Sweet Baby Album - 23rd Anniversary

Sweet Baby Album - Copyright (c) 1998

To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of this album, I've now created 15 new Youtube videos, to go with each of the 15 songs. (See links below). These videos contain the lyrics that go with each song.

These songs are my own compositions and/or arrangements. Nine of them are traditional melodies (e.g. "Golden Slumbers") that I arranged. The other 6 are my own original compositions (e.g. "Far in the Wood"), with texts taken from poems or folk songs. The vocals, piano, flute, synthesized strings and percussion were performed by me. 

This album was produced in 1998 by myself (Toria Burrell) and Garry Grasinski. It was recorded and engineered by Andrew Arbetter at the Studio Media recording studio in Evanston, Illinois 

It was a project that was commissioned and funded by Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a well known pediatrician in Chicago, Illinois, who also happened to be my piano student for a few years, at the time. It was intended to accompany a new book he wrote called "Sweet Baby, How to Soothe Your Newborn."

Dr. Weissbluth asked me to write lullabies for babies, and so I created songs that are relatively simple and soothing. However, I also wanted these songs to be appreciated by anyone of any age, especially parents who would be playing the songs for their children. I didn't want the parents getting bored and fed up with them! So I made the songs a little more interesting than your average "lullaby" as well as pretty to listen to, with polished musical performances. Therefore, while these can be used as lullabies for babies, I regard them more as artful, relaxing folk songs, for all ages.

I'm pleased to say that over the years, as I've had feedback on this album, many people (of all ages) have found these songs enjoyable and soothing to listen to. My hope is that they will continue to offer people a form of musical therapy and relaxation, as well as being memorable and singable for generations to come.

I have created videos for all of these songs on Youtube. Click on the song titles to access them:

1. Go to Sleep My Baby (Pat's Lullaby)
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional English lullaby

2. Sleep My Baby (The Gilly Flower)
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words from traditional Rumanian lullaby 

3. Irish Lullaby (The Golden Cradle)
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words from traditional English lullaby 

4. The Sleepy Song (Counting Sheep)
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words from a poem by Josephine Daskam Bacon

5. Dors Mon Petit Enfant (French Lullaby)
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional French lullaby

6. Sleep While Thy Fond Mother Sings
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional English lullaby

7. Far In The Wood
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words from an anonymous poem

8. Ariana's Lullaby
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional Jewish lullaby

9. As Night Falls
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words written by Dr. Weissbluth's son

10. A Cradle Song (Sleep Beauty Bright)
Music written by Toria Burrell
Words from a poem by William Blake

11. The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional Irish lullaby

12. Welsh Lullaby
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional Welsh lullaby

13. Golden Slumbers
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional English lullaby

14. Gaelic Cradle Song
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional Welsh lullaby

15. Now the Day is Over
Music arranged by Toria Burrell
Words and melody from traditional 19th century Lutheran hymn

You can also click on this link here, which takes you to the playlist I created on Youtube, which has all 15 songs in one place:
Sweet Baby Album 

All music was written and arranged by Toria Burrell.

Lullabies, poems and folk songs researched and collected by Toria Burrell.

Solo and backing vocals by Toria Burrell.

Piano, flute and other keyboard instruments played by Toria Burrell.

Produced by Toria Burrell and Garry Grasinski.

Recorded and engineered by Andrew Arbetter in 1998, at the Studio Media Recording Studio, in Evanston Illinois, USA.