"Let the Little Boy Sleep" genre: Mood Music
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	A slow tango with a haunting, sensuous Portuguese melody. Solo voice accompanied by piano, backing vocals and some percussion. Words from a traditional Portuguese Lullaby.
	CD: Sailing to Dreamland - the soothing, lyrical songs of Toria Burrell   Label: Faerie Moon records Credits: 2001 Toria Burrell
	Story Behind the Song I had two goals for this CD – firstly to write soothing, uplifting songs to help people relax, and secondly to find as wide a variety of folk songs or lullabies from around the world as I could. In my research to find lullaby texts from around the world, my Portuguese friend, Pedro Freitas, came up with this simple but sweet Portuguese lullaby. To be true to Portuguese music, I then researched into one of the traditional forms of Portuguese folk song, called "Fado", which comes from the urban areas of north Portugal. I listened to many recordings, and got a feel for the style - the rhythms, the harmonies, the style of singing. I chose to emulate "Fado" rather than other styles of Portuguese folk music because I loved its use of haunting melody lines, and its combination of melancholy, longing, sweetness and seduction. Whilst some "Fado" songs wouldn't be suitable as lullabies, I knew I could make a lullaby out of some of the elements of "Fado" music. So, I then composed a song in that style, using a very slow tango rhythm, a minor key, a haunting melody line, with Fado-like ornamentaion in the voice, and a performance which aims to combine the 4 characteristics of "Fado" that I mentioned above. Each verse is made up of the entire 4-line poem. Each chorus then repeats the last 2 lines, "Deixa dormir o menino, Um soninho descansado", (Let the little boy sleep, A quiet little sleep.) The chorus deliberately contrasts with the verse, being in a major key, and offering a sweeter, more soothing melody and pleasing 3-part vocal harmonies. I get a kick out of the fact that not many people realize what I'm actually singing about! The English translation "Boogey Man, go away, From atop of the roof" would sound far less sensuous and appealing than the beautiful Portuguese words, "Ó papão vai-te embora, Lá de cima do telhado"... Lyrics Portuguese: Ó papão vai-te embora Lá de cima do telhado Deixa dormir o menino Um soninho descansado English Translation: Boogey man, go away From atop of the roof, Let the little boy sleep A quiet little sleep.

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