Advent and Christmas (79): variations on "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" (KV 265)

Mozart wrote this twelve piano variations 1781 in Vienna, based on on the French children's folksong "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" (KV 265) for his piano student Josepha Barbara von Auernhammer.

The original words for this 1761 published melody have been a love poem. The tune is also used for the lullaby "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and the German Christmas carol "Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann" (poem of Hoffmann von Fallersleben, 1835):

"Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann,
kommt mit seinen Gaben.
Bunte Lichter, Silberzier,
Kind mit Krippe, Schaf und Stier,
Zottelbär und Panthertier
möcht ich gerne haben."

I listened to these variations, played on the organ, as a teenager. Every December I love to play them for pure Christmas joy.