We Three Kings Of Orient Are - Piano Improvisation Christmas Carol 2010

This is one of my favourite carols, so beautiful and tender and unusual. I've developed an improvisation of this piece through many years and this is just one incarnation. I hope you like it!

The new Christmas album 'Fireside Carols' is available to download now on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/fireside-carols/id399170661

You can hear more from Jools and the Golden Eggs @

http://www.joolsscott.co.uk
http://www.thegoldeneggs.co.uk
http://www.firesidecarols.co.uk

There's piano, cello, guitar, double bass, trumpet, lots of singing, cheer and jollity.

"We Three Kings of Orient Are" also known as "The Quest of the Magi" is a Christmas carol written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music as part of a Christmas pageant for the General Theological Seminary in New York City. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863. Hopkins composed the song in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was a pastor at Christ Episcopal Church (which still stands at the corner of Fourth and Mulberry Streets).
Contents 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's plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, 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 most 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 Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia, alleluia! Earth to the heaven replies.

REFRAIN


Recordings

The Beach Boys recorded a version with an orchestral arrangement by Dick Reynolds on their 1964 album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
The Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan did a version of this song which they combined with another carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," for their 2004 Christmas album Barenaked for the Holidays.
Harry Connick, Jr. on his 2008 album What a Night! A Christmas Album.
Odds originally recorded a version of the song on the 1991 A Lump of Coal compilation. It reappeared most recently on their 2000 greatest hits album [Singles: Individually Wrapped]].
Kamelot played an instrumental of "We Three Kings" on their first live album.
Burl Ives sings this song on his album Christmas at the White House (1972).
Aly & AJ did a cover of this song on their 2006 Christmas album Acoustic Hearts of Winter.
Toby Keith covered the song on his 2007 album A Classic Christmas.
Patti Smith - A Very Special Christmas 3 album, (1997)
Bradley Joseph - solo piano arrangement on his 2008 album, Classic Christmas.
Andrew Parrott and the Taverner Consort on their 1993 EMI album The Carols Album 2, using the original arrangement.
John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers on their 1997 album Christmas Star
Martin Neary and the Choir of Westminster Abbey on their 1997 album Christmas Carols from Westminster Abbey
Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols
Lycia on their 2001 release Compilation Appearances Volume 2
Jonas Brothers recorded "Joyful Kings," a combination of this song and "Joy to the World" for the Target exclusive Christmas album All Wrapped Up.
Best Christmas Album - Christmas Music Online
http://www.bestchristmasalbum.co.uk

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[chickenjojo]

wow.

more please.

[chickenjojo]

Jools, this is beautiful.

Thank you.

[good24531]

Very nice... I personally think that this song is so dull, but you just added a whole season of excitement into it. I congratulate you on a job well done.

[kk92922]

Omg, leaves me speechless! Perfection.

[trinilovessf]

@bugsbunny7117 I know right! I know wat u mean. I think so too

[firepaw200]

WUGH...... so cool

[bugsbunny7117]

I love the feeling this has to it: bouncy and almost...it's not circusy, sort of old timey though. Hopefully you'll know what I mean. Love the sleeves too! XD They add to the feeling.

[TheSingingCello]

This music is fun

[Rockinren88]

Hmm Have no idea how i got to your

page, but I'm glad that I did.

I'm a musical theater major and did 2 years

of theory and this is just fabulous. It flows

so loverly! ^_^ Just got a sub!

[carschasing]

EPIC!!!

[mariahnicoleee]

The people who pushed dislike must have obviously missed the like button.

[roytoddmusic]

Love this