Stephen Storace - Lullaby from ’The Pirates’ (1792)

Written for Nancy Storace by her brother Stephen. “Peaceful slumb’ring on the ocean Seamen fear no danger nigh; The winds and waves in gentle motion Soothe them with their lullaby. “In the wind’s tempestuous blowing, Still no danger they descry. The guileless heart its boon bestowing Soothes them with its lullaby.“ Performed by Bethany Beardslee (soprano) with the Musica Viva Ensemble conducted by James Bolle and recorded in Nelson, New Hampshire in August/September 1956. (My thanks to Elle Sinenomine and for filling in this gap.) Beardslee was quoted in ’Newsweek’ in 1961 as saying “I don’t think in terms of the public... Music is for the musicians. If the public wants to come along and study it, fine. I don’t go and try to tell a scientist his business because I don’t know anything about it. Music is just the same way. Music is not entertainment.“ I can’t help feeling that this recording exempl