirs, nay flutes, and more--all played as if the musicians were able to show up in your child's room to soothe them after a day at play. --Andrew Bartlett
Album Description
Mediterranean Lullaby Soothe your little ones to sleep with this heartfelt collection of lullabies gathered along the sun-warmed shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Sung sweetly in the native tongues of Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, and Morocco, these beautiful renditions are performed by acclaimed artists from each land. Gentle voices are accompanied by local instruments of the regions. The Middle Eastern oud, classical guitar, nay flutes, harp and soothing sentir welcome your children to a world in which a parent’s love is universal. The notes include original lyrics and English translations.
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sublimeWednesday, March 23, 2005
The editorial reviews underline the gentleness of this cd, and that point cannot be overemphasized; too many so called lullaby cd's are really rousing happy versions of children's songs. But this music is wonderful, reflective, and very rooted in Mediterranean cultures. I feel as though grandmothers and grandfathers from each village are crooning their beautiful emotional songs to me & baby. This is the cd I put on every single night for the past 4 months while I breastfeed my baby to sleep. In the beginning, I would get so emotionally drawn into the music (combined with post-partum emotionality) that I would cry through the songs - especially tracks 5, 7 and 9; so beautiful! The liner notes make it easy to sing the syllables to these foreign languages. I'd say only one song approaches a slightly rousing lilting quality, but it's track 3, early on the cd, and it's still gently sung. I don't care much for track 10, the womens' voices are a little too shrill for my taste. The guitar pieces are all lovely. There's a sweet 'au clair de la lune' with the singer's young daughter providing a cute whispery high soprano. Two tracks are sung by male vocalists and are very droning and sleep inducing, I imagine the grandfathers softly crooning in old rocking chairs. It's really a cd you can float into, and away towards slumber.
Very soothing and peaceful CDThursday, December 04, 2003
I bought this CD for my daughter to help her relax when I lay her down. And so far it has done the job. I especially like the mix of music from around the mediterranean, the songs come from a variety of countries including Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Lebanon, Israel, and Catalonia. All the songs are beautiful and calming. Basically a wonderful CD.
5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:
The CD I listen the most without getting boredThursday, January 30, 2003
This is a wonderful CD, my baby enjoys it as much as I do. The songs are soothing and melodic. The selection of songs from countries around the Meditterranean is great. I memorised some of them even though I don't know the language, I sing them to my little one when we are not home or simply when I want a peaceful and intimate moment with her. I recommend this CD very much.
3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Gorgeous!Monday, July 01, 2002
I'm so glad I registered for this CD! Its SO beautiful!
8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:
enchanting and peacefulTuesday, August 28, 2001
I was looking for a lullaby cd that wasn't "kid's music" and that would reflect my baby's Meditteranean heritage. This cd is so beautiful some of the songs bring tears to my eyes. I listen to it every night, and will do so when my baby arrives. I can't recommend this cd enough.