These Three Kings, They Like to Swing Cover Image

These Three Kings, They Like to Swing: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

$15.00 USD
$15.00 USD
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These Three Kings, They Like to Swing Cover Image
These Three Kings, They Like to Swing: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

These Three Kings, They Like to Swing: Brass Quintet Score & Parts

We Three Kings

By John H. Hopkins, Jr. / arr. Ryan Meeboer

Level: Medium

Item: 81-BQ13398
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Description
"We Three Kings" has been set here as an upbeat, jazz waltz. The tuba, trumpet 2, and horn introduce a variation of the traditional "oom-pa-pa" feel of a waltz. The melody is passed between the trombone and trumpet 1. Here is something a little different in the Christmas gig books. (2:15)

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Additional Details
Series: Eighth Note Publications
Publisher: Eighth Note Publications
Page Count: 24
ISBN10: 1-77157-042-3
ISBN13: 978-1-77157-042-8
UPC: 685462020430
SKU: 81-BQ13398
Instrumentation: Brass Quintet (Opt. Drumset)

More about this title

About the Composer: John Henry Hopkins, Jr.

John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820-1891) was an American clergyman and hymnodist whose musical legacy rests primarily on a single composition: "We Three Kings of Orient Are," written in 1857. Originally published in his collection "Carols, Hymns and Songs," the carol became one of the most widely recognized Christmas hymns in the English-speaking world. Hopkins combined a gift for memorable melody with straightforward theological language, creating music that has endured through countless arrangements and interpretations.

Why we love this

Ryan Meeboer's arrangement strips away the hymn's reverence and replaces it with genuine swing energy, making this a standout choice for ensembles tired of playing the same carol in the same way. The "oom-pa-pa" foundation keeps it recognizable while the melody trading between trombone and trumpet adds rhythmic vitality that keeps players engaged through multiple performances. It's the kind of holiday novelty that actually swings rather than merely winking at the audience.

What to expect

A vintage jazz ballroom reimagined for five players. The familiar carol melody floats atop a gently swaying waltz foundation, with the trombone and trumpet trading the tune like conversational partners. The groove is easy and inviting, full of swing charm without becoming frivolous.

Who it's for

Brass quintets looking to break the mold on holiday gigs, whether in concert settings or casual community performances. Directors programming winter concerts want a piece that brings genuine musicality and humor without sacrificing the holiday context.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the waltz feel from the opening measures: the rhythm section (tuba, horn, and trumpet 2) must articulate the "oom-pa-pa" cleanly and without rushing, giving the melody players a stable harmonic bed.
  • Shape the melody trading between trombone and trumpet 1 with clear phrasing and slight dynamic swell at the ends of their lines to maintain conversation rather than hand-off feeling.
  • Lean into the swing eighth-note subdivision during the notated swing rhythm passages; straight rhythmic playing will flatten the energy.
  • Keep the tempo conversational and groovy rather than aggressive; this is a party tune, not a march.

How to use it

Program this midway through a Christmas concert to shift the mood and keep audiences alert after slower carols. It pairs especially well with a more straightforward hymnal arrangement of the same tune played earlier in the season, offering a clever callback. The 2:15 duration keeps the pace moving without overstaying its welcome.

Skills your students will build

  • Swing interpretation and jazz articulation (detached eighth notes, swing feel)
  • Rhythmic independence as part of a rhythm section (tuba, horn, trumpet 2 maintaining waltz pulse)
  • Melodic trading and phrasing hand-offs between trumpet and trombone
  • Balancing playful ensemble personality with precision intonation and ensemble blend

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