The Little Drummer Boy: Difference between revisions
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* In 2011 [[Justin Bieber]] collaborated with [[Busta Rhymes]] on a version for his Christmas album, ''[[Under the Mistletoe]]''. |
* In 2011 [[Justin Bieber]] collaborated with [[Busta Rhymes]] on a version for his Christmas album, ''[[Under the Mistletoe]]''. |
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* In 2011 the [[Glee cast|''Glee'' cast]] recorded a version for their second Christmas album, ''[[Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2]]''. |
* In 2011 the [[Glee cast|''Glee'' cast]] recorded a version for their second Christmas album, ''[[Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2]]''. |
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* In 2011 [[Sean Quigley]] released a rock-anthem version music-video of the song, which had amassed over 100,000 hits in just three days.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM]</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
Revision as of 16:07, 4 December 2011
"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.[1] It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers[2] and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry Simeone Chorale. This version was re-released successfully for several years and the song has been recorded many times since.[3]
In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for Him" and "He smiled at me".
Origins
The song was originally titled "Carol of the Drum" and was published by Davis as based upon a traditional Czech carol.[4] Davis' interest was in producing material for amateur and girls' choirs: her manuscript is set as a chorale, the tune in the soprano with alto harmony, tenor and bass parts producing the "drum rhythm" and a keyboard accompaniment "for rehearsal only". It is headed "Czech Carol freely transcribed by K.K.D", these initials then deleted and replaced with "C.R.W. Robinson", a name under which Davis sometimes published.[5][6]
Although Davis did search far and wide for suitable material, the Czech original has never been identified, though the style is comparable with the Czech "Rocking Carol", a lullaby collected in the early 20th century by a Miss Jacubickova as "Hajej, nynjej" and given English words by Percy Dearmer for The Oxford Book of Carols in 1928. It appealed to the Austrian von Trapp singers, who first brought the song to wider prominence when they recorded the "Carol of the Drum" in 1955, shortly before they retired: their version was credited solely to Davis and published by Belwin-Mills.[7] In 1957 it was recorded, with a slightly altered arrangement, by The Jack Halloran Singers for a record to be released on Dot Records but the recording was not made in time for Christmas and was not released. Dot's Henry Onorati introduced the song to his friend Harry Simeone and the following year, when 20th Century Fox Records contracted him to make a Christmas album, Simeone, making further small changes to the Halloran arrangement[8] and retitling it "The Little Drummer Boy", recorded it with the Harry Simeone Chorale on the album Sing We Now of Christmas. Simeone and Onorati claimed joint composition credits with Davis.[3]
The album and the song were an enormous success, the single scoring on the U.S. music charts from 1958 to 1962. In 1963 the album was reissued under the title The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival, capitalizing on the single's popularity. The following year the album was released in stereo. In 1988, The Little Drummer Boy: A Christmas Festival was released on CD by Casablanca Records,[3] and subsequently, on Island Records.[9] Harry Simeone, who in 1964 had signed with Kapp Records, recorded a new version of "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1965 for his album O' Bambino - The Little Drummer Boy.[3]
The story depicted in the song is somewhat similar to a 12th century legend retold by Anatole France as Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (French: Our Lady's Juggler), which was adapted into an opera in 1902 by Jules Massenet. In the French legend, however, a juggler juggles before the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the statue, according to which version of the legend one reads, either smiles at him or throws him a rose (or both, as in the 1984 television film, The Juggler of Notre Dame.)
Other versions
The popularity of this song is to be seen by the number of cover versions of The Little Drummer Boy - a total of over 220 versions in seven languages are known, in all kinds of music genres:
- The Trapp Family Singers, whose life story provided some inspiration for Rodgers and Hammerstein in their musical The Sound of Music, recorded a song titled "Carol of the Drum" (identified on the Decca record jacket as a "Czech carol") prior to their 1955 retirement. This song resembles Little Drummer Boy in music and lyrics, except for replacing the lamb with an ass in the line "The ox and lamb kept time." This difference in lyrics may seem odd until one realizes that an ox and donkey are depicted in paintings of the Nativity going all the way back to ancient icons of the event. They recall the biblical profecies of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 1:3: "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib."
- In 1957 the Jack Halloran Singers included "Carol of the Drum" on their album Christmas Is A-Comin'. The album was reissued two years later as The Little Drummer Boy, to capitalize on the success of the Simeone version.
- In 1958 the Harry Simeone Chorale recording rose to #13 on the pop charts, despite its late issue date in November.
