Periodically, this page focuses on a work by Jean-Pierre Vial. Piano score

Ma Mère, J'Te Kiffe Trop Grave

on the theme of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
or of the original French song “Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman”
or its many variants: Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann, Três galinhas a cantar, Cùng quây quần, etc.

During the 18th century, W. A. Mozart had composed twelve variations for the piano on the French song “Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman”.

That same idea has just been renewed by Chinese composer Julian Yu who compiled a piano album [ISBN 978-7-5566-0132-5] of 70 more variations on the theme of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” written by as many composers from various countries. Australian pianist and composer Michael Kieran Harvey recorded these variations on a CD that comes with the album.

In the title of Jean-Pierre Vial's variation, French-speaking readers can easily identify a variant of the words “Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman, je vous aime énormément” using the French poetry “slam” vernacular. The softly syncopated rhythm is borrowed from the one Jean-Pierre Vial used for the adagio of his first piano concerto.

Book ISBN 9787556601325 The album is intended for all piano lovers, be they students or teachers. It includes 174 pages, 113 of which are the piano scores and 43 are short comments (bilingual, in Chineese & in English) about the composers and their variations.

It is named “More variations on the Theme of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” for piano from Composers Around the World” and is published by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Press. It can be ordered from China.

The CD contains 70 tracks that nearly represent 80 minutes of variations on the theme of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.

It is published by Move Records. It can be ordered separately, as UPC 931-4-57434-052-5, from Australia.		 CD UPC 9787888780682 or 9314574340525
Jean-Pierre Vial's current Focus page