Importance Of Lullabies

Sheeba Aga

MUNM

April 25, 2014

Songs and music are often considered a universal language. When two people do not share a common language, they can exchange messages through feelings and emotions expressed via songs and music. Songs can be a gateway for understanding the values and beliefs of various groups of people. One form of music that I find very interesting is lullabies. I feel that lullabies thoroughly encompass the musical aspect described above. Lullabies are not unique to one ethnic group or one culture; they can be found in almost any culture (Perry). The most common purpose of a lullaby, as described by the World English Dictionary, is to “lull” or soothe a child to sleep. However, they can have ulterior motives and be so much more than just a quiet song to put children to sleep. Lullabies can have various other purposes such as communicating with a loved one, expressing inner emotions and sorrows, and revealing spiritual lessons (Porter). Lullabies can also serve to soothe the singers themselves by alluding to deeper meaning for an adult audience (Spitz). The lyrics of lullabies can relate to hardships in the lives of the singer and are often traditional sung in means to give voice to concerns without the fear of disapproval by the community (Spitz). The context and practice of lullabies can differ around the world, but the general purpose of the lullabies – to put children to sleep and to express personal feelings – is universal. For this paper, I will specifically focus on lullabies of the Middle Eastern and Eastern European region.

The Hazara are a group of Shia Muslims from the Hazarajat region in Afghanistan and are primarily farmers that live in the mountainous areas of the region (Beegle and Campbell). Th...

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...can reflect one’s love for his or her beloved, as seen in the Hazara culture, and they can also be used as outlets to express concern and personal problems as seen in the Kabilya, Slavic, and Iraqi-Jewish cultures. Beyond inner feelings and emotions, lullabies can also be used to instill religious values and ethical values in children as seen in the Hazara culture. Lullabies are the “cradle of culture engraved in early childhood memories” (Utku), and this is a universal aspect of lullabies. Azam Ali does an exceptional job at emphasizing the unity that exists among various cultures through lullabies. While ethnic differences, religious differences, and personality differences will always exist, the concept of lullabies will always remain to be a unifying factor between cultures because of the fact that they are used all over the world for the same general purposes.