This music brings a whole new feel and experience to popular melodies and children's songs by presenting them through the unique chimes of a music box and intertwining sounds of nature throughout each song. The more traditional sounds of the accordion, flute, violin, bass, piano, oboe, guitar, mandolin, and humming can also be heard. This is a perfect soundtrack for quiet time.

This CD is a new way to experience familiar melodies, as the music box adds tenderness to each song, as well as keeping a steady, soothing beat. For example, Amazing Grace, is often presented with much pomp and circumstance, yet on this recording it is simplified to just a music box and very gentle strings, and it may even take you a little while to recognize the melody. The longest song on the CD, Cute Little Anny, adds the instruments one at a time, but there are measures where the strings and flute fall silent and only the distinctive-yet-gentle plunking of the music box is heard. Greensleeves includes a variety of instruments - strings, guitar, oboe, and small percussion - through a meticulous beat that is pleasantly hypnotizing. One of the most unique features of this recording is the nature sounds heard throughout most of the songs. Birds are often chirping at the beginning and end of song, or even throughout the entire song like in If I Only Had a Lassie. A Tender Kiss Good Night, Two Royal Heirs and Rain Drops all have the relaxing sound of rain falling. How Many Stars Are Shining includes the sounds of crickets at the beginning, setting the nighttime mood. The final beautiful nature sound is that of a woman humming, present in Peaceful Moon and Farewell To Night among others.

The gentle music is perfect for helping to develop infants' hearing. The combinations of unique and familiar sounds may spark your little one's curiosity, causing them to look around to see what is making the different sounds. Will they look out the window when they hear the birds or rain? Will they look at you when they hear the humming? Enjoy the tender music together by holding your little one close and rocking, turning, humming along, and smiling with encouragement when they react. As your baby grows, you can name the different sounds heard to help them begin to make the associations.

I listened to this CD with my friend Mosley, when he was just 4 months old. I stood near the window in his nursery and held him high so he could see outside while I rocked him gently to the music. The songs had an obvious calming effect on him, as his eyes drooped and he focused on my smile, still humming, until he fell asleep. Mosley is now 15 months old and still enjoys this CD during relaxed times. He is always eager to say "Ba" (for "bird") whenever they are heard chirping. This is certainly music he will continue to grow with.

--Audra