Juffrouw, wil je de polka leren?

Daar zat een klein zigeunermeisje

Epompee

Heb een brilletje al voor mijn ogen

Juffrouw, wil je de polka leren?

Juffrouw, wilt u mijn marmotje eens zien?

Ra, ra, ra, wie heeft de bal

Twee violen en een bas, bas, bas

Last updated: 6/18/2016 2:59 PM

The songs below are part of ‘Tingelinge pannenkoek’ The Dutch collection

compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on O

© Dany Rosevear 2012 All rights reserved

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Daar zat een klein zigeunermeisje O

This song is popular in many parts of Europe and has travelled to the New World as ‘Little Sandy Girl’.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ojTb-T10xM&feature=related where ‘klein kaboutertje’ or little gnome is the subject of this Dutch kindergarten game; perhaps a more acceptable option in a mixed class.

The circle walks slowly round the one in the middle who sits on a cushion and pretends to weep. The children skip round the circle as the child in the middle jumps up and walks in the opposite direction choosing a partner on the last word.

The two children cross hands and skip round as the others stand and clap.

The game begins again with the chosen child in the centre.

Daar zat een klein zigeunermeisje huilend op een steen

Huilend, huilend,helemaal alleen.

Sta op zigeunermeisje, droog je traantjes af,

Kies een kindje uit de kring, met wie je dansen mag.

There is a little gypsy girl sitting on a stone,

Crying, weeping because she’s all alone.

Rise up little gypsy girl, wipe your tears away.

Choose the one you like the best, together dance and play!

Tra la la la la la la, la la la la la la.

Tra la la la la la la la, tra la la la la!

Tra la la la....!

Epompee O

A nonsense song where the words have no meaning with a delightful tune nonetheless: I think this is played as a clapping game but cannot find any information. Try making up your own!

Listen at: http://kinderliedjes.vindhetviahier.nl/e-muziek.html

Epompee, poedenee, poedenaska,

Epompee, epompa,

Epompee, poedenee poedenaska,

Epompee owee owee,

Academie, vasalemie,

Academie, vasalemie,

Emie epompee.

Heb een brilletje al voor mijn ogen O

Put on your glasses – all the better to see you dancing with.

Stand in a circle holding hands.

Ik heb een brilletje al voor mijn ogen, Om te zien wie er dansen mogen, Ik heb een brilletje al voor mijn ogen, 'k zie 't al, ik dans met jou! I’ve a pair of glasses on my bright eyes, So I can see who is dancing nicely. I’ve a pair of glasses on my bright eyes, And I’ll choose - to dance with you! Tralalala lalalalala la, tralalala lalalala, Tralalala lalalalalala, tralalala lalala. Trala...

The circle holding hands walk round; one child walks round in the centre looking at everyone through spectacles made with thumbs and forefingers. The circle stops as the child picks another and starts dancing with them, The circle sings and claps as they do so.

Juffrouw, wil je de polka leren?O

There are no excuses for not learning to dance though some might try to find one; a bunion or a corn perhaps but then it is surely time for a visit to the chiropodist!

The game below is not the traditional one for that I have failed to find.

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pct05hHrSpk

Make two lines A and B where each child faces a partner.

Juffrouw, wil je de polka leren? Een, twee, drie, vier en dan keren, Neem mijnheer, ik dans niet meer, Want mijn teen die doet mij zeer. Tell me miss, will you learn the polka? One, two, three, four with a partner, No young sir, I can dance no more, For my toes are much too sore.

Line A skips towards line B. Hold partner’s hands and skip round on the spot. Line A skips back and stamps on the last line. Repeat with line B skipping forwards.

Juffrouw, wilt u mijn marmotje eens zien?O

This tune is very similar to the one above.

Marmosets were sometimes used by organ grinders in Utrecht instead of the more usual capuchin monkeys who were more costly to keep. Their only disadvantage was that they hibernate in the winter.

This is not a traditional singing game but children can dance and jump to the music singly or in pairs as a monkey might do.

Juffrouw, wilt u mijn marmotje eens zien? Het is zo'n aardig beestje. Hij kan dansen, hij kan springen, Hij kan mooie liedjes zingen. Wie wil er mijn marmotje zien? 't Is zo'n aardig beestje. Hij kan dansen, hij kan springen, Hij kan mooie liedjes zingen.

Will you see my marmoset little miss? He’s such a lovely creature. Watch him dancing, watch him jumping, Watch him sing songs sweet and charming. Who wants to see my marmoset, marmoset? He’s such a lovely creature. Watch him dancing, watch him jumping, Watch him sing songs sweet and charming.

Ra, ra, ra, wie heeft de bal O

‘Ra, ra, ra, who has the ball’. Pass the ball with no visible movement – a difficult thing to do. This song has been taken up by football fans as a chant.

Ra, ra, ra, wie heeft de bal, Die mooie bal van goud? Hij is nog lang niet oud, Die mooie bal van goud. Ra, ra, ra, who has the ball, The lovely ball of gold? So very far from old, That lovely ball of gold.

Children stand closely together in a circle. As the song is sung a ball is passed surreptitiously from one to the other behind backs. As the song finishes the child in the middle guesses who has the ball. If they are correct they swap places with the child who has the ball; otherwise the game continues as before.

Twee violen en een bas, bas, bas O

Learn the names of different musical instruments in the orchestra. For a noisier game have a small number of children taking turns to walk round the centre of the circle beating a drum on ‘bass, bass, bass’. The bass in this song however probably refers to the stringed double bass. I have substituted ‘viola’ for ‘violin’ as it fits comfortably with the stressed notes in the music.

As there don’t seem to be traditional actions for this song I have added ones to suit the music.

Walking backwards in a circle needs good awareness of other children’s space and might need some practice before playing this game.

Watch a similar song with a birthday theme at: http://www.kinderliedjes.nu/verjaardagsliedjes/twee-violen-en-een-trommel-en-een-fluit/

Make a circle with one child standing behind the other. Walk round the circle playing the violin and then the drums stamping on the spot three times as ‘bass, bass, bass’ is played. Place hands on hips and walk backwards.

Repeat above for the second two lines.

As above but mime playing of new instruments when walking forwards.

Twee violen en een bas, bas, bas,

En een strijkstok waar geen haar op was,

Twee violen en een bas, bas, bas,

En een strijkstok waar geen haar op was.

Two violas and a bass, bass, bass,

And a bow that has no horsehair on,

Two violas and a bass was, bass, bass,

And a bow that has no horsehair on.

Twee violen en een fiedel en een bas, bas, bas...

Two violas and a fiddle and a bass, bass, bass...

Twee violen en een fiedel en een fluit en een bas, bas, bas...

Two violas and a fiddle and a flute and a bass, bass, bass...

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