Children's songs...?

Question

Why do the children's songs "Twinkle, twinkle little star" and "The A,B,C's" song have the same tune/music?

Answer 1

They are both based on the folk melody "Ah Je Vous Diras Mamman" which was popularized by Mozart around 1791. The song "Baa Baa Black Sheep" uses the same melody as well.

The melody is a very simple one to sing, spanning only 6 notes, and is very repetitive by nature. It is easily accessible to children, parents, non-musicians and musicians alike. It is one of the first songs that Suzuki violin students learn to play.

Here's a link to an interesting article about the melody

http://www.answers.com/topic/twinkle-twinkle-little-star

The original folk tune actually wasn't intended for children, as it had rather racy words!!

Answer 2

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is one of the most popular English nursery rhymes. It combines the tune of the 1761 French melody "Ah ! vous dirai-je, Maman" with an English poem, "The Star", by Jane Taylor. The poem, which is in couplet form, was first published in 1806 in Rhymes for the Nursery, a collection of poems by Taylor and her sister Ann.Many songs in various languages have been based on the French original, "Ah ! vous dirai-je, Maman". In English, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" shares its melody with the "Alphabet Song" from 1834, and "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep".The children of the Yukon territory in northern Canada are taught the following alternate lyrics:

Twinkle twinkle northern lights
shimmer in the artic night
up above the clouds so high
green blue ribbons in the sky
twinkle twinkle northern lights
sparkle in your dreams tonight
Mozart composed variations of this song.

Answer 3

When music has the same tune it is easier for the kids to remember. When they have the tune in their head they are more likey to remember the words.
Even when i was in high school i used to memorize things to beats, that way a would remember it better. It kind of works the same way.

Answer 4

the notation in both songs are the same. abc and twinkle twinkle are the same note and rthym