AIRS 3rd Annual Meeting: 2011

Title: Children Singing Online: An Examination Internet-Based Resources
Authors: John Christopher Roberts (University of Washington)

Abstract

The movement to honor and value children’s voices has gradually gained steam over the last
two decades, and the rise of the Internet allows interested parties to not only read about
children’s natural musicking experiences, but also to hear children, singing and laughing and
engaging in the musical play that is part of the essence of childhood. The current project,
supported by AIRS, surveyed available online resources, to determine the scope and variety of
websites containing music of children singing in their natural contexts, with minimal
interference by adults. Over fifty websites were examined, and five met the criteria:
Smithsonian Folkways, the American Folk Song Collection at Holy Names University, the
Florida Folklife Project of the Works Progress Administration, The Association for Cultural
Equity, and The Archival Sound Recordings of the British Library. Each website is described,
first in broad overview, then with specific sections explaining the overall musical content
available on the site followed by particular attention to the musical content of children.
Following the description of each website, the transcribed songs from the site are posted, along
with relevant information available on the website. Links for all songs are included. After all
five sites are described, a classification system is provided. Thirty-four songs are transcribed,
representing 15 countries and 23 cultures. Tessituras and ranges vary widely, with the “Inuit
Children’s Song ”ranging from A, to E while the children on "Trois Fois Passera" from Canada
sing notes from A flat to E flat,’ Most songs fall into duple meter, but the prevalence of
asymmetrical or mixed meters can also be found in 12 of the 34 songs. The most common text
subject is violence or death, while other topics include animals/nature, food, and
work/occupation.