Sound & Spirit: Welcoming Children Into The World

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 3, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 3, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B00000JRM0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,822 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Indie Music > Children's Music > General
  • #47 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > General
  • #96 in Music > Indie Music > New Age > General

Track Listings

1. Nursery Rhyme

2. Little Potato

3. O! Que Mueve Mezes

4. C'Est la Vie

5. Happy Adoption Day

6. Circle of the Sun

7. Bay Magalhi

8. First Cry

9. Hey, Pretty Baby (Who's My Pretty Baby)

10. Nepalese Lullaby

11. Durme, Durme

12. On Children

13. Mangina Zaza

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ellen Kushner's award-winning National Public Radio program Sound and Spirit celebrates the contrasts and connections of diverse world cultures, exploring traditions and themes that define the human experience. None transcends the language barriers better than the push and pull of family, especially the birth of a child. This album, a collection of songs from one of Kushner's most requested shows, highlights the rituals of childbirth and the joys and frustrations of baby's first year. From Serbo-Croatian and Nepalese lullabies, to a Navajo chant, to an American song about adoption, and finally a Baka nursery rhyme, these various baby-related meditations are brought to life by such artists as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Sally Rogers, and Woody Guthrie. The artists share the beauty of the miracle of birth, the heroism of women in labor, and the comforting sense of global unity in life's daily struggle. Best of all, they bring succor to that most neglected of nurturers, the exhausted young mother. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soothing, Inspiring, Life-affirming!, January 28, 2000

By 

kitchen junkie (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sound & Spirit: Welcoming Children Into The World (Audio CD)

This is the rare album you listen to and find that you like song after song after song - nothing falls flat! A wonderful compilation of joyous music from around the globe, celebrating children - lullabies, paeans to motherhood, songs of love for your children. I first listened to it yesterday, played it again as soon as it was finished, and have been humming some of the songs all day today. The songs range from exotic (Baka forest people, a nursery chant) to playful [Little Potato, a joyful and fun song written for a baby, highlighting our use of food-based nicknames (sweetie pie, etc.)]. Some songs make you bounce in your chair; some bring tears to your eyes. I will listen to it myself, as well as play it for my nieces and nephews. I even like the liner notes. This album makes me want to have children!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made for adults as much as for kids!, March 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sound & Spirit: Welcoming Children Into The World (Audio CD)

I have a 5-month-old and we both love this CD. Some of the songs are more instantly accessible than others, but after multiple listens I find myself loving all of them. This album is for those who want to expose their children to the sounds of the music and languages of other cultures, for parents who want to explore the universalities of parenthood, and for both parents and kids who just want to listen to fun music that really sticks in your head!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a cut above the usual children's CD, May 16, 2000

By 

Deborah Rochefort (Eastern WV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sound & Spirit: Welcoming Children Into The World (Audio CD)

If you want to give your children an introduction to diverse and well done musical performances, this CD is for you. While most of the tonalities are modern and western (still showing a nice diversity of selection of these),several songs display very pleasingly more exotic tonalities: Asian, traditional African, and medieval (the Sephardic song). My 4-yr-old daughter's and my favorite songs are the nursery rhyme of the Baka Forest People (the only song on the CD that features the voices of children) and 'O! Que Mueve Mezes', which features a terrific performance by the group Libana. The solo & chorus of this song display beautiful, pure tones that are an excellent model for a child's singing. These two songs alone in my mind are worth the price of the CD (okay, 'Happy Adoption Day' also brings a regular tear to my eye). The only drawback is that the lyrics for the songs are not provided, and only sketchy translations given with the CD folder; a pity as it would be fun to sing along with several of the foreign language songs.