Nursery rhymes - and history - A Consuming Experience

A Consuming Experience

Thoughts on my experiences as a consumer of products, services, people (well maybe not that last one...), from reviews to raves, rants and random thoughts - concentrating on technology, gadgets, software, product usability, consumer issues, customer service. Including some introductory guides and tips on various subjects (like blogging!) which stumped me until I figured them out. And the occasional ever so slightly naughty observation.

Nursery rhymes - and history

Sunday, March 27, 2005

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Nursery rhymes may seem mundane. But what is interesting to me is how they originate, what they really encapsulate, how they are passed down, their transmutation from warnings, stories or commentary on real (and often gruesome) historical events into children's games, or songs people use to sing their children to sleep - "Ring a ring a roses" and the Black Death being the most famous one. In a very entertaining and well written novel, The Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart, the key to an ancient secret is even hidden in a children's nursery rhyme to ensure it doesn't get forgotten.

So this site (rhymes.org.uk) I've found on the origins of individual nursery rhymes is particularly fascinating, and well worth a browse if you're interested in oral history and folklore.

Technorati Tags: history, oral history, folklore, tradition, nursery rhymes, Improbulus, A Consuming Experience, Consuming Experience

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6 Comment(s):

Hi,

I would like to share it out with you.
I love nursery rhymes, and sometimes sang it unnoticed.

: )

I grew up with nursery rhymes, so do you.

So, in favor of the classic memories, I provide a place for you to download the nursery rhymes song (in MP3 format).

Yeah, it's free. I put it at no charge.

Enjoy yoursef.

Click the link below:

Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes for your
Baby, Children, Kids, Toddler

(By Anonymous, at Monday, March 06, 2006 1:44:00 AM) Edit Comment

Thanks indeed, mate !! Have been browsing so many days for MP3 files of nursery rhymes ... now am indeed glad that there is an empathetic parent out there !! Cheers and Thanks.

(By Keep-Rambling, at Thursday, October 26, 2006 6:03:00 PM) Edit Comment

Thank you very much. The history is indeed fascinating. The nursery rhymes MP3s were just what I was searching for.

(By Anonymous, at Friday, March 09, 2007 8:49:00 AM) Edit Comment

Thanks for the MP3s link and for the comments.

(By Improbulus, at Tuesday, March 20, 2007 9:33:00 PM) Edit Comment

I'm finding a lot of your old posts I apparently hadn't read before. Great stuff.

I didn't realize all those nursery rhymes had such interesting (and saucy or violent) origins. Fascinating reading.

(By kirk, at Saturday, June 02, 2007 5:40:00 AM) Edit Comment

Thanks Kirk! Yes I find this sort of stuff fascinating. And parents recite them to their kids not knowing about those origins.

(By Improbulus, at Sunday, June 03, 2007 8:18:00 PM) Edit Comment