Lullabies - first steps
In thinking about the music for ENO Breathe, lullabies seemed the perfect fit; a gentle musical embrace to support you on your road to recovery.
Lullabies stretch back further than the written word; they are rooted in love, tenderness and soothing, and span cultures and continents.
The lullabies in this section are simple and uncomplicated. We will sing them as warm ups in our sessions.
Below are songsheets and recordings of each lullaby we’ll sing; both a version with Suzi singing the vocal line for you to sing along with, and a karaoke version without Suzi for you to try singing with if you’re feeling bold, or when you know the song well.
The lullabies we will sing as part of ENO Breathe have each been linked to a partner lullaby from a moment in an opera.
For the most part, these are not to sing, but rather you can watch, listen to and immerse yourself in these operatic moments via the links below.
To sing
Abiyoyo
Abiyoyo is the name of a monster in South African folklore.
The folk singer, Pete Seeger, introduced this song to the West by incorporating it into a story based on the traditional tale, in which the song is sung to neutralise the monster, Abiyoyo.
In Seeger’s version, a magician and his son are banished from a town for causing mischief.
When the giant, Abiyoyo, comes to town, the boy and his father sing the song to send the monster to sleep and make him disappear.
After this feat, they are allowed back to town.
Listen to Pete Seeger’s Abiyoyo
Sing along with the karaoke versions with and without a singer:
To listen to
Humming Chorus, Madam Butterfly, Puccini
Both Abiyoyo and the humming chorus are wordless.
In the opera, Madama Butterfly, the humming chorus accompanies Butterfly’s vigil as she waits for her husband to return.
The music marks the passage of time, while Butterfly calmly and peacefully waits.
Listen to the humming chorus sung by Opera Australia Chorus and Orchestra, Sydney – Video version
Listen to the audio version sung by Opera Queensland Chorus, Universal Music Group
To sing
Ama eebu
Ama eebu translates as ‘darkness is good’.
There is a recording made in 1957 of the Mbuti pygmies of the Ituri rainforest in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (but was then the Belgian Congo) singing a version of the lullaby Ama eebu.
You can listen to that recording of Ama eebu here
Sing along with the karaoke versions with and without a singer:
To listen to
‘Je crois entendre encore’, The Pearl Fishers, Bizet
The singer is in love with a woman he is not allowed to be with – Leila.
In this aria he reflects on the beauty of hearing Leila sing in the darkness of the night.
The rhythm of the song is like the gentle rocking of a boat.
Listen to ‘Je crois entendre encore’ sung by Placido Domingo
To sing
Ninna nanna
Ninna nanna comes traditionally from an Italian folk song but its origins and context are unclear.
Lullabies are an oral tradition and sometimes the history is lost through the years, though the lullaby remains.
Sing along with the karaoke versions with and without a singer:
Download tracks (right click, save as)
To listen to
| ‘Dormi amor mio’, Madam Butterfly |
Butterfly sings this simple lullaby to her son, bidding the stars to bathe him in their golden rays while he sleeps.
Return to the ENO Breathe Hub
A calming playlist
Week one exercises