We Three Kings
"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., then an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church,[1] was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant (which featured this hymn) for the students of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857 while serving as the seminary's music director. In 1872 Hopkins was ordained an Episcopal priest and later served as rector at Christ Episcopal Church (Williamsport, PA).[2]
Recordings
- Aly & AJ did a cover of this song on their 2006 Christmas album Acoustic Hearts of Winter.
- Amped recorded a punk version.
- Tori Amos recorded a version of the carol for her solstice album, Midwinter Graces
- 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 Gentlemen," for their 2004 Christmas album Barenaked for the Holidays.
- Blackhawk covered the song in 1998 on the "Country Cares for Kids" album.
- Blondie plays the song in their Christmas time concerts. In 2009 they recorded it as a preview of their upcomin album "Panic Of Girls" and released it for free on their website. Their video of this song has had more than a million visits on YouTube.
- Harry Connick, Jr. on his 2008 album What a Night! A Christmas Album.
- Percy Faith included the song in his 1954 "Music Of Christmas" LP.
- Ella Fitzgerald in the 1967 religious standards LP "Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas".
- Rob Halford covers this song for his solo album Halford III - Winter Songs
- Burl Ives sings this song on his album Christmas at the White House (1972).
- Samuel Rigby sang this song at A Christmas Journey at Scarisbrick Hall in 2011
- Jonas Brothers recorded "Joyful Kings," a combination of this song and "Joy to the World" for the Target exclusive Christmas album All Wrapped Up.
- Bradley Joseph - solo piano arrangement on his 2008 album, Classic Christmas.
- Kamelot played an instrumental of "We Three Kings" on their first live album.
- Toby Keith covered the song on his 2007 album A Classic Christmas.
- Kokia covered the song on her 2008 Christmas album Christmas Gift.
- Blackmore's Night recorded the song for their Christmas album "Winter Carols" (2006)
- Lycia on their 2001 Compilation Appearances Volume 2
- Martin Neary and the Choir of Westminster Abbey on their 1997 album Christmas Carols from Westminster Abbey
- 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.
- Steve Ouimette recorded an instrumental version of "We Three Kings" as a playable track in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
- Overboard recorded a dance remix version for their 2008 holiday album, "Tidings".
- Andrew Parrott and the Taverner Consort on their 1993 EMI album The Carols Album 2, using the original arrangement.
- Antony Pitts and Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols
- John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers on their 1997 album Christmas Star.
- Patti Smith - A Very Special Christmas 3 album, (1997)
- Sufjan Stevens covered the song on his album Songs for Christmas.
- The Toasters recorded a ska version of the song on the 1996 Moon Ska Records compilation "Christma-Ska"
- Pink Martini covered the song on their holiday album Joy To The World, released November 2010.
- Theocracy included two verses and the chorus of "We Three Kings" among other renditions of different Christmas carols in their song Christmas Medley 2006.
- José Feliciano sings this song on his album Feliz Navidad (1973).
- Las Vegas, Nevada-based rock band Sin City Sinners covers the song on their 2010 CD, A Sinners Christmas. This version features George Lynch of Dokken fame on guitar.
See also
References
Further reading
- Fuld, James (1966). The Book of World Famous Music Classical, Popular and Folk.
External links