Three Kings of Orient
The Adoration of the Magi by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, about 1655–1660. Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio.
GenreChristmas carol
Written1857
TextJohn Henry Hopkins Jr.
Based onMatthew 2:1
Meter8.8.4.4.6 with refrain
Melody"Three Kings of Orient" by John Henry Hopkins Jr.
Published1863

"We Three Kings", original title "Three Kings of Orient", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City. It was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America.[1]

Lyrics

Three Kings of Orient

All

We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.

Refrain

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King for ever,
Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Refrain

Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him God on High.
Refrain

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;—
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Refrain

All

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King, and God, and Sacrifice;
Heav’n sings Hallelujah:
Hallelujah the earth replies.
Refrain[2]

Composition

\header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } \context { \Voice \consists "Melody_engraver" } } global = { \key e \minor \time 3/8 } chordNames = \chordmode { \global \set midiInstrument = #"acoustic guitar (steel)" \repeat volta 2 { e4.:m\p | e:m | b:7 | e:m } \once \set chordChanges = ##f e:m | d | g | g | a:m | e4:m b8:7 | e4.:m \bar "||" d:7 | \repeat volta 2 { g | g | c | g | } e:m | d4 g8 | c4 g8 | d4 g8 | g4 c8 | g4. | c | g \bar "|." } soprano = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"trumpet" \tempo 4=100 \repeat volta 2 { b4 a8 | g4 e8 | fis g fis | e4 r8 | } g4 g8 | a4 a8 | b4 b8 | d (c) b | a b a | g4 fis8 | e4 r8 \bar "||" \tempo 4=45 fis4\fermata (\tempo 4=24 a8) | \tempo 4=100 \repeat volta 2 { g4 g8 | g4 d8 | g4 e8 | g4 r8 | } g4 g8 | a4 b8 | c4 b8 | a4 b8 | g4 g8 | g4 d8 | g4 e8 | g4. \bar "|." } alto = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"trumpet" \repeat volta 2 { e4 fis8 | e4 b8 | dis dis dis | b4 r8 | } e4 e8 | fis4 fis8 | g4 g8 | g (a) g | e e e |e4 dis8 | b4 r8 \bar "||" d4. | \repeat volta 2 { d4 d8 | d4 b8 |e4 c8 | d4 r8 | } e4 e8 |fis4 g8 | g4 g8 | fis4 g8 | g4 e8 | d4 d8 | e4 c8 | d4. \bar "|." } tenor = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = #"french horn" \repeat volta 2 { g4 b8 | b4 g8 | a b a | g4 r8 | } b4 b8 |d4 d8 | d4 d8 | d4 d8 | c c c | b4 a8 g4 r8 \bar "||" c4.\fermata | \repeat volta 2 { b4 b8 | b4 g8 | g4 g8 | b4 r8 | } b4 b8 |d4 d8 | e4 d8 |d4 d8 | b4 c8 | b4 g8 | g4 a8 | b4. \bar "|." } bass = \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = #"french horn" \repeat volta 2 { e4 e8 | e4 e8 | b b b | e4 r8 | } e4 e8 |d4 d8 | g4 g8 | b (fis) g | a a a | b4 b,8 | e4 r8 \bar "||" d4. | \repeat volta 2 { g4 g8 | g4 g8 | c,4 c8 | g4 r8 | } e'4 e8 | d4 g8 | c,4 g'8 | d4 g8 | g4 g8 | g4 b,8 | c4 c8 | <g g'>4. \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { We three kings of O -- ri -- ent are, Field and foun -- tain, Moor and moun -- tain, Fol -- low -- ing yon -- der star. O star of won -- der, star of night, West -- ward lead -- ing, Still pro -- ceed -- ing, Guide us to Thy per -- fect light. } verseR = \lyricmode { % This is a terrible hack to get the lyrics aligned. Bear -- ing gifts we tra -- verse a -- far, "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Star with roy -- al beau -- ty bright, } chordsPart = \new ChordNames { \set chordChanges = ##t \chordNames } choirPart = \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \soprano } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \alto } >> \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \verse \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" \verseR \new Staff \with { \consists "Merge_rests_engraver" } << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenor } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bass } >> >> \score { << \chordsPart \choirPart >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { << \chordsPart \\ \soprano \alto \\ \tenor \bass >> } \midi { \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } }
Source[2]

John Henry Hopkins Jr. organized the carol in such a way that three male voices would each sing a solo verse in order to correspond with the three kings.[3] The first and last verses of the carol are sung together by all three as "verses of praise", while the intermediate verses are sung individually with each king describing the gift he was bringing.[4] The refrain proceeds to praise the beauty of the Star of Bethlehem.[5] The Magi's solos are typically not observed during contemporary performances of the carol.[3]

The carol's melody has been described as "sad" and "shifting" in nature.[6] Because of this, it highly resembles a song from the Middle Ages and Middle Eastern music, both of which it has been frequently compared to.[6]

