Schnäggeloch and Tangochue

Paying attention to good quality CDs for children is doubly worthwhile. First and foremost, of course, to make young ears more sensitive instead of clogging them up, but also in your own interest. Because once the children have taken the bait, the songs will be "on" far more often than the adults listening in might like. Three productions have arrived at the editorial office in the last few weeks:

The first is the new CD version of a record recorded in 1975: the soprano Cécile Zemp-Siegrist sings The most beautiful Swiss children's songs32 songs in four national languages in settings by Hansruedi Willisegger. Ten instrumentalists are involved, but by no means always in action, resulting in extremely simple, transparent versions. The singer also performs the songs very lean and "artless" in the best sense of the word. This may sound a little lean to overfed ears at first, but it proves to be a blessing in the everyday hustle and bustle. The rather high register is just right for children singing along. And whoever finds it now, De Hans in the Schnäggeloch and Au clair de la lune etc. are all too outdated for today's children, why not give it a try? Perhaps the discovery is particularly exciting when parents or grandparents talk about what their world looked like when they sang these songs.

Set in today's everyday life and musically lively are Pirate bathtub. The songs by Simone Schranz and Jacqueline Bernard (both members of the women's band siJamais) are about "Chräbu" on the new tractor, about being ugly and being comforted or, in a charming mix of languages, about "Tierli, chi è la più bella, la coccinella". Playful, cheeky, infectious, but also sometimes withdrawn and a little sentimental, as tango, blues or kletzmer, these songs are convincing in their exuberance and courage. The Bernese-German verses with their rich, but never sought-after vocabulary are just as much fun as the experimental Guggisberger song version. Somewhat out of line Ciao Papaboth through the High German and through the perspective and style. I would have liked more of these peppery children's songs (instead or for the future).

Contains no less than 36 songs sing sam sum! They were written and composed by Stephanie Jakobi-Murer and sung by children from the Hünenberg Music School choir under the direction of the author, who is known for her earlier song collections. fli, fla, flo!, hula hula hopp! and waduwada! is already well known. Here, the CD is just one element of a complete package, because these songs from De Giraff het Halsweh to You are healthy are intended for use in kindergarten or elementary school. The educational purpose of some of them is perhaps a little too clear, but there is a large selection to choose from. In an accompanying booklet, they are not only notated with dialect and High German text, but also characterized, with didactic tips for introduction, suggestions for games, movement, accompaniment and handicrafts - always with the aim of leading the children to the songs through their actions and experiences.