A Cradle of Songs: Recent Episodes
LittleCr3atures™
“A Cradle of Songs” is a project where Dr Nat from LittleCr3atures seek to “collect” songs from others (parents, artists, adults, children alike) and the region that we may have grown up in, or simply songs that resonate and comfort us. The essence of the project lies in what “child-like-ness” means to us. As adults, we revisit our childhood and inner child, to seek a sense of play, ritual and healing in the process. This podcast series is meant to engage parents with a similar child-like-ness for them to “play” with their young children. This gives opportunities for them to bond through the act of making music (or “musicking” in Christopher Small’s term).Supported by National Art Council Singapore.
In this last episode of “A Cradle of Songs - Play”. Dr Nat and her musicians cover the song “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes, an American indie-folk band. The song was chosen for its simplicity and repetitive elements. This rendition is inspired by a capella group Pentatonix’s cover of the song that used body percussion in its arrangement. We don’t always need instruments to make music, our bodies and voices are perfect for that too! This episode features an interview with our multi-ethnic percussionist-drummer, Govin.
In this fifth episode of “A Cradle of Songs - Play”, Dr Nat and her musicians explore the Japanese version of the originally German folksong “Kuckuck, Kuckuck, ruft’s aus dem Wald” translating loosely to “Cuckoo, Cuckoo, calls from the Woods”, or “kakkou” in Japanese. The original German version was written by poet Hoffman von Fallersleben. This episode features an interview with cellist Vick!
In this fourth episode of “A Cradle of Songs - Play”, Dr Nat and her musicians explore the Xinjiang folk song “Qing Chun Wu Qu”. Loosely translated to “The Song of Youth”, this is a vibrant, rhythmic, dance song presented in a pentatonic scale. This episode features an interview with Andy, the multi-talented instrumentalist who plays the flute, tiny piano and ukulele in this series!
In this third episode of “A Cradle of Songs - Play”, Dr Nat and her musicians explore “Tanya Sama Pokok” a folk song, with many versions. This version talks about Nature. It asks the tree why it shakes, in which the tree replies, ask the wind. When the wind was asked, it replied, ask the cloud. The cloud then talks about rain and how it falls. It ends with looking into a puddle of water, seeing a reflection, with the reflection disappearing when a stone is thrown in it. This episode features an interview with vocalist Namie!
In this second episode of “A Cradle of Songs - Play”, Dr Nat and her musicians present “Kicir-Kicir” an Indonesian folk song. It comes in different versions, varying in subject matters. This particular version speaks from a child’s perspective to ease wounded hearts. This episode features an interview with our vocalist, Suhaili!
In this first episode of “A Cradle of Songs -Play”, Dr Nat and her musicians explore the Chinese song titled “Mian Yi”, a traditional folk song.