Asian Dreamland

All Ages

Birth - 12 months

Asian Dreamland

by Various Artists

The gentle sounds of lullabies from across Asia will lull listeners into a calm, meditative mood perfect for naptime, bedtime, or quiet playtime. The lullabies feature familiar instruments like the piano, oboe as well as traditional Asian instruments like the koto, erhu, and shamisen. The lyrics also represent the wide variety of languages spoken across Asia.

Age: 3 Year-olds | Title: Asian Dreamland | Artist: Various Artists | Label: Putumayo

Why we chose this music

Each song on this album offers something uniquely alluring from the culture it stems from. The lullaby performed by Ali Akbar Khan introduces classical Indian musical with the Sarode, an close cousin to the violin, and is supposed to create "a mood of tranquility that should help even the most energetic child fall asleep." Lei Qiang performs a traditional Northeastern China lullaby featuring the erhu, an instrument with only two strings but played with a bow like a violin. Om Ma Nye Bhe Mae Hum (The Jewel of the Land of Snows) was originally a Tibetan chant used as an aid in meditation and features breathtakingly beautiful melodies on the piano. Cradle Song is from Tartarstan, a republic on the western edge of the Asian continent in Central Russia. Asadoya Yunta (Song from Asadoya) and Kokoro Ni Dakarete (My Heart Holds) feature the Samisen, a three stringed instrument similar to a banjo and a traditional instrument from Okinawa. Yoruga Naita (The Weeping Night) is actually based on a Celtic melody, and creatively blends Celtic and Japanese styles of music together.

These songs are ideal for cuddling with your little one and relaxing before or after a nap, or leading in to bedtime. You can teach your little one to recognize the different instruments by naming them when they play, or you help your little one understanding the motivations of the music be reading the translated titles and stories from the cover booklet while the song is playing. Aka Tonbo (Dragon Fly), is a wonderful children's song - easy to remember and sing - when the words are translated, "Dragonfly, dragonfly…Evening Sky, Evening sky…Fly so high, fly so high…Say goodby, say goodbye…" The final words of the song Evening Sky are even in English. Moon Boat also has lovely lyrics, "Let’s find a dream in a little moon boat that is floating in the milky way."

I read the cover booklet information to Sam while we listed to each song together. He really enjoyed Amami No Komori Uta (Amami Lullaby), due to the gentle-but-firm guitar strumming. It also began with the soothing sounds of ocean waves coming up on the sand. Sam refers to this song as "The water song." He was also quite pleased to learn that this lullaby is traditionally sung to little boys.

--Audra

About the music

Putumayo Kids is the children's and educational division of Putumayo World Music. As one of the leading children's record labels, Putumayo Kids is committed to introducing children to other cultures through music from around the world.

With its growing collection of CDs featuring multilingual liner notes, Putumayo Kids produces music that entertains, educates and inspires cultural curiosity. More than three million Putumayo Kids CDs have been sold around the world. At least one percent of the CD sales benefit non-profit groups that support children, families, schools and other charities.

The Putumayo Kids music team chooses songs with child-friendly lyrics and rhythms by both renowned and undiscovered international artists. The collection of songs are tested in schools and with families. An international music selection contributes to the education of future global citizens while holding true to Putumayo's mission of sharing music that is "guaranteed to make you feel good".

Putumayo Kids has won numerous awards and is parent and teacher approved. Some organizations that have awarded honors to Putumayo Kids include Parents' Choice, National Parenting Publication Awards, Teachers' Choice and the American Library Association.

Song list

1. Shang Shang Typhoon, Moon Boat - 3:04

2. Emme, Dokokade Yoruga Naita - 3:39

3. Yoshida Brothers, Kokoro Ni Dakarete - 3:28

4. Zulya, Cradle Song - 3:06

5. Aiko Shimada & Elizabeth Falconer, Aka Tonbo - 3:15

6. Takashi Hirayasu with Chuei Yoshikawa, Asadoya Yunta - 2:54

7. Kelsang Chukie Tethong, Om Ma Nye Bhe Mae Hum - 2:41

8. Ali Akbar Khan, Lullaby - 3:30

9. Lei Qiang, Lullaby - 2:49

10. Kikki, Amami No Komori Uta - 3:12