Context

The carol centres around the Biblical Magi, who visited Jesus as a child in a Manger (Matthew 2:1) sometime after his Nativity and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh while paying homage to him. Though the event is recounted in the Gospel of Matthew, there are no further details given in the New Testament with regards to their names, the number of Magi that were present or whether they were even royal.[7][8] There are, however, verses in the Old Testament that foretell of the visitors. Isaiah 60:6: "The wealth of the nations will come to you. A multitude of camels will cover you. The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord." (New American Standard Bible), and two selections from the Psalms – Psalm 72:10: "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts" and Psalm 72:15: "...and may there be given to him gold from Arabia" (New American Standard Bible). Hence, the names of the Magi—Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar—and their status as kings from the Orient are legendary and based on tradition.[5][8] The number three stems from the fact that there were three separate gifts that were given.[9]

Background and influence

At the time he was writing "We Three Kings" in 1857, John Henry Hopkins Jr. was serving as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.[5][10] Although he originally worked as a journalist for a New York newspaper and studied to become a lawyer,[6][11] he chose to join the clergy upon graduating from the University of Vermont.[12] Hopkins studied at the General Theological Seminary in New York City and after graduating and being ordained a deacon in 1850, he became its first music teacher five years later, holding the post until 1857 alongside his ministry in the Episcopal Church.[9][12]

During his final year of teaching at the seminary,[12] Hopkins wrote "We Three Kings" for a Christmas pageant held at the college.[13] It was noteworthy that Hopkins composed both the lyrics and music; contemporary carol composers usually wrote either the lyrics or music but not both.[10][14] Originally titled "Three Kings of Orient", it was sung within his circle of family and friends. Because of the popularity it achieved among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in 1863 in his book Carols, Hymns, and Songs.[15] It was the first Christmas carol originating from the United States to achieve widespread popularity,[1] as well as the first to be featured in Christmas Carols Old and New, a collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom.[14] In 1916, the carol was printed in the hymnal for the Episcopal Church; that year's edition was the first to have a separate section for Christmas songs.[6] "We Three Kings" was also included in The Oxford Book of Carols published in 1928, which praised the song as "one of the most successful of modern composed carols".[8]

Jazz, rock, and reggae musicians recorded "We Three Kings".

Parodies

Since the 1950s, the carol has been frequently parodied by children. The subject of the lyrics vary widely depending upon the region, with references to smoking explosive rubber cigars, selling counterfeit lingerie, or travelling to an Irish bar by taxi, car, and scooter.[21][22][23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Storer, Doug (December 17, 1982). "America's first Christmas carol written in Huron". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 12B. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "We Three Kings" (Hopkins): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  3. 1 2 Crump, William D. (August 30, 2013). The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3d ed. McFarland. pp. 436–437. ISBN 9781476605739.
  4. ↑ Lowe, Cody (December 24, 1993). "The Stories Behind The Songs". The Roanoke Times. p. NRV5. Retrieved December 27, 2013. (subscription required)
  5. 1 2 3 Willson, Ruth (December 24, 1966). "Carol singing popular tradition". The Leader-Post. Regina. p. 6. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dunham, Mike (December 19, 1993). "Caroling Into Christmas Insurance Salesmen, Teachers Had A Hand In Writing Songs". Anchorage Daily News. p. G1. Retrieved December 27, 2013. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ Bogle, Joanna (1992). A Book of Feasts and Seasons. Gracewing Publishing. p. 65. ISBN 9780852442173.
  8. 1 2 3 The Christmas Carolers' Book in Song and Story. Alfred Music Publishing. March 1, 1985. p. 36. ISBN 9781457466618.
  9. 1 2 Osbeck, Kenneth W. (1999). Joy to the World!: The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Carols. Kregel Publications. p. 97. ISBN 9780825434310.
  10. 1 2 Mulligan, Hugh A. (December 22, 1959). "Bethlehem Inspired American To Write Famous Carol". The Telegraph. Nashua, New Hampshire. p. 13. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  11. ↑ Pond, Neil (December 19, 2005). "Christmas Classics". McCook Daily Gazette. p. 6. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 Shiver, Warren (November 30, 2007). "Stories Behind The Hymns – We Three Kings". The Gaffney Ledger. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  13. ↑ Higgins, Cathy (December 25, 2006). "Creation of classics". The Albany Herald. p. 6B. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Flanagan, Mike (December 19, 1986). "The origins of Christmas Songs". Ottawa Citizen. p. H1. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  15. ↑ Hopkins, John Henry Jr. (1863). "Three Kings of Orient". Carols, Hymns, and Songs. New York City: Church Book Depository. pp. 12–13.
  16. ↑ Percy Faith discography
  17. ↑ Ramsey Lewis discography
  18. ↑ Jason Birchmeier. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album at AllMusic
  19. ↑ Dave Sleger. The Jethro Tull Christmas Album at AllMusic
  20. ↑ Blondie – "We Three Kings" music video on YouTube
  21. ↑ Bronner, Simon J. (1988). American Children's Folklore. August House. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-87483-068-2.
  22. ↑ Kelsey, N. G. N. (2019-02-26). Games, Rhymes, and Wordplay of London Children. Springer. p. 418. ISBN 978-3-030-02910-4.
  23. ↑ "Child of the 80s". Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-06.

Further reading

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