Mozart’s “Variations in C Major, K265,” is based on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman,” a French children’s song better known to English speakers as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” He takes this simple, open melody and turns it through a series of brief variations that walk through many diverse styles from the classical period of music history. The familiarity of its tune combined with Mozart’s artistry makes it an exceptional classical composition that is easily accessible for any audience.
The variations begin with a clear and simple expression of the melody, reminiscent of the lullabies many might have heard in childhood mixed with a touch of witty classical ornamentation to welcome the listener into Mozart’s world. The piece then launches with joy into the unmistakable musical voice of Mozart in an energetic trilling variation on the theme followed by playful arpeggios that transform the music into a playful kind of dance.
In the third variation, scored more openly than the two that preceded it, a series of staccato notes move the melody into a clever game of hopping and skipping that is soon joined by a jocund rumbling run through the open fields of the melody in the left hand below. At last, the game quietly transitions into a minor mode, giving the impression of a melody that suddenly wandered into a dark forest. Then, under the careful eye of a master composer, the music tenderly explores passages of quiet mystery before the simple joy of the melody in a major mode rises once more, again returning the listener to a bright and sunlit meadow.
As the conclusion of the piece approaches, “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman” takes on the delicate pathos of an opera aria, including the clever and expressive ornamentation for which Mozart is so well known. In the last few moments, a mad rush of running notes ensues, bringing the piece to a resounding conclusion.
Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle Variations in C Major, K 265 are the perfect introduction to the variation form, composed with both the familiarity of a well-known melody and the unrivaled musical craftsmanship of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Categories: Uncategorized.