I usually try to avoid classical CDs that actually advertise that they are geared toward a child. I have plenty of classical music that is appropriate for children, so I rarely spend time listening to music that is not performed or arranged as well as that for adults.

But lately I’ve found the children’s music industry is producing works from outstanding composers and performers—music well worth a listen. 

Don’t let the terrifically unattractive covers fool you. Baby Concerts Infant and Baby Concerts Prenatal and Newborn are actually filled with lovely music.

Pedro Eustache, a world-renowned flautist also trained on the piccolo and saxophone, as well as Chinese, Egyptian, Armenian, Japanese and Israeli flutes, leads the group with his masterful performances. Besides his many CDs, he is featured in the music of blockbuster movies such as “Munich” and “King Kong.”

In this departure from his usual eclectic music which explores other cultures, Eustache performs traditional classical music such as “Ode to Joy,” “Fur Elise,” “Greensleeves,” “Claire de Lune,” and also pieces less recognizable by name, but familiar to the ear.

These arrangements are excellent, though short. Most of the pieces are only two minutes long or less, but since the arrangements allow your ear to ignore the breaks between the pieces, the whole album can sound like one long orchestral arrangement.

Other CDs in the Baby Concerts series are “Crawling Baby” “Toddler” and “Bedtime Concert.” They are also a good introduction to classical music, covering many famous composers. 

Another good choice for naptime music is Celtic Dreamland, a CD produced by Putamayo Kids, the company largely responsible for introducing world music to America.

Rooted in the Celtic and Gaelic traditions, the music is more acoustic than orchestral and the voices sound more like they are coming from the wind blowing outside the window than from the stereo.

“Cagaran Gaolach” (Lovable Little Darling) is a traditional Scottish-Gaelic lullaby. It’s so sweet—and when I Googled the translation to the lyrics, I found the song is about a darling who will steal sheep, goats and a fairy man from the meadow. I especially like “An Fhideag Airgid,” (The Silver Whistle) also a Scottish song, about the return of the king’s son.

Most of the songs are in a different language and I find that extremely relaxing because I don’t have to search my brain for the words to the song to sing along. My children find not having to listen to my singing very relaxing as well.  

Baby Concerts Prenatal and Newborn  Infant www.babyconcerts.com

Putumayo Kids Celtic Dreamland www.putumayokids.com 

Whitney Lou’s 2-year-old son, Jax, likes to play his mom’s cello like an enormous air guitar.  They live in the West End.

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