The Little Drummer Boy: Difference between revisions

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The story depicted in the song is somewhat similar to a 12th century legend retold by [[Anatole France]] as ''[[Le Jongleur de Notre Dame]]'' ({{lang-fr|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''.)
The story depicted in the song is somewhat similar to a 12th century legend retold by [[Anatole France]] as ''[[Le Jongleur de Notre Dame]]'' ({{lang-fr|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==
==Cast of Characters==

{{Refimprove section|date=December 2011}}
Lisa Vischer ... Junior Asparagus / Aaron
The popularity of the "The Little Drummer Boy" can be seen by the number of cover versions: 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 "The 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 prophecies of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 1:3: "The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib."
Mike Nawrocki ... Belthasar - Larry / Jerry Gourd / Mai - Jean Claude Pea / Oscar the Polish Caterer
* 1957: The [[Jack Halloran]] Singers included "Carol of the Drum" on their Christmas album, ''Christmas Is A-Comin'''. The album was reissued two years later as ''The Little Drummer Boy'' to capitalize on the success of the 1958 version by the [[Harry Simeone]] Chorale.

* 1958: The popular [[Harry Simeone]] Chorale recording rose to number 13 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart, despite its late issue date in November. Simeone would re-record the song in 1965 and again in 1981.
Phil Vischer ... Ben Haramed - Nezzer / Ali - Mr. Lunt / Pa Grape / Melchoir - Bob / Gaspar - Archibald / Bernie - Jimmy Gourd / Oui - Phillipe Pea / Percy Pea
* 1962: The [[Ray Conniff]] Singers recorded a version of the song as part of a medley with "[[Jolly Old St. Nicholas]]," which was released on their Christmas 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 (song)|White Christmas]]."

* 1962: [[Bing Crosby]] released a solo version of the song on his [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] Christmas album, ''I Wish You a Merry Christmas'' (which has since been repackaged for CD by both [[Capitol Records]] and [[RCA Records]]).
Dan Anderson ... Dad Asparagus / Benjamin
* 1963: [[Johnny Cash]] released a version of the song on his Christmas album, ''[[The Christmas Spirit]]''. This version was previously a US chart single during the Christmas season of 1959.

* 1963: [[Johnny Mathis]] released a version of the song on his second Christmas album, ''[[Sounds of Christmas]]''. Mathis would re-record the tune in 1969 for his next Christmas album, ''[[Give Me Your Love for Christmas]]''.
Keri Pisapia ... Laura Carrot / Mom Asparagus / Leah
* 1963: [[Andy Williams]] released a version of the song on his first Christmas album, ''[[The Andy Williams Christmas Album]]''.

* 1964: [[Marlene Dietrich]] recorded a [[German language|German]] version of the song (titled "Der Trommelmann").
Maggie Roberts ... Annie
* 1964: [[Jo Stafford]] released a version of the song on her Christmas album, ''[[The Joyful Season]]''.

