A little Preparation for Christmas

In a few days, it's christmas eve, but I don't feel very Christmassy so far. It's funny, but every year, shortly before christmas, you have a lot to work and not seldom, you also become ill, so there's no chance to look forward to Christmas.

So, to bring us all in the right mood, here's the MIDI-version of W.A.Mozart's piece

"12 Variations in C-Major for Piano solo" (KV 265) .

I'm sure, you all know this little melody...in America they call it "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and I think it's a lullaby:

But in Germany we call it "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" (Tomorrow Santa Claus will come) and it's one of our most popular christmas carols:

But surprisingly the origin of this song was a French folk-song called "Ah, vous dirai-je Maman”. The original lyrics were about a child's desire for candy.

Just for the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned, that there were many other composers, who took this little tune as a master for their variations, i.e. Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach:

But back to Mozart! When he composed his variations back in 1778, it was not related to Christmas in any way. (It's funny, how a melody makes its way across the planet and is related to different situations...)

So I hope you enjoy it anyway, it is ever and anon astonishing, what a creativity this guy had inside himself. One single little melody and then all these rhythmical and melodical inventions, just fascinating...! I think if Mozart would live in our time, he would also be a great improviser in Jazzmusic...

Have an enjoyable Christmas time and a peaceful 2007!