About "Songs For Children"
It is with deep sadness we acknowledge the passing of Dr. Emmanuel Ghent, at age 77, on March 31, 2003. His absence will be deeply mourned by his family and by the music, psychoanalytic, computer and educational worlds in which Dr. Ghent so gracefully moved.
Dr. Ghent was an innovator in all things. He was dearly loved and a deeply loving man. He and his loving, compassionate influence will be missed by all.
Emmanuel Ghent wrote "Songs For Children and all their friends" shortly after his youngest daughter was born in 1967. This is his first childrens album! Ghent has been the recipient of many awards for music composition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship. His instrumental and computer generated music, as well as music for dance, has been widely performed. Phosphones, perhaps his best known piece, is available on a Wergo recording: WER 2022-50.
"Songs For Children", by Emmanuel Ghent, is a collection of 23 wonderful songs written for children of all ages from 2 to 102! As well as being enjoyable, sing along music, the songs have an added value as well: contained within each piece are subtle hints about melody, harmony and meter.
Unbeknownst to the children themselves, as they sing along they are learning all sorts of things about music. But the songs' main claim to fame is the pleasure they give. Some songs are joyous, some funny, some invite sleep, others celebrate fun; some songs are wistful, some mischievous - but all are full of fun and imagination. The 20 page booklet contains all the lyrics as well as a set of notes drawing attention to the points of musical interest embedded in each song. Written years ago when his own children were young (and all three daughters grew up singing these songs), now Emmanuel Ghent's middle daughter, Valerie Ghent - herself a vocalist/keyboardist/recording engineer - has produced this collection of songs so that other kids and their parents can share the fun.
Also available is the complete songbook - all 23 songs - of "Songs For Children". The music book contains the piano/vocal parts (lead sheet, chords and lyrics - easy for guitar or piano!) with a complete set of lyrics and notes. A perfect accompaniment to the CD! This sheet music is perfect for teaching in a school or home environment, for teachers, for parents and for kids who are learning to read music. Please visit the orders page if you are interested in ordering a copy of the score. Thanks!
Although Valerie sings most of the songs, on a few songs you can hear the voices of children: these voices are of Ghent's grandchildren! Grady Locklear, was only 3 years old when Valerie recorded him on "I'm Sorry", and "Here Comes The Monster".
Grady is Ghent's grandson of his youngest daughter Theresa Locklear. Also on the CD are the voices of Alexander and Sara Krolewski, Ghent's grandchildren of his oldest daughter, Nadia Ghent. Alex, Sara and Grady can be heard on the intro and outro of "All You Need Is An Extra Head". (The *kids* voices singing "All You Need Is An Extra Head" are actually all Valerie Ghent!). Benjamin Orick plays snare drum and brushes on 2 songs: "Mischief!" and "Soon We Will Learn To Count". David Tofani plays clarinet and flute on several songs including "1,2,3,4,5". Other vocalists on the CD include Keith Fluitt and Deborah Berg. (Keith and Valerie are all the adult and *kids* voices you hear on "1, 2, 3, 4, 5".