* 1965: [[The Supremes]] recorded the song for their Christmas album, ''[[Merry Christmas (The Supremes album)|Merry Christmas]]''.
Miles Fuqua ... Baa-Baa / Samson the Donkey / Joshua the Camel
* 1965: [[Vince Guaraldi|The Vince Guaraldi Trio]] released a jazz piano arrangement of the song, titled "My Little Drum," on their soundtrack album, ''[[A Charlie Brown Christmas (album)|A Charlie Brown Christmas]]''.
* 1965: [[Nana Mouskouri]] recorded a [[French language|French]] version of the song (titled "L'enfant au tambour").
* 1966: [[The Crusaders (1960s garage band)|The Crusaders]] released their version of the song as a single. It was also included on their November 1966 debut album, which is regarded as one of the first [[Christian rock]] albums.
* 1967: [[Stevie Wonder]] released a version of the song on his Christmas album, ''[[Someday at Christmas]]''.
* 1967: A version of the song by [[Lou Rawls]] was both released as a Capitol single and included on his Christmas album, ''Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!''.
* 1968: The song was adapted into [[The Little Drummer Boy (TV special)|an animated television special]] by [[Rankin/Bass]]. The special was followed by a [[The Little Drummer Boy (TV special)#1976 sequel|sequel]] in 1976.
* 1969: [[Jimi Hendrix]] recorded a cover of the song, which was later included on his 1999 holiday EP, ''Merry Christmas & Happy New Year''.
* 1970 - [[The Jackson 5]] recorded a cover of the song, released on their Christmas Album
* 1970: [[The Brady Bunch]] released a version of the song on their Christmas album, ''[[Christmas with The Brady Bunch]]''.
* 1972: The song 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|date=December 2009}}
* 1977: One of the more popular versions of the song was recorded for [[Bing Crosby]]'s final holiday television special (''Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas'') as a medley titled "[[Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy]]", which was a duet by the unusual pairing of Crosby and [[David Bowie]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus |title=Bing Crosby & David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-12-07 |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 1979: [[Emmylou Harris]] included a cover of the song on her album, ''[[Light of the Stable (album)|Light of the Stable]]''.
* 1981: [[Anne Murray]] has a version on her album, ''[[Christmas Wishes]]''.
* 1981: A cover of the song by [[Joan Jett and the Blackhearts]] concluded their studio album ''[[I Love Rock 'n' Roll (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.
* 1981: A version of the song by the German band [[Boney M.]] was released both on their 1981 Christmas album, ''[[Christmas Album (Boney M. album)|Christmas Album]]'', and as a single (which peaked at no. 20 on the German pop singles chart). It was the last song to feature dancer [[Bobby Farrell]].
* 1981: [[Rosemary Clooney]] released a version of the song on her Christmas album, ''Christmas with Rosemary Clooney''.
* 1984: An Italian version was recorded by [[:it:I cavalieri del re|I Cavalieri del Re]], an Italian band that specialized in cartoon songs.
* 1985: [[The Canadian Brass]] released an instrumental version of the song or their Christmas album, ''A Canadian Brass Chistmas''.
* 1987: [[Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band]] released a version of the song on the [[Special Olympics]] Christmas charity album ''[[A Very Special Christmas (album)|A Very Special Christmas]]'', though their version very noticeably excludes all names or religious references. This version was later used{{Clarify|date=May 2010}} by [[Johnny Cash]] and [[Neil Young]] on [[Ben Keith]]'s 1994 album, ''Seven Gates''.
* 1988: [[Mannheim Steamroller]] included a version of the song on their second Christmas album, ''[[A Fresh Aire Christmas]]''.
* 1988: The Christian rock band [[White Heart]] released a version of the song on ''Christmas'', a 1988 Christmas album by artists who recorded for [[Sparrow Records]].
* 1988: [[Grace Jones]] performed an except from the song on the children's television program, ''[[Pee-Wee's Playhouse]]''.
* 1989: [[New Kids on the Block]] (with lead vocals by [[Danny Wood]]) recorded the song for their Christmas album, ''[[Merry, Merry Christmas]]''.
* 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 Christmas album, ''Christmas Time Is Here''.
* 1991: [[Take 6]] released a version of the song on their Christmas album, ''[[He Is Christmas (Take 6 album)|He Is Christmas]]''.
* 1991: The British band [[The Boys (UK band)|The Yobs]] released a [[parody]] version of the song titled "Rub-a-Dum-Dum."
* 1991: Jazz guitarist [[Tuck Andress]] recorded an instrumental version of the song for his album, ''Hymns, Carols and Songs about Snow''.
* 1991: [[Al Bano & Romina Power]] released an Italian version of the song titled "Il Piccolo Tamburino."
* 1992: The [[ABBA]] "parody" band [[Björn Again]] covered the song for their single release, "[[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town]]"/"Little Drummer Boy" (©1992 M & G).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/bjorn-again/albums/santa-claus-is-coming-to-town-little-drummer-boy--184886743 |title=Santa Claus Is Coming to Town/Little Drummer Boy &#124; Björn Again Album &#124; Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 1992: [[The Vocal Majority]] released the David Wright arrangement of the song on their album, ''[[Alleluia]]''.
* 1993: An episode of the television show ''[[Animaniacs]]'' has the Warners travelling to the [[Bethlehem|birthplace of Jesus]], where for lack of other gifts they perform the song.<ref>{{cite web|author=TV.com |url=http://www.tv.com/animaniacs/little-drummer-warners/episode/241185/summary.html |title=Animaniacs: Little Drummer Warners - Season 1, Episode 246 |publisher=TV.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 1994: [[Kenny G]] recorded an acoustic version of the song for his first Christmas album, ''[[Miracles: The Holiday Album]]''.
