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We Three Kings of Orient Are : a Jazz-Inspired Swing Waltz for Choir & Piano

This jazz-inspired arrangement of John Henry Hopkins Jr.’s “We Three Kings” gives the beloved Epiphany carol a fresh rhythmic personality without losing its unmistakable melody. The piano establishes a buoyant swing-waltz groove, while the choir moves between straightforward presentations of the tune and increasingly colorful harmonic and rhythmic writing. Syncopations, jazz-inflected harmonies, contrasting textures, and dynamic shaