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Classical Music/"Old MacDonald"
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Question
My friend heard a classical version of what he thinks is "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." I know about "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" but is there a "classical" piece that "Old MacDonald" comes from?
He would like to buy the orchestral version if he knows what it might be.
Thank you
Yes, "Twinkle" is the same as "Baa, baa, black sheep" and the "alphabet song," but it is a French folk song from the mid-1700s. There is no classical piece from which this comes, altho Mozart used the tune for a set of 12 variations. Perhaps your friend is thinking of this piece.
"Mary" is also a children's song, but of American provenance. It is not a classical piece, tho someone may have set it as a classical piece.
"MacDonald" is a children's song, also, and also American. Ditto about using it as a theme for a classical piece.
If your friend didn't hear the Mozart "twinkle variations," he might have heard a setting a modern composer did, using "MacDonald" as the theme, in the same way Mozart used "Twinkle."
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Answers by Expert:
Marbeth
Expertise
I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.
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