Lullaby of birdland

Maybe that should be Lullaby of Lotusland? Whatever. I just like the two songs referenced in the title: Lullaby of Birdland, of course, and Birdland (I particularly like Manhattan Transfer's recording).

Anyway, this entry isn't just meant to be a riff on jazz, if you will. Rather, that I have finally found a lullaby book. There's an amazing children's bookstore, not far from us; having shopped there for a number of years, I've come to believe that, if they don't have it and cannot get it, it doesn't exist. So when I went there in August seeking a book with the lyrics and (at least) melodies for traditional lullabies, and the best they could do was sell me a CD, I was discouraged. It was even worse when the salesclerk asked me why I would want the written music rather than a CD. (Apparently mothers no longer sing to their babies?)

But! I did manage to find online a book that looked just about right:


It was delivered after a few weeks, and seems to be just what I was hoping for; it has all sorts of traditional lullabies (including an English translation of a German lullaby), both lyrics and melodies with simple harmonies. Enough for me to pick out unfamiliar tunes, be sure of familiar tunes, and either sing or play the flute for Bärchen.