BBC Singers perform ‘Daddy’s Little Man’ from the Lullaby Project

The brilliant BBC Singers performing ‘Daddy’s Little Man’ arranged by Nick Hayes from our Lullaby Project collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – with our thanks to the BBC Proms for permission to share. This recording was made in 2020 as part of the ‘Proms at Home’ series, for a special edition looking at the Lullaby Project.

‘Daddy’s Little Man’ was co-written with a father in prison for his young son. ITT musician Nick Hayes, who orchestrates all the lullabies for the RPO ensemble to perform, created this special choral arrangement specially for Proms At Home. The BBC Singers did a fabulous job recording themselves remotely for this film, made during lockdown restrictions.

Originally devised by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in the US, the Lullaby Project invites participants to work with professional musicians to write a personal lullaby for their children. The aim of the project is to strengthen the bond between parent and child through a creative arts activity. The project can also be a way for parents to explore and express their emotions in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

The Irene Taylor Trust initially became involved in the Lullaby Project through commissions by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which included co-delivering the Lullaby Project in Chicago; seeing the impact of the project, ITT partnered with the RPO to bring the project to the UK for a London pilot in 2017 working with dads in prison and migrant and refugee mothers, which then lead to delivery across several regions from 2020-2022. We hope to resume the project later in 2023, collaborating again with the RPO. The project was supported by Arts Council England and local funders.

Also for the Proms At Home series, ITT musician Lucy Drever interviewed participants about their experiences of working with ITT and the RPO to create lullabies for their children:

Once again, our sincere thanks to the BBC/ BBC Proms for permission to share these videos.

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