Frère Jacques

Frère Jacques is a French round. It was composed in the 18th century. The composer is unknown today, but many people believe it was Jean-Philippe Rameau.[1] The text has been translated into many languages, also outside Europe. The third movement of Gustav Mahler's first symphony starts with this tune, which is transposed into minor key.

Malher 1 3 a.jpg

Score

<score sound="1"> \relative c' { \key d \major

            d4 e4 fis4 d4 | d4 e4 fis4 d4 |fis4 g4 a2 |fis4 g4 a2
            a8. b16 a8 g8 fis4 d4 | a'8. b16 a8 g8 fis4 d4 | d4 a4 d2 | d4 a4 d2 \bar "|."

} \addlyrics {

      Frè -- re Jac -- ques, | Frè -- re Jac -- ques, | dor -- mez -- vous? | Dor -- mez -- vous?
      Son -- nez les ma -- ti -- nes, | Son -- nez les ma -- ti -- nes, | ding ding dong, | ding ding dong!

} </score> The tune can be sung in a canon, with four voices.

Frère Jacques Media

References