Category: Student composition

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Part VI: Twinkle as 19th-c national songs in countries far and wide [Printables]

By the 19th century, people all over Europe wanted to celebrate their own unique cultures, folk art and music. The minor variant of our wandering Twinkle tune had been played and sung for so long in these countries that they all claimed it as their own. Find out the striking similarities and exciting differences in tunes from Sweden, France, Czechia, Romania and Israel. … continue reading →

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Part III: Mozart, a French folk song and beyond [Printables]

Mozart and Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)! This is the making of a folk song and then how a composer redefined it. In Part III we trace the transformation from the earlier madrigal, La Mantovana, to the French Ah! vous dirai-je, maman. But when Mozart wrote his Theme and Variations, did he only base them on the French folk song? Evidence in his music shows otherwise. … continue reading →

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Part II: La Mantovana branches into the major key [Printables]

Not only did trained musicians love the original Twinkle music (called La Mantovana), but so did folk musicians. As the music spread across Europe in the 18th Century, it transformed and changed in several fascinating ways. In this post we explore versions that kept features of the original tune but changed from the original minor to major. … continue reading →

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Part I: The ultimate guide to this tune in our culture [Printables]

How much do you think you know about Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star? Maybe you have a good ear and have figured out that other children's songs share the same tune, like Baa, Baa Black Sheep, the Alphabet Song and perhaps even a German children's song about ducks not as well known in the English-speaking world. … continue reading →