It’s the Berceuse (lullaby) by Faure, a nineteenth century French composer, and is the first piece in his Dolly Suite, which was originally written for piano duet, but has been transcribed for piano solo and many other instruments. I have long maintained that it was the first piece of classical music that people from our generation ever heard. I can well remember that Watch with Mother on the television was first, then it was Listen with Mother on the radio. I have vivid memories of sitting by the piano while the radio was on and my mother ironing nearby. It was a delightful programme, with a nursery rhyme or other song suitable for very young children that we could join in with, a story, with the immortal words: “Are you sitting comfortably? Well then I’ll begin.” Finally another song followed by the Berceuse. Whenever I hear or play that piece, I get a fuzzy, warm safe feeling, as if I am four years old again. I think that everyone who listened to this lovely programme as a small child probably has those same feelings.
