Helga Warner-Buhlmann

Variations on a Children's Song

The variations on the children's song "Ein Männlein steht im Walde" (A little man stands in the forest) have a relatively long history of origin. I wrote the first version back in 2003 for a trio that was preparing for the Jugend musiziert competition.

Over the course of almost twenty years, three more ensembles followed, which also took part in the competition with this piece. Each time new variations were created, which in my opinion corresponded better to the abilities of the respective young people, but others were omitted.

This also explains the large number of variations. Everyone can and should put together their own number and order, depending on their ability and preferences.

Below I have listed the versions of the four ensembles that I have supervised:
1st theme, variations 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13
2nd theme, variations 1, 3, 2, 5, 6, 8, 12, 11, 14
3rd theme, variations 1, 7, 4, 8, 6, 9, 13
4th theme, variations 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13

If variation 5 is played and variation 6 follows immediately, bar 94 can be omitted. The first bassoon then plays a quarter note c1 and the second bassoon a quarter note e on the 1st beat in bar 95.

In variation 14, the key sound in the third bassoon can be made at will with the B key on the bell or replaced by another sound (e.g. stamping with the foot, clicking, snapping fingers).

I wish you a lot of fun with your own version of these "Variations on a Children's Song".