Baroque babies

By Sylvie Goueffon, teacher at the Maîtrise of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles and artist involved in the “Bébé Baroque” workshops

I invite you to take a little musical journey, as we often do during our Baroque Babies sessions.

The Little Book of Anna Magdalena Bach by Bayard Musique

First, I'll take you into the private world of the Bach family in Germany, where music was in their DNA ! Johann Sebastian Bach gave his wife a notebook filled with short, varied pieces intended for entertainment and for learning music as a family. They were composed by himself, his sons, or his contemporaries.

It is a touching testimony to a rich musical life !

The Most Beautiful Sonatas of Scarlatti by Scott Ross, published by Erato

The bold and infinitely varied sounds of Domenico Scarlatti's harpsichord sonatas are unmissable ! These are lively miniatures combining the spirit of Baroque Italy and flamboyant Spain. Their inventiveness is astounding, in a style that is often highly virtuosic and joyful. Get ready to dance !

Coco le ouistiti at Gallimard Jeunesse

Baroque babies also have incredible musical stories! With this in mind, I highly recommend the adventures of Coco the marmoset, which are set to beautiful music. The instruments may not be very baroque, you might say... but there is a wonderful variety of tones to awaken young children's ears to music.

Tic-toc-choc by Alexandre Tharaud, Harmonia Mundi 

From dance to reverie, via playfulness, François Couperin's palette is always exceptionally elegant. The softness and clarity of Alexandre Tharaud's piano playing is the perfect accompaniment to quiet moments with the whole family.

The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, performed by Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano

Vivaldi's Four Seasons have the ability to tell a story without words, evoking images, emotions, and sensations. Children can have fun guessing the scenes, animals, and changes in weather, while adults savor the finesse of the baroque playing, the richness of the timbres, and the poetry of the interpretation.

Baroque music for little ears at Naïve Kids

What if baroque music became a story to experience together ? “Baroque Music for Little Ears” is an enchanted stroll through the corridors of the Palace of Versailles, guided by the notes of Lully, Vivaldi, and Handel. The narration is aimed at older children as well as their brothers and sisters. It introduces them to ancient instruments, court dances, costumes, and royal celebrations... as if they were there !

Concertos by Bach, Albinoni, and Telemann conducted by Olivier Fortin, released by Alpha

Baroque concertos are a marvel for curious ears: they feature a solo instrument that dialogues with the orchestra, like a main character surrounded by his companions. The instruments take turns speaking, with virtuosity, tenderness, or mischief. For children, it is a captivating musical form: the contrasts are sharp, the rhythms lively, and the melodies often sing-songy. Each concerto is a world unto itself !

Officina Romana dei Stagione by Paolo Zanzu, released by Arcana

You are invited to a musical evening at the home of an 18th-century Roman cardinal! You will discover different musical genres: opera arias, cantatas, sonatas, and orchestral pieces follow one another in a warm and theatrical atmosphere. The diversity of sounds is breathtaking: harpsichord, organ, pianoforte, strings, oboes, flutes, theorbo... and the voice of the talented countertenor Carlo Vistoli. You can have fun recognizing the timbres or inventing characters for each piece. An album that brings Rome and baroque music into your living room with elegance and imagination.

Le jardin de Monsieur Rameau by Les Arts Florissants, released by Harmonia Mundi

Imagine a garden where every path leads to a musical surprise: a light dance, a funny song, a moving aria, or a theatrical scene full of twists and turns. A French-style musical garden to explore with your ears wide open, where you pick notes like flowers, and where every turn reveals a new emotion.

Farandole de comptines au piano from the Trésors en musique collection 

No baroque babies without nursery rhymes ! So for those who want to extend the experience beyond this playlist, this disc revisits the great traditional nursery rhymes in a rendition that combines melodic simplicity and harmonic refinement. The refined engravings of animals illustrate Abdel Rahman El Bacha's wonderful piano arrangements. A moment of gentleness and poetry for vocal improvisations or moments of musical complicity. A little gem !