- In 1962 the Ray Conniff Singers recorded the song as part of a medley with "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," for their album We Wish You a Merry Christmas. In 1967 the "Little Drummer Boy" portion of the medley was released as a single, paired with Conniff's 1959 recording of "White Christmas."
- In 1962 Bing Crosby recorded his solo version for the Warner Bros. LP I Wish You a Merry Christmas, since repackaged for CD by Capitol and RCA.
- In 1963 Johnny Cash recorded the song for his album The Christmas Spirit.
- In 1963 Johnny Mathis recorded the song for his album Sounds of Christmas. Mathis would re-record the tune in 1969 for his album Give Me Your Love for Christmas.
- In 1963 Andy Williams recorded the song for The Andy Williams Christmas Album.
- In 1964 Marlene Dietrich recorded a German version of the song ("Der Trommelmann").
- In 1964 Jo Stafford recorded the song for her album The Joyful Season.
- In 1965 The Supremes recorded the song for their album Merry Christmas.
- In 1965 Vince Guaraldi did a jazz piano arrangement titled "My Little Drum," for his soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- In 1965 Nana Mouskouri recorded a French version of the song ("L'enfant au tambour").
- In 1966 The Crusaders released this as a single. It was included in their November 1966 debut album, regarded as one of the first Christian rock albums.
- In 1967 Stevie Wonder recorded the song for Someday at Christmas. That same year the Lou Rawls version was released as a Capitol single and in the LP "Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!".
- In 1968, the song was adapted into an animated television special by Rankin/Bass. The special was followed by a sequel in 1976.
- In 1969 Jimi Hendrix covered the song on his album "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year".(EP released in 1999)
- In 1970 The Brady Bunch covered the song on their album Christmas with The Brady Bunch.
- In 1972 it was featured on the television special Christmas at the White House. The song was reportedly the favorite Christmas carol of President Richard Nixon.[citation needed]
- In 1977 one of the more popular versions of this song was recorded for a Bing Crosby Christmas special: "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" duet by the unusual pairing of Crosby and David Bowie.
- In 1981 a cover of this song by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts concluded the album I Love Rock 'n' Roll when it was released in December. However, after the holiday season passed, the track was replaced by another song.
- A version by German band Boney M., released on their 1981 album Christmas Album and as a single peaked at #20 in the German charts. It was the last song to feature dancer Bobby Farrell.
- Rosemary Clooney recorded the song for her 1981 album Christmas with Rosemary Clooney.
- In 1984, an Italian version was recorded by I Cavalieri del Re, an Italian band that specialised in cartoon's songs.
- In 1985 The Canadian Brass recorded an instrumental version on their album "A Canadian Brass Chistmas""
- In 1987 Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band covered this song. His version very noticeably excludes all names or religious references. This version was used[clarification needed] by Johnny Cash and Neil Young on Ben Keith's Seven Gates album (1994).
- In 1988 Grace Jones performed an exercpt from the song on Pee-Wee's Play House.
- In 1989 New Kids on the Block, with lead vocals by Danny Wood, recorded the song on their Christmas album, Merry Merry Christmas.
- In 1994 The UCLA Chamber Singers covered the song with Alvin Seville on the drums for the album A Very Merry Chipmunk.
- In 1996 Apocalyptica covered the song as a single.
- In 1988 Mannheim Steamroller included a version on their second Christmas album, A Fresh Aire Christmas.
- In 1988 the Christian rock band Whiteheart did a version on Christmas, a 1988 christmas album by Sparrow artists.
- In 1990 Robert Wendel arranged an instrumental adaptation in the style of Ravel's Boléro which was recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops on the 2006 Telarc CD "Christmas Time Is Here".
- In 1991 Al Bano & Romina Power released an Italian version titled "Il Piccolo Tamburino."
- In 1991 The Yobs relasesd a parody titled "Rub-a-Dum-Dum."
- In 1991 jazz guitarist Tuck Andress recorded an instrumental version on his album "Hymns, Carols and Songs about Snow".
- In 1991 Take 6 covered The Little Drummer Boy in their album He Is Christmas.
- In 1992 the Abba "parody" band Björn Again covered the song on their release "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town/Little Drummer Boy" © 1992 M & G [10]
- In 1992 The Vocal Majority released the David Wright arrangement of the song on their album, Alleluia.
