A Child's Celebration of Lullaby

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A soothing collection of traditional and contemporary lullabies from luminaries such as Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lena Horn, A Child's Celebration of Lullaby is a sweet treat for both parent and child. Standouts include "Light Up the World" by Joanne Shenandoah and "Lullaby," gloriously performed by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. The key word here is gentle--all the songs bleed one into the other in similar quietude and drifting lilt (which for sleepytime is a positive thing). Not as stimulating or culturally diverse as other collections, Lullaby is nonetheless a stalwart naptime companion and a blessing for cranky parents. --Paige La Grone

From Parents' Choice®
The selections on this gentle, embracing collection are made with integrity. The artists who perform are as varied as Lena Horne, Raffi and Jerry Garcia; what they have in common are sweet melodies and vocals. Horne sings her unforgettable rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime"; the late Grateful Dead icon, with notable musician David Grisman, turns in an unexpectedly moving "Shenandoah Lullaby"; "Brahm's Lullaby" is tenderly rendered by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville. Ladysmith Black... read more

A Child's Celebration of Lullaby

Tracks:

O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabelle
Fum, Fum, Fum!
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Ave Maria
Gesu Bambino
Medley: I Saw Three Ships; The First Nowell; The Holly And The Ivy
Away In A Manger
Silent Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mary's Cradle Song
Zither Carol
I Wonder As I Wander
Mary Had A Baby
Rise Up, Shepherd
What Child Is This?
Ave Maria
Finale and Reprise: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Silent Night; O Come All Ye Faithful

Customer Reviews:

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle.......2007-01-19

what can i say about the best of the best? As always, Miss Battle makes me wonder how anyone else would dare to sing this music after her rendition. A beautiful CD

One of the most beautiful Christmas albums .......2005-11-22

I love Kathleen Battle's voice, and to get such a great collection of beautiful sacred music, it was like a dream come true. She sings many traditional carols like Holy Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, which is possibly my favorite here, you may think you have heard this song so many times, but Kathleen's voice really shines in it. Her English diction is so incredible, you can understand every word, which is not something many opera singers can achieve. Her singing is always so natural and lovely. Many other songs are oustanding on this album, I love the two version of Ave Maria and the Italian song Gesu Bambino. If you are looking for a really beautiful collection of Christmas music, this album is a great choice.

A Christmas Collection For The Ages.......2005-11-13

If there is one performer I miss hearing on a regular basis, it is Kathleen Battle. Anytime I knew that she'd be in a Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast, I knew it would be a performance to remember and more often than not, I was correct. She has a light voice that reaches the upper reregisters with ease and has as a gorgeous sound. She not a regular at many opera houses these days, and in likelihood, if she still did perform on the world's opera stages, we'd be hearing critics say her voice was not what it once was, but thanks to her recorded legacy, her voice will, always have that youthful, energetic sound.

Overall I believe that Ms. Battle performs better in complete opera recordings than recital albums, but most of her recital recordings are of at least good quality and this Christmas collection is outstanding. She handles all of the works with apparent similar ease, but since the recording is so varied, this is a compliment to her skill as a performer. She begins and ends with "O Come All Ye Faithful" where she does a few vocal acrobatics but it's never overdone. Each time I think of what the bets part of the collection is, my mind changes. She brings her skills from the operatic stage in her renditions of "O Holy Night," "Gesu Bambino" (only Pavarotti sings this better, but it's a very close second), and "The Zither Carol" which sounds so much like something that could come from the mouths of Oscar from UN BALLO or Zurbinetta from ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, two of her signature roles. The music from the African American Spirituals tradition and American background are well done and the accompaniment of the Harlem Boys Choir, used to great advantage here adds so much.

With so many Christmas collections from the world of opera available, choosing one can be difficult, but this is one collection that has proven to be a joy for almost fifteen years and will continue to give holiday pleasure for years to come.

Kathleen Battle, My Madam Christmas.......2004-12-28

I probably have 50 Christmas albums. I love many of them. This is my favorite. Leaves me astounded and breathless every time I enjoy it.

Pure Joy.......2003-12-07

In a world where disturbing things are all too common, Christian scripture guides us to dwell on that which is lovely. Kathleen Battle's blessed voice is most certainly one of those lovely things.

