This is one of Mozart's many simple, charming compositions praising the joys of friendship,

contentment, and uncomplicated happiness, like An die Freude, An die Freundschaft, and

Die Zufriedenheit. (In fact, Mozart wrote two songs with the title "Die Zufredenheir.")

Many of these were probably written for friends or for Masonic ceremonies.

This song is one of the latter category, and was written for Mozart's father, when he was

elevated to the position of Journeyman in the Masonic orders. It bears some resemblance to

a song often attributed to W.A. Mozart but very likely written by Leopold Mozart, Die

Zufriedenheit im niedrigen Stande, praising the joys of contentedness in humble circumstances.

The music, like the text, is deliberately simple but graceful, and rather resembles the concert

aria Nehmt meinen dank, in the rippling melody. The piano part is largely an echo to the

vocal part, with the occasional light trill or turn for ornamentation. The lyrics praises the

pleasure of companionship, stating that having to walk the road through life without having

companions would be dreary and unpleasant.

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