December 21, 2020 Thank you, Barbara Schock, for sharing your extraordinary gift of these vignettes of Galesburg & 19th century American history.
The Lullaby By Barbara Schock
When Carl Sandburg was born in 1878, his three-year-old
sister, Mary, was unceremoniously removed from the cradle their father had
crafted. There was happiness in the household because a boy child had been born. Good mother that she was, Clara Sandburg more than likely
sang to her children before putting them to bed. She probably sang to them in
Swedish as that was her birth language. As five more children came to the
household, Mary may have sung to the younger children as well. As Carl and his
brother Mart grew older, they slept in the attic. In the winter it was cold, but
they had plenty of quilts and comforters to keep them warm. They probably felt
they were too old to have their mother sing to them before bed. Around the world mothers sing lullabies to their children to
comfort them In homes, tents or refugee camps. The songs provide a time of
closeness, tenderness and a soothing sound. There is evidence that lullabies have been sung for four
thousand years. Singing, it was hoped, would charm the baby to sleep. Over the
centuries some of the songs contained dark and fearful lyrics. For example,
“Rock-a-bye Baby” says the cradle will fall from the tree. Some fathers and mothers create lyrics to accompany the life
of the family. They become like prayers and become traditions that can be
carried in a person’s mind for a lifetime. Research has shown that singing a lullaby to a child lowers
the heart and respiration rate for both the mother and the child. It provides a
time of comfort and quiet for both the mother and child. Both can result in
better health for the individuals. Carnegie Hall in New York began a Lullaby Project in 2011.
Professional musicians and parents of newborns are introduced to one another.
The composition of new lullabies provides a means for parents to express their
hopes, dreams and wishes for their baby. The words and music help create bonds
between them. The memories can be carried through life for both generations. Some hospital nurseries provide music for babies born before
their full term. The music seems to calm the infant leading to greater weight
gain and faster development. It can be a godsend for anxious parents. The lullaby appears in many cultures. It can be about
everyday happenings. It can be about any subject. There are Christmas carols
about the baby Jesus, such as “Silent Night.” There are tradition lullabies such
as “Rock-a-bye, Baby.” There are classical lullabies like the “Cradle Song” by
Brahms. There are more modern songs such as “Good Night” written by John Lennon
for his son. They can provide comfort and love in a few words with a
simple melody.
|