- In 1993 an episode of the Animaniacs has the Warners travelling to the birthplace of Jesus, where for lack of other gifts they perform the song.[11]
- In 1994 The Dandy Warhols recorded the first of two versions of the song. This version was released on Tim/Kerr Records.
- In 1994 Kenny G covered an acoustic version of the song on his "Miracles: The Holiday Album".
- In 1994 a version by RuPaul was released on Tommy Boy records, and bubbled under the Hot 100 charts at #113.
- In 1995 the alternative rock band, Jars of Clay recorded the song on their EP Drummer Boy. They recorded the song the second time on their full length "Christmas Songs" in 1997.
- In 1997 The Dandy Warhols recorded a second version of the song, which was released by Capitol Records.
- In 1997 The Toasters covered the song on the Moon Ska Records compilation "Christma-Ska".
- In 1998 Alicia Keys recorded a modified version titled "Little Drummer Girl" for Jermaine Dupri Presents Twelve Soulful Nights Of Christmas.
- In 1998 German punk band Die Toten Hosen published the album Wir warten auf's Christkind under their pseudonym Die Roten Rosen. Among other Christmas songs, there is also a version of "The Little Drummer Boy".
- In 1998, Chicago recorded the song for their first Christmas album, Chicago XXV.
- In 1999 Minnesota band Low published the EP Christmas, a collection of assorted Christmas classics, including a version of "Little Drummer Boy".
- In 1999 The West Wing's first christmas episode, "In Excelsis Deo," featured a boys' choir singing the song over a funeral service. The episode went on to win multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series by Richard Schiff.
- In 1999 the song The Little Drummer Boy was recorded by the Swedish artist Carola Häggkvist in a duet with Blues for her Christmas album Jul i Betlehem.
- In 2000 the song The Little Drummer Boy was recorded by Yolanda Adams for her seventh studio album Christmas With Yolanda Adams.
- In 2000 The Wiggles covered this song in their Christmas album "Yule Be Wiggling".
- In 2001 Destiny's Child covered the song in their holiday album "8 Days of Christmas".
- In 2001 Westlife covered the song live with Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries in front of the late Pope John Paul II
- In 2002 a parody version by Bob Rivers titled "The Little Hooters Girl" was released as part of his White Trash Christmas album.
- In 2002 Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater covered the song as part of his solo piano Christmas album, Christmas Sky.
- In 2002 Bright Eyes covered the song for their Christmas album.
- In 2003 King Diamond's album The Puppet Master had an extract from "The Little Drummer Boy" in the song "Christmas".
- In 2003 Whitney Houston and her daughter did a cover of the song "Little Drummer boy" on Houston's album One Wish: The Holiday Album.
- In 2003 The Blind Boys of Alabama released a version of The Little Drummer boy (with vocals by Michel Franti) on their album Go Tell it On the Mountain.
- In 2003 "Pavlo" released an instrumental version on his album "Frostbite".
- In 2004 Art Paul Schlosser released a version of the song called "Kazoo Boy" on his album The ABCs of Art Paul Schlosser World. Schlosser's version uses a kazoo instead of a drum on the "rum pum pum pum" parts.
- In 2004 Decomposure covered this song, which was released on the Unschooled Records compilation album A Very Unschooled Christmas. It was rereleased on Decomposure's own compilation album Songs from Old Headphones.
- In 2004 Vanessa L. Williams did a cover of "The Little Drummer Boy" in her album Silver & Gold.
- In 2004 Jessica Simpson released a version of the song featuring her sister Ashlee Simpson on her album ReJoyce: The Christmas Album
- In 2005 Boyz II Men recorded their rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" on their Christmas album Winter/Reflections.[12]
- In 2005 Bryan Duncan and the NehoSoul Band recorded the song on their A NehoSoul Christmas album.
- In 2005 Dwight Schrute briefly performed the song in the pilot episode of The Office. In 2006, Angela performs the song as karaoke in Episode 39.
- In 2006 Christopher Lee recorded a version for his album Revelation.
- In 2006 Alfio recorded a version in English and the Sicilian dialect of Italian for the Christmas Edition of his debut album Tranquillita.
- In 2006 Celtic Woman did a version of the song in their Christmas show, in a duet with Orla Fallon and Chloe Agnew.
- In 2006 Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices choir released a version of The Little Drummer Boy on their Grammy-Award winning album, A Christmas Celebration.
- In 2006 Sufjan Stevens released a cover of The Little Drummer Boy on the EP Joy: Songs for Christmas - Vol. IV, which is part of his boxed set, Songs for Christmas.
