[Dixielandjazz] Twinkle, twinkle ...

[Bill Gunter]

Listmates,

In a response to a posting regarding George Rock and his famous rendition of 
"Minka" and the same melody used in the Russian Fantasie by another 
composer, I said that it seemed likely they were both based on a traditional 
folk melody.

I then asked the frivolous question: "Who wrote the children's melody, 
'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?" knowing full well that most of the 
attribution would be "Mozart." And, indeed, that is precisely what happened.

As Anton pointed out, the tune is a children's song, "Ah vous dirai-je, 
maman" which dates back to about 1761. Mozart liked it so much he composed 
it in 1781. Then it turned out that Haydn like it so much he composed it in 
1791 (Surprise Symphony) . . . etc. etc.

EVERYBODY loves this song (OK, let's all sing the alphabet song . . .)!  
There must be something really elemental about this melody that has an 
automatic appeal to whatever brain hemisphere relates to this sort of stuff. 
It seems to be virtually universal.

It may even be said that "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" has been the most 
prevalent earworm in the history of music.

As a matter of fact, I like it so much I will compose the song right now:

-----> start composition

Here's to our D J M L -
We all think you're really swell!
You're my favorite mailing list.
If you split you'd sure be missed.
So everyone, your voices swell,
"Here's to our D J M L!"

-----> end composition

Oh, so you could do better???  Hah!!

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "Amadeus" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com



>From: Anton Crouch <anton.crouch at optusnet.com.au>
>To: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Twinkle, twinkle ...
>Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 22:39:18 +1000
>
>
>Hello all
>
>The melody that we know as "Twinkle, twinkle little star" was not written
>by W A Mozart but is a French traditional children's song with the title
>"Ah vous dirai-je, maman".
>
>It is commonly associated with Mozart because of his well known set of
>piano variations on the song, K 265/300e, Vienna, 1781–2.
>
>The song was popular in the late 18th/early 19th centuries and was used by
>other composers such as Johann Friedrich Christmann, Johann Christoph
>Friedrich Bach, Antoine Lacroix and Bernard Lorenziti.
>
>All the best
>Anton
>
>
>
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