Fredrich Froebel, inventor of Kindergarten, wrote “Mutter und Koselieder” (Mother and nursery songs) in 1844, when he was in his fifties. He wrote it for families, and so the daily life of the German family is described in the pictures, verses, games and music from this work. In 1906 his original music was translated into English in the public domain work “Motherplay”. This is the work we have compiled on this CD.
In 1895 another translation of his work was created called “The songs and music of Friedrich Froebel’s Mother play”. In this work, the compilers took the lessons and verses and put them to new music with piano accompaniments. They recognized that although Froebel’s music book was widely distributed, it was rarely used because the unaccompanied duets were difficult for many to sing. The new music is more simple, while maintaining the moral lessons and appeal of the first. We are pleased to bring you this music as well.
Among the feedback I received for this compilation was the common theme of having a hard time understanding the words. The old-English in combination with the art-song style many are unfamiliar with were both obstacles I hoped to overcome with the videos. To be sure, everything about this work is homemade. The songs were recorded with a Yeti microphone in my living room using Audacity. The videos are likewise made by myself and they lack the polish one would expect from a more professional work, but for learning to sing the music, they are much more engaging than karaoke and they fulfill their purpose very well. These are classic, old melodies with great moral lessons. Art songs with themes appropriate for small children. My children have really enjoyed them and have started singing the melodies since I started on the movie project. It’s a labor of love that I hope your family will enjoy too.
Featuring Tamsyn Spackman, Soprano, and Tiffany Muir, alto.
Play With the Limbs
"Play with the Limbs" is an original duet by Froebel found in the American 1906 edition.
"Play with the Limbs" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Words by Emily Huntington Miller. Music from an old English melody, 17th century.
"Play with the Limbs" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Adapted from Tyrolese folk song.
Falling, Falling!
"Falling, Falling" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original music by Froebel.
"Falling" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Poulsson, Fred. Field Bullard. Opus 30, No. 2
The Weathervane
"The Weathervane" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original music by Froebel.
"The Weathervane" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Poulsson, George L. Osgood.
"The Weathervane" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Sung by Tamsyn Spackman. By Emilie Poulsson. Aranged from Robert Kohl by E.S.
"The Trees" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Duet from "Music for the Kindergarten" by Eleanor Heerwart.
"The Windmill" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. By Louis C. Elson. Arranged from Adolf Jensen. From "Songs for Little Chidren" for the Kindergarten and Primary schools, by Eleanor Smith
"The Wind Song" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Sung by Tiffany Muir. Robert Louis Stevenson and Eleanor Smith.
All's Gone
"All's Gone" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition.
"All Gone" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. By Emily Huntington Miller and Fred Field Bullard, Op 30 #8
Song of Taste
"Song of Taste" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Guessing Game" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Sung by Tiffany Muir. By Nora Archibald Smith and Fred Field Bullard, Op 302 #6
"Flower Song" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Nora Archibald Smith. From an old Scotch Melody
"Flower Song" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Kate L. Brown and Karl Reinecke.
Tick Tack!
"Tick Tack" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Tick Tack" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Poulsson. Popular melody from "Children's Songs" by Carl Reinecke.
"Tick Tock" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Sung by Tiffany Muir. Emily Huntington Miller and Eleanor Smith.
Grass Mowing
"Grass Mowing" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Grass Mowing" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emily Huntington Miller and Eleanor Smith.
Beckon to the Chickens
"Beckon to the Chickens" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Beckoning the Chickens" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Huntington Miller. W.W. Gilchrist.
Beckon to the Pigeons
"Beckon to the Pigeons" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Beckoning the Pigeons" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Poulsson. Arranged by Eleanor Smith from Karl Reinecke.
Fishes in the Brook
"Fishes in the Brook" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"The Fish in the Brook" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Music adapted from "Music for the Kindergarten" by Eleanor Heerwart. Arranged from Robert Kohl by E.S.
"Fish in the Brook" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Music by Emily Huntington Miller. Music adapted from Johannes Brahms by E.S.
"The Caterpillar" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emilie Poulsson and Eleanor Smith.
"Butterflies" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Kate L. Brown and Elizabeth U. Emerson.
"The Flying Bird" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Kate L. Brown and W.W. Gilchrist.
Lengthwise Crosswise
"Lengthwise-Crosswise" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"The Target" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emily Huntington Miller, Fred Field Bullard, Op. 30, #5
Pat-a-Cake
"Pat-a-Cake" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"Pat-a-Cake" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emily Huntington Miller. Alsatian folk song
"The Mill Wheel" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Kate L. Brown, Karl Reinecke.
"The Farmer" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Melody adapted from Swiss folk song.
The Little Nest
"The Little Nest" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1906 edition. Original duet by Froebel.
"The Bird's Nest" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Kate L. Brown. Adapted from Robert Kohl by E.S.
"In a Hedge" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Froebel, Eleanor Smith.
"The Bird's Nest" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Emily Huntington Miller, W.W. Gilchrist
"What does Little Birdie Say?" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Tennyson, E.S.
"Lullaby" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Music by J. W. Elliot.
"The Bird's Nest" is from Froebel's "Mother-Play", as arranged in the 1895 edition. Music by W.W. Gilchrist. Author unknown.
These songs comprise roughly the first third of the Mother Play songs. There are many more in the books!