I bought this CD in the early 1990's, and I am here to buy it again because I have worn out the original with scratches, etc. I only listen to it during the Christmas season, but I enjoy it enough to hear it all year.

The 'Christmas Celebration' CD should be enough to convince you to also purchase Kathleen's 'A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert'. Ms. Battle's wonderful soprano voice is joined by that of the mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and the blending is more than memorable. There are a couple of songs which are on both CD's, but you'll want to hear both. In fact, the video of the PBS special is also available, and I recommend buying all three. You won't regret it.

Some of my favorite selections from 'Christmas Celebration' include 'Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabelle' and 'Fum, Fum, Fum', both of which are from a culture different from my own. I found such glimpses into unfamiliar favorites to enhance my own enjoyment of the Christmas season, as long as all of my traditional American favorites were included. They were. "I Wonder As I Wander" and "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" are there among the other favorites.

Tracks:

Morningtown Ride - Raffi
Good Night - The Roches
Melancholy Baby - Maria Muldaur
Little Brown Dog - Taj Mahal
Blanket For A Sail - Harry Nilssen
Cody's Song - Kathie Lee Gifford
Light Up The World - Joanne Shenandoah
Be Still My Child - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Singin' In My Heart - Eric Bibb And Linda Tillery
Summertime - Lena Horn
Lullaby - Van Dyke Parks & Brian Wilson
A Shenandoah Lullaby - Jerry Garcia & David Grisman
Brahm's Lullaby - Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville

Product Description

GENERAL FEATURES: Morningtown Ride - Raffi Good Night - The Roches Melancholy Baby - Maria Muldaur Little Brown Dog - Taj Mahal Blanket For A Sail - Harry Nilssen Cody's Song - Kathie Lee Gifford Light Up The World - Joanne Shenandoah Be Still My Child - Ladysmith Black Mambazo Singin' In My Heart - Eric Bibb/Linda Tillery Summertime - Lena Horne Lullaby - Van Dyke Parks/Brian Wilson Shenandoah Lullaby, A - David Grisman/Jerry Garcia Brahms' Lullaby - Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Be Still My Child - Ladysmith Black Mambazo Educational entertainment for all ages.

Amazon.com

A soothing collection of traditional and contemporary lullabies from luminaries such as Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lena Horn, A Child's Celebration of Lullaby is a sweet treat for both parent and child. Standouts include "Light Up the World" by Joanne Shenandoah and "Lullaby," gloriously performed by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. The key word here is gentle--all the songs bleed one into the other in similar quietude and drifting lilt (which for sleepytime is a positive thing). Not as stimulating or culturally diverse as other collections, Lullaby is nonetheless a stalwart naptime companion and a blessing for cranky parents. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

soothing.......2001-11-20

a great compilation, my daughter loves it and falls asleep listening everynight, she is thirty five months old. Her most favourite is little brown dog.

A Child's Celebration Of Lullaby.......2000-12-17

Although over the past year I have collected several Lullaby theme CD's, If I was to purchase only one CD, this would be my pick!

What a great CD! As a new parent, I have spent many a hour rocking to this eclectic CD and I have not yet grown tired of the selections. "A Child's Celebration Of Lullaby" introduced me to several fun songs, new to me such as "Morningtown Ride - Raffi", Little Brown Dog - Taj Mahal, Blanket For A Sail - Harry Nilssen, and Be Still My Child - Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Meaning and inspiration come through in "Light Up The World" - Joanne Shenandoah, and I felt special connection with "Singin' In My Heart" - Eric Bibb/Linda Tillery. One of the most soothing and beautiful tracks I believe is "Lullaby" - Van Dyke Parks/Brian Wilson.

Although I was previously familiar with Melancholy Baby, Summertime, Shenandoah Lullaby, Brahms' Lullaby, and Cody's Song, this CD has introduced new sounds to these popular songs.

I would give this one Six Stars!

Mellowby.......2000-08-24

When I first heard this CD, I immediately loved it. The vocal artists and the musical selections are wonderful. I especially enjoy Taj Mahal's rendition of "The Little Brown Dog" and Lena Horne singing "Summertime". My four year old daughter loves the song entitled "Good Night" by The Roches. It is a delightful story about a young girl captured by an invisible monster. My 2 year old enjoys listening to Raffi's "Morningtown Ride" in the morning while we eat breakfast. This CD is not only for bedtime. Play it when you want to feel mellow.