Customer Reviews

Lullabies Of Latin America

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As others have noted, this turns out to be only a handful of lullabyes in Spanish sung by Maria Del Rey, plus nursery rhymes spoken by children and men (not very good for putting a baby to sleep), plus the whole thing repeated in English. In addition, I had been looking for traditional Latin American pieces and apparently all of these are contemporary. Don't waste your money...I'm planning on giving my copy away if I can figure out someone I know who could actually use it.

I was delighted that this beautiful work is in both Spanish and English. Coming from a mixed family I love to share my Latin heritage with my english speaking children. The soothing lullabies are beautifully crafted, personal favorites being: Meciendo/I Rock my Child, Duermete Mi Nino/Go to Sleep and Rocio/Dew Drop. I find pre-setting my CD player and sequencing my favorite songs keeps the soothing melodies flowing. Check out the angelic vocals and delightful guitar on "Nana de Seville."

Maria Del Rey received a nomination for a Latin Grammy for this work and it was well deserved. Even if you don't speak Spanish, this album relaxes your soul and lifts your spirit. A well-researched piece of work that brings together latin traditions from all across the world and presents them in a way both Latino and non-Latino listeners will appreciate. My daughter and I have found it very educational....a good addition to the many Spanish/educational tapes and videos on which Maria Del Rey has either performed or produced. We look forward to her next children's CD (we already have Universe of Song).

This CD is excellent and I'm glad to have it in my collection. María del Rey has a beautiful voice and the men and children reciting poetry are refreshing.

I am an educator who plans to raise my children bilingually and I find this CD to be an excellent addition to my collection of music in Spanish. As a native speaker of English who has learned Spanish to near-native ability, I am happy to have as many resources in Spanish as possible and look forward to singing and sharing these songs/rhymes (esp. the Spanish versions) with my child. While my baby has not yet arrived (he's on the way!) and I can't say what will put him to sleep, I disagree with several that have said the poetry and speaking by children and a man are disrupting. While some are slightly more upbeat than María del Rey's songs, I still find them very soothing (hopefully my baby will too!). I also disagree with a reviewer who said these are not traditional. I know I've heard some of these before and another reviewer mentioned that she remembered some from childhood.

That said, my favorite lullaby CD is "Latin Lullaby" which has 17 songs (1 in Portuguese, 3 instrumentals and the rest in Spanish). Songs by "El Cri-Cri" and "De Colores" by José Luis Orozco are also in my collection (not lullabies, though.)

I had high hopes for this CD based on its rave reviews, but I was disappointed. Though the musicianship is excellent, a few of the songs are not lullabies, but rather are upbeat rythmic pieces that aren't helpful when we're trying to get our baby's eyelids to finally shut. Also, since the songs are repeated in English, you then get two doses of the same songs. This CD isn't bad, but for anyone looking for lullabies in Spanish, I'd recommend the "Latin Lullaby" CD.

Wow! What a great CD. Beautiful recording featuring wonderful vocals, in English and Spanish! I found Meciendo to be poignant and the guitar work on St. Augustine is of the highest performance artistry.

Ms. Del Rey's original adaptations are refreshing and her Spanish is true International that reaches across provincial, regional accents and pronounciations. The original arrangments are very creative and far exceed the quality and interest I've heard in so-called "authentic" recordings.

Our little boy goes to sleep often with this CD and we can listen to it over and over without 'parent' fatigue. Also, it's great to hear a man's voice on a nurturing CD.

There is no doubt the artist's voice is beautiful. However, the interpretation of certain songs by a man and child are way off. For example, "Tengo Una Muneca" is NOT a lullaby, but an upbeat children's song and to have a child drone it out debases such a Mexican classic. One of many aweful and inacurate musical interpretations on this misguided CD. For the best and most classic Spanish children's songs turn to the tender and playful "Cri-Cri."

We are in the process of adopting a child from Mexico and this was suggested from another adoptive parent. Even though we don't have our child yet, I've listened to this numerous times (and even learning the words)and am looking forward to giving this first "gift" to our child. I believe that it will help and comfort them in their transition from Latin America to the U.S. And the English verison is an added plus.

As an Educator and mother, I highly reccomend Lullabies of Latin America. In my family we have a long tradition of
handing down music, books and stories. Maria has totally captured the beauty and warmth that I remember my mother and my abuela singing to me as a child. These are the classics, these beautiful lullabies brought such tender emotion in me when
I first heard them. When I taught preschool for a few years
the children always loved Maria's voice. The whole atmosphere was so peaceful in class during our nap times. When you work in the trenches with children everyday you need materials that work and I trust Maria Del Rey's work, she is just wonderful.

I agree that the music is lovely, and the soprano is very gifted. However, some of the tracks involve talking by a man and a child. It might be fine for the routine leading up to bedtime: bath, etc. But I find the sudden speaking by a different voice to be disruptive to the flow of the CD, and not condusive to my baby falling asleep.