Anyone who thinks of Paul Hindemith as a dry-as-dust note-spinner should give a listen to his “Variations on ‘A Frog He Went a-Courting’” (1941). The English-language folksong, about the amphibious swashbuckler who woos Miss Mousy (with the consent of her Uncle Rat), dates back to the 16th century. Hindemith uses the tune as the basis for a challenging work-out for cello and piano, while at the same time charming the socks off his listeners.
Happy birthday, Paul Hindemith, uh huh.
Additional versions by Burl Ives…
Elvis….
and Tom and Jerry.