* 1994: [[RuPaul]] released a version of the song as a single on [[Tommy Boy Entertainment|Tommy Boy Records]] which bubbled under the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart at number 113.
* 1994: [[The Dandy Warhols]] recorded the first of two versions of the song, which was released by Tim/Kerr Records.
* 1994: The UCLA Chamber Singers covered the song with [[Alvin Seville]] on drums for the album, ''[[A Very Merry Chipmunk]]''.
* 1995: [[Jars of Clay]] recorded the song for their EP, ''[[Drummer Boy (EP)|Drummer Boy]]''. They recorded the song a second time for their 1997 full-length Christmas album, ''[[Christmas Songs (Jars of Clay album)|Christmas Songs]]''.
* 1996: [[Apocalyptica]] covered the song and released it as a single.
* 1997: [[The Dandy Warhols]] recorded the second of two versions of the song, which was released by [[Capitol Records]].
* 1997: [[The Toasters]] covered the song on the [[Moon Ska Records]] Christmas compilation album, ''Christma-Ska''.
* 1998: [[Alicia Keys]] released a modified version of the song titled "Little Drummer Girl" on the Christmas album, ''[[Jermaine Dupri]] Presents Twelve Soulful Nights Of Christmas''.
* 1998: German punk band [[Die Toten Hosen]] released a version of the song on their album, ''[[Wir warten auf's Christkind]]'' under their pseudonym Die Roten Rosen (other Christmas songs were included on this album).
* 1998: [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] released a version of the song on their first Christmas album, ''[[Chicago XXV]]''.
* 1999: Minnesota band [[Low (band)|Low]] published their EP ''Christmas'', a collection of assorted Christmas songs including a version of "The Little Drummer Boy."
* 1999: ''[[The West Wing]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>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]].
* 1999: Swedish artist [[Carola Häggkvist]] recorded the song in a duet with Blues for her Christmas album, ''[[Jul i Betlehem]]''.
* 1999: [[Ringo Starr]] released a version of the song on his twelfth studio album, [[I Wanna Be Santa Claus]]
* 2000: [[Yolanda Adams]] released a version of the song on her seventh studio album and first Christmas album, ''[[Christmas with Yolanda Adams]]''.
* 2000: [[The Wiggles]] released a version of the song on their Christmas album, ''Yule Be Wiggling''.
* 2000: [[Charlotte Church]] released a version of the song on her third album, ''[[Dream a Dream]]''.
* 2001: [[Destiny's Child]] released a version of the song on their Christmas album, ''[[8 Days of Christmas]]''.
* 2001: [[Westlife]] performed the song live with singer [[Dolores O'Riordan]] of [[The Cranberries]] in front of [[Pope John Paul II]].
* 2002: A [[parody]] version by [[Bob Rivers]] titled "The Little Hooters Girl" was included on his Christmas album, ''[[White Trash Christmas]]''.
* 2002: [[Jordan Rudess]] of [[Dream Theater]] covered the song as part of his solo piano Christmas album, ''Christmas Sky''.
* 2002: [[Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes]] covered the song for their holiday album, ''[[A Christmas Album (Bright Eyes album)|A Christmas Album]]''.
* 2003: [[Whitney Houston]] and her daughter recorded a cover of the song for Houston's Christmas album, ''[[One Wish: The Holiday Album]]''.
* 2003: [[The Blind Boys of Alabama]] released a version of the song (with vocals by Michel Franti) on their album, ''[[Go Tell It on the Mountain (album)|Go Tell it On the Mountain]]''.
* 2003: [[King Diamond (band)|King Diamond]]'s album ''[[The Puppet Master (album)|The Puppet Master]]'' contained an extract from "The Little Drummer Boy" in their song, "Christmas."
* 2003: [[Pavlo]] released an instrumental version of the song on his album, ''Frostbite''.
* 2004: [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] released a cover of the song on her second Christmas album, ''[[Silver & Gold (Vanessa Williams album)|Silver & Gold]]''.
* 2004: [[Jessica Simpson]] released a version of the song featuring her sister [[Ashlee Simpson]] on her Christmas album, ''[[ReJoyce: The Christmas Album]]''.
* 2004: [[Art Paul Schlosser]] released a version of the song titled "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.
* 2004: [[The McDades]] released a version of the song with [[Terry McDade]] on their album "Noel" featuring an intro with an Indian Ghazal improvisation
* 2004: [[Decomposure]] covered the song, which was released on the Unschooled Records Christmas compilation album, ''A Very Unschooled Christmas''. It was also re-released on Decomposure's own compilation album, ''Songs from Old Headphones''.
* 2005: [[Boyz II Men]] released their rendition of the song on their second Christmas album, ''[[Winter/Reflections]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imeem.com/seizethemoment88/music/ot0oo8M7/boyz-ii-men-little-drummer-boy/ |title=Muziek &#124; Myspace Music |publisher=Imeem.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 2005: [[Bryan Duncan]] and the NehoSoul Band recorded the song on their Christmas album, ''A NehoSoul Christmas''.
* 2005: [[Dwight Schrute]] briefly performed the song in the pilot episode of ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]''. In 2006, Angela performs the song as karaoke in Episode 39.
* 2006: [[Gladys Knight]] and the [[Saints Unified Voices]] choir released a version of the song on their [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]-winning Christmas album, ''A Christmas Celebration''.
* 2006: [[Sufjan Stevens]] released a cover of the song on his EP, ''[[Joy: Songs for Christmas - Vol. IV]]'', which is part of his box set, ''[[Songs for Christmas]]''.
* 2006: [[Christopher Lee]] released a version of the song on his album, ''[[Revelation (Christopher Lee album)|Revelation]]''.
* 2006: [[Alfio]] recorded a version of the song in English and the [[Sicilian dialect]] of Italian for the Christmas edition of his debut album, ''Tranquillita''.
