Sons relaxants pour bébé

Raymond Scott en 1955 avec son invention le Clavivox.

.
.
.

Les musiques de Steve Reich et de Charlemagne Palestine (par exemple) correspondent-elles à des besoins plus essentiels que d'autres plus "complexes"? C'est ce que pourrait laisser entendre un livret rédigé en 1964 par le Gesell Institute of Child Development pour accompagner les trois volumes de Soothing Sounds for Baby (de 1 à 6, de 6 à 12 et de 12 à 18 mois) de Raymond Scott. Les mélodies naïves de ce pionnier de la musique électronique (voir également l'excellente compilation Manhattan Research Inc.) ont été rassemblées afin de former "An indispensable aid to mother during the feeding, teething, play, sleep and fretful periods. An infant's friend in sound."
.

Dans le feuillet en question, on peut lire : "We still know relatively little about the kinds of sounds best suited to the infant under six months of age. But we do know that most like monotony and repetition. The old-time household provided more of the kinds of sounds which suit a little baby best than do many of our households today.

The grandfather clock with its dependably regular loud tick is no longer available in most homes. But the steady click of a typewriter can be extremely soothing to a tiny infant. The rhythmic tinkle of a music box can also be quieting. A ticking watch held close to his ear will often catch a baby's attention, and quiet him.

We believe that small babies respond better to high tones than to low. And above all, in sound as well as in other areas, they like something which continues uninterruptedly. If they like it to go on and on."

.