- In 2007 Josh Groban sang "Little Drummer Boy", featuring guitarist Andy McKee and Gigi Hadid as background vocal, on his Christmas album, "Noël", the overall best-selling album of 2007.
- In 2007 Jan Rot sang a Dutch version on An + Jan's christmas album Vrolijk Kerstfeest.
- In 2008 The Almost recorded a cover for their acoustic EP No Gift to Bring.
- In 2008 Terry Wogan and Aled Jones recorded a cover of Bing Crosby and David Bowie's 1977 "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" duet. After a brief campaign amongst listeners of BBC Radio 2 instigated by Chris Evans to get the song released in support of the Children In Need charity, it was released as a single on 8 December 2008, reaching #3 in the UK Top 40.[13]
- In 2008 Doug Pinnick, George Lynch, Billy Sheehan and Simon Phillips recorded a version on the 2008 album We Wish you a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year.
- In 2008 Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention, Julie Matthews, David Hughes and Chris While recorded a version under the title "The Carol Of The Drum".
- Raphael performed a version with the Spanish title of "El tamborilero" ("The drummer").
- In 2008 Faith Hill covered the song on her Joy To The World album.
- In 2008 Kokia covered it as a part of a medley on her Christmas Gift album.
- In 2009 Sean Kingston covered the song for the Christmas album A Very Special Christmas Vol.7.
- In 2009 Lukas Rossi covered this song and made it available for download on his web page.
- Bob Dylan covered the song for his 2009 Christmas album Christmas in the Heart.
- In 2009 Hans-Peter Lindstrøm made a 40-minute electronic version available as a limited CD and download.
- In 2009 Heavy Blinkers featuring Jenn Grant released an alternative look at the classic song 'The Little Drummer Boy' called "Silence Your Drum". This version is told from the perspective of Joseph and Mary, who would rather hear some lute than the barum-pah-pum-pum of the drum.
- In 2010 Mariah Carey covered The Song For Her 13th Studio Album "Merry Christmas II You".
- In 2010 Pink Martini covered the song on their album "Joy to the World."
- Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica sang a Finnish version of the song ("Pieni Rumpali"), which was included, along with other artists, on the "Raskaampaa Joulua" album.
- In 2010 The Black Eyed Peas performed a mashup of the song with their single "The Time (Dirty Bit)" on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
- In 2010 Metalcore band August Burns Red covered this song.
- In 2010 Collegehumor made a cover with actors Jason Segel and Jack Black.
- In 2010 Norwegian electronic music artist Binärpilot released a cover of the song.
- In 2010 The Priests released a version of Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth on their Christmas album Noel as well as a collaboration with Shane MacGowan.
- In 2011 VeggieTales made a new animated film called The Little Drummer Boy.
- In 2011 Justin Bieber collaborated with Busta Rhymes on a version for his Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe.
- In 2011 the Glee cast recorded a version for their second Christmas album, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2.
- In 2011 Sean Quigley released a rock-anthem version music-video of the song, which had amassed over 100,000 hits in just three days.[14]
Notes
- ^ Boughton, Harrison Charles (1977). "Katherine K. Davis: life and work". Ann Arbor, Michigan: Thesis, University of Missouri, reprint by University Microfilms.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ http://www.singers.com/choral/trapp.html - singers.com albums
- ^ a b c d Leigh, Spencer (5 March 2005). "Harry Simeone: Populariser of 'The Little Drummer Boy'". The Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
- ^ Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else: Carol of the Little Drummer Boy
- ^ http://www.wellesley.edu/Library/Music/drummer.gif Image of original mansucript in Wellesley College Library
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/katherine-k-davis-q62461/biography Allmusic biography
- ^ http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/144/1139/1600/242065/000_3105.jpg Scan of published sheet music
- ^ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2413
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Little-Drummer-Boy-Adolphe-Adam/dp/B000001F93/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320179757&sr=1-1
- ^ http://new.music.yahoo.com/bjorn-again/albums/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-little-drummer-boy--184886743
- ^ http://www.tv.com/animaniacs/little-drummer-warners/episode/241185/summary.html
- ^ http://www.imeem.com/seizethemoment88/music/ot0oo8M7/boyz-ii-men-little-drummer-boy/
- ^ "Bandaged: The Album"
- ^ [1]
In 2011 Kevin McHale from the TV Series Glee covers the song for the second Christmas Glee Album
External links
- The Little Drummer Boy at Keyframe - the Animation Resource
- The Little Drummer Boy at IMDb