Description
Ah! vous dirai-je Maman (Twinke Twinkle Little Star), and other classical variations
The original manuscript was found at the Bibliotheque National de France in Paris by Belgian musicologist Philippe Mercier, ander the guidance of Carl de Nys. The first set of variations on Ah, vous dirai-je Maman was recorded by harpist Yvette Calignon in 1978.
The attribution of this collection to Grétry (1741-1813) is unproven. But it seems to date from around 1770-1780. This was when the single-action pedal harp was in vogue, and Paris was swarming with harp teachers.
The set features marches from two of Grétry’s operas: Le Huron and Les deux Avares in 1770. The Menuet Du Roy de Prusse refers to Frederick II the Great (1712-1786). The king of Prussia was famous for his love of French culture and his flute playing. The Menuet shows his usual practice to write out the melody and the bass only, leaving it to others to complete the rest, which can result in some awkward passages.