* 2006: [[Celtic Woman]] performed a version of the song on their Christmas show in a duet with [[Orla Fallon]] and [[Chloë Agnew]].
* 2007: [[Josh Groban]] released a version of the song (featuring guitarist [[Andy McKee]] and Gigi Hadid on background vocal) on his holiday album, "[[Noël (Josh Groban album)|Noël]]".
* 2007: [[Jan Rot]] performed a Dutch version of the song on An + Jan's Christmas album, ''Vrolijk Kerstfeest''.
* 2007: Comedians Bean and Bailey included a version of the song on their part comedy - part serious Christmas CD, "A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS".
* 2008: [[Faith Hill]] released a version of the song on her Christmas album, ''[[Joy to the World (Faith Hill album)|Joy to the World]]''.
* 2008: [[The Almost]] released a version of the song on their acoustic EP, ''[[No Gift to Bring]]''.
* 2008: [[Terry Wogan]] and [[Aled Jones]] recorded a cover of the 1977 David Bowie/Bing Crosby duet, "[[Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy]]." After a brief campaign amongst listeners of [[BBC Radio 2]] instigated by [[Chris Evans (presenter)|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]] singles chart.<ref>[http://www.charitygoods.org "Bandaged: The Album"]</ref>
* 2008: [[Doug Pinnick]], [[George Lynch (musician)|George Lynch]], [[Billy Sheehan]] and [[Simon Phillips]] released a version of the song on the 2008 Christmas compilation album, ''[[We Wish you a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year]]''.
* 2008: Chris Leslie (of [[Fairport Convention]]), Julie Matthews, David Hughes and Chris While recorded a version under the title "The Carol Of The Drum."
* 2008: [[Raphael (singer)|Raphael]] performed a version of the song with the Spanish title "El tamborilero" ("The drummer").
* 2008: [[Kokia (singer)|Kokia]] released a cover of the song as a part of a medley on her Christmas album, ''[[Christmas Gift (album)|Christmas Gift]]''.
* 2008: South African singer [[:af:Lianie May|Lianie May]] released her version of the song on her album ''Kersfees met Lianie''.
* 2009: [[Bob Dylan]] released a version of the song on his holiday album, ''[[Christmas in the Heart]]''.
* 2009: [[Sean Kingston]] released his version of the on the various artists Christmas album, ''[[A Very Special Christmas Vol.7]]''.
* 2009: [[Lukas Rossi]] released his cover of the song and made it available for download on his web page.
* 2009: [[Hans-Peter Lindstrøm]] released a 40-minute electronic version available as a limited CD and download.
* 2009: [[Heavy Blinkers]] featuring [[Jenn Grant]] released an alternative look at the song titled "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.
* 2009: [[Scott Aukerman]] and [[Jimmy Pardo]] parodied the 1977 David Bowie/Bing Crosby duet version "[[Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy]]" on the 2009 Christmas album, ''[[Comedy Death-Ray]]'', to raise money for the Los Angeles Food Bank.<ref>{{cite web|author=Peter Vidani |url=http://cdrxmas.tumblr.com/ |title=Comedy Death-Ray Xmas |publisher=Cdrxmas.tumblr.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 2010: [[Mariah Carey]] released a version of the song on her thirteenth studio album and second Christmas album, ''[[Merry Christmas II You]]''.
* 2010: [[Pink Martini]] released a version of the song on their Christmas album, ''Joy to the World''.
* 2010: [[The Black Eyed Peas]] performed a [[Mashup (music)|mashup]] of the song with their single "[[The Time (Dirty Bit)]]" on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]''.
* 2010: [[Metalcore]] band [[August Burns Red]] released a cover of the song.
* 2010: [[Collegehumor]] created a cover of the song with actors [[Jason Segel]] and [[Jack Black]].
* 2010: Norwegian electronic music artist [[Binärpilot]] released a cover of the song.
* 2010: [[The Priests]] released a version of the 1977 David Bowie/Bing Crosby duet "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" on their Christmas album, ''[[Noël (The Priests album)|Noel]]'', as well as a collaboration with [[Shane MacGowan]].
* 2010: Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica sang a Finnish version of the song titled "Pieni Rumpali," which was included, along with other artists, on the album, ''Raskaampaa Joulua''.
* 2011: [[Justin Bieber]] collaborated with [[Busta Rhymes]] on a version of the song for his Christmas album, ''[[Under the Mistletoe]]''.
* 2011: The [[Glee cast|''Glee'' cast]] released a version of the song for their second Christmas album, ''[[Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2]]''.
* 2011: Jazz artist Martin Blockson included a cover of the song on his Christmas album, ''A Wonderful Christmas''. (His moving interpretation of the song can be heard in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RalXkRau0Fc music video] that was produced under license.)
* 2011: New York a cappella group [[Duwende]] released an a cappella video version of the song.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drsVwzeWZdg |title=Duwende - Little Drummer Boy (A Cappella) |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-11-28 |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 2011: Sean Quigley released a "rock anthem" version music video of the song, which amassed nearly 1,000,000 [[YouTube]] hits in just one week.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM |title=Sean Quigley - Little Drummer Boy (Now Available on iTunes!) |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-11-30 |accessdate=2011-12-31}}</ref>
* 2011: [[VeggieTales]] released an animated film titled ''The Little Drummer Boy''.
* 2011: [[Joe McElderry]] included a version of the song on his third studio album, ''[[Classic Christmas (Joe McElderry album)|Classic Christmas]]''.
* 2011: Jamaican artist [[Shaggy (musician) | Shaggy]] covered the song for his single "Jamaican Drummer Boy".
* 2012: [[Richard Marx]] recorded the song and a promotional music video for his Christmas album, ''[[Christmas Spirit (Richard Marx album)|Christmas Spirit]]''.


