Since the world the world, music has been used by humanity for recreational, educational, stimulating and relaxing purposes. Also as a communicational vehicle, not only between large masses, at a much simpler level: between parents and children.
Lullabies and baby bedtime songs are as ancient as man himself, each culture has developed its own particular songs to lull newborns for the purpose of helping them sleep.
The process of singing to babies can be started even before delivery, when they are still inside the womb.
El repertoire of songs for sleeping babies is as wide as languages there are in the world (even more). Also, depending on the personality of each newborn, there are unorthodox examples of Heavy Metal, Techno, and other seemingly uncomfortable genres.
Baby sleeping songs
Go to sleep kid
This is the quintessential lullaby of the Castilian language. It is the lullaby with the most versions, in addition to being sung frequently in the Iberian Peninsula and throughout Hispanic America, with some small variations.
Berceuse, Opus 57, for piano in D Flat Major
Classical music, in its different variables, also keeps a wide repertoire of lullabies and for sleeping babies. Polish composer and pianist Frederick Chopin he bequeathed to the world several of the most representative examples. Night. Opus 9, No. 2 is perhaps the most iconic of all his vast work.
Wiegenlied (Lullaby). Opus 49, N ° 4
Many of us children fell asleep with this composition for piano by the German Johannes Brahms. Some of the mobiles that are placed in the cribs have the option of reproducing this classic to set the dreams of newborns. There's also a version with lyrics of this lullaby, ideal to be sung with the baby in her arms gently rocking it.
To the nanita nana
One of the lullabies most famous in Castilian language. It was initially conceived as a Christmas carol in honor of the Child Jesus. Since 2006 the song grew even more in popularity, after the Cheetah Girls sang it within the Disney Channel movie The Cheetah Girls 2.
Hush little
Native to the southern United States (Hush Little Baby is its original title), even Nina Simone once recorded it. Its version in Spanish is widely known.
Berceuse S.174
Austrian composer Franz Listz, considered by many to be the most virtuous pianist in the history of music, also bequeathed a classic lullaby for piano. It was originally published in 1854, eight years later the author himself would update it, remaining as we know it today. Another work by Listz, Valse Mélcolique S.214, included in Treis Valses Caprices, is also frequently used as a lullaby, although its bars are much louder.
Berceuse sur le nom by Gabriel Fauré
The famous French composer Maurice RavelIn addition to contributing to the history of humanity his famous Bolero, he also composed this Nana for violin and piano, published in 1922.
The rose goes to sleep
The verses of this song make up one of the most popular lullabies in Spain and one of the most sung by mothers to their little ones. There are those who prefer to put it on a player rather than sing it out loud for fear of going out of tune. Babies listen to their mother greatly reassures them, and they do not notice if at the time of singing she is out of tune or not.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
This is one of the most famous subjects in Europe and America. It was born as a Christmas song in France, quickly translated and adapted in several languages. Mozart is frequently regarded as the author of the melody, although some theorists claim that he composed some variations starting from the original base. In Spanish, the song is known as “Tinkerbell of the Place ", although more widely as "Estrellita, where are you?".
Scared my child
The Arrorró is the traditional lullaby in Gran Canaria. It is characterized by a series of slower, more monotonous rhythms than lullabies from other geographic areas. Also because the verses are not repeated. Arrorró my child is one of the songs most used to put babies to sleep, not only in Spain, but also in a good part of Latin America.
Sleep black
This song was conceived in the peasant areas of Colombia and Venezuela. Narrates the story of a mother who must go out to work the land, but first needs her firstborn to sleep. Besides being a lullaby, it is also protest music.
Mozart and Beethoven: The Classics "Classics"
Since 1990 in some musical fields they have been talking about The Mozart Effect. It is argued that the Austrian composer's music can benefit babies from the time they are in the womb. Although for many it is nothing more than fantasy, it is true that several of the pieces of the also classical pianist, get calming, lowering the heart rate, stress and also as vehicles to fall asleep in babies, children, youth and adults.
Ludwig Van Beethoven is another classical composer in every sense of the word. Its influence within popular culture continues to be the object of study, as well as the effects of his music on society at a general level, and in some listeners in particular. Several of his compositions are also widely used as an aid by some parents in their quest for babies to fall asleep. Claro de Luna and Para Elisa are two of his most listened to melodies.
Other "Unorthodox" examples
El bob marley reggae It is used for everything, even to lull hyperactive babies. An instrumental selection of its most emblematic songs can be of great help to calm down little ones reluctant to calm down. Even some of the original versions with the voice of the Jamaican artist, such as One Love or Stir it up, have relaxing effects on children (and also on parents).
There are also cases of little ones who calm down listening to Heavy Metal. After all, with children you never know ...
Image Sources: YouTube / Full-length Instrumental Music / Education - OneHowTo