Making a playlist of music for Babies...

[perfect_pitch]

Greetings... I know - title is unlike anything I've asked about in the past. Anyway, long story short - I have a nephew who is almost 6 months old and was going to make a playlist of pieces of classical music that I'm going to record and give to my sister so she can play them for him - expose him to classical music - hopefully help the brain develop.

I'm after suggestions for calm, simple (not too ostentatious), melodic piano pieces that people think would be suitable - especially for very young kids.

[klavieronin]

I'm sure you'll find a lot of suitable material in Takashi Yoshimatsu's Pleiades Dances.

Ravel's Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant and Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte are both quite lovely (just don't tell your sister what that last one is called ).

Malcolm Arnold's Children's Suite also has some great pieces in it but it's a little harder to find the score for that one.

Norman Dello-Joio's Lyric Pieces For The Young also has some nice selections.

On a side note, I'm pretty sure the research says listening to classical music has negligible (if any) affect on cognitive development. I'd say it's still worth exposing young children to classical music if only to help them develope a taste for it but as far as brain development goes listening to classical music isn't going to achieve much. Exercise, good diet, and lots of interaction with people will have a far greater affect on brain development.

[dogperson]

There have been many lists of classical music for babies compiled---  and readily available on the internet.  Do these not meet your needs? 

[perfect_pitch]

I never really looked into it. This is just something I thought about 2 days ago, but I also wanted to record the pieces myself as a personal touch.

[cimirro]

I never really looked into it. This is just something I thought about 2 days ago, but I also wanted to record the pieces myself as a personal touch.

Curiously, some months ago a great friend told me he was going to be father, and his daughter will be called "Hadassa", so I made a small gift to him, which I called "Little Music Box to Hadassa" (Caixinha de música para Hadassa) and which is based on the notes H-A-D-A-S-S-A.
A miniature.
Here you have the score and recording
(it is published in my new CD by Acte Prealable - https://www.acteprealable.com/albums/new_ap0400.html )

SCORE
https://www.arturcimirro.com.br/CIMIRRO_Caixinha-de-musica-para-Hadassa.pdf

RECORDING
https://www.arturcimirro.com.br/24_CIMIRRO_caixinha-de-musica-para-hadassa.mp3

If you enjoy it and wish to use for your recording, you have my permission.

All the best
Artur

[mjames]

Sounds like the perfect job for Schoenberg and Berg.

[perfect_pitch]

Curiously, some months ago a great friend told me he was going to be father, and his daughter will be called "Hadassa", so I made a small gift to him, which I called "Little Music Box to Hadassa" (Caixinha de música para Hadassa) and which is based on the notes H-A-D-A-S-S-A.
A miniature.
Here you have the score and recording

SCORE
https://www.arturcimirro.com.br/CIMIRRO_Caixinha-de-musica-para-Hadassa.pdf

RECORDING
https://www.arturcimirro.com.br/24_CIMIRRO_caixinha-de-musica-para-hadassa.mp3

All the best
Artur

Wow... that's actually a very lovely melody. Thanks for that. Very sweet. The suspension at the end is interesting - I'm a sucker for resolution, but it's very lovely.

Sounds like the perfect job for Schoenberg and Berg.

Not even slightly funny. I said MELODIC and not too ostentatious.

[dogperson]

I never really looked into it. This is just something I thought about 2 days ago, but I also wanted to record the pieces myself as a personal touch.

I think it's really a lovely personal touch that you want to record the music yourself. My suggestion was to look at the playlists that are already out there as a method of helping you choose what you want to play.  I'm not sure if you want to include repertoire that would take some elbow grease, or that you could polish quickly.

[ted]

You are welcome to use the three little tunes I posted here at various times. I used to write dozens of melodies when I was younger. Here they are, to save you looking them up. I have also just emailed you the scores, not that you need them with your ear.

[perfect_pitch]

I think it's really a lovely personal touch that you want to record the music yourself.

Thanks... I figured it would be a bit of a personal touch. How often does one get the chance to do this for his family.

I'll do a bit of research and see if I can find a few CD's already made, and then just play and record them.

[mjames]

Come on, I thought I was being hilarious! Fine fine since you're not the only one that complains about my attempts at humor, I'll make it up to you...well I'l try.

[perfect_pitch]

Come on, I thought I was being hilarious! Fine fine since you're not the only one that complains about my attempts at humor, I'll make it up to you...well I'l try.

I knew you meant it as a joke, but I think I just have a solid aversion to Schoenberg and Berg... I can't stand their music. Even some of Bartok is excruciatingly painful... example 1:

But that Chopin piece you posted certainly makes up for it. I've never actually heard it before. I've listened to all of Chopins Etudes, Ballads, Waltzes, Preludes and Scherzos, but never heard that beautiful piece.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Brahms Intermezzo op 117/1

[mjames]

A baby wouldn't have much trouble falling asleep to a Schumann intermezzo that's for sure.

[perfect_pitch]

I've never heard Schumanns intermezzi - I'm going to have to look that up.

Brahms Intermezzo op 117/1

That... is sensational. Absolutely beautiful. Middle bits a bit dark sounding but I like the opening.

[georgey]

Brahms - Geistliches Wiegenlied, Op. 91 No. 2

[beethovenfan01]

How about Schubert? All his music is very melodic, and not horribly difficult. Look at his impromptus op. 90 and 142!

[worov]

Brahms ?