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 16:18, 12 November 2012

This article is about the Christmas song. For the movie about a little drummer boy who does not want to grow up, see The Tin Drum (film). For the 1968 stop motion animated film, see The Little Drummer Boy (TV special).
File:CaroloftheDrummusic.jpg
K.K. Davis' "The Little Drummer Boy" was first recorded in 1955 as "Carol of the Drum"
Modern-day "Little Drummer Boy" reenactment actor, from the show "Data-Driven Drumming."
"The Little Drummer Boy"
Song
B-side"Die Lorelei" (20th Fox)
"O' Holy Night" (20th Century-Fox)
"Hallelujah" (Kapp)
"O' Bambino (One Cold and Blessed Winter)" (Kapp Winners Circle; MCA)

"The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum") is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941.[1] It was recorded in 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's 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] Simeone recorded the song a third and final time in 1981, for an album (again titled The Little Drummer Boy) on the budget Holiday Records label.

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.)

Cast of Characters

Lisa Vischer ... Junior Asparagus / Aaron

Mike Nawrocki ... Belthasar - Larry / Jerry Gourd / Mai - Jean Claude Pea / Oscar the Polish Caterer

Phil Vischer ... Ben Haramed - Nezzer / Ali - Mr. Lunt / Pa Grape / Melchoir - Bob / Gaspar - Archibald / Bernie - Jimmy Gourd / Oui - Phillipe Pea / Percy Pea

Dan Anderson ... Dad Asparagus / Benjamin

Keri Pisapia ... Laura Carrot / Mom Asparagus / Leah

Maggie Roberts ... Annie

Miles Fuqua ... Baa-Baa / Samson the Donkey / Joshua the Camel

Notes

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ "albums". Singers.com. 12 March 1998. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Leigh, Spencer (5 March 2005). "Harry Simeone: Populariser of 'The Little Drummer Boy'". The Independent. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  4. ^ Lee Hartsfeld (5 December 2006). "Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else: Carol of the Little Drummer Boy". Musicyouwont.blogspot.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Image of original mansucript in Wellesley College Library". Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  6. ^ Cummings, Robert. "Allmusic biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Scan of published sheet music". Photos1.blogger.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  8. ^ "The Little Drummer Boy by The Harry Simeone Chorale Songfacts". Songfacts.com. 11 September 1977. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  9. ^ "The Little Drummer Boy: Adolphe Adam, Katherine K. Davis, Christmas Traditional, Harry Simeone Chorale: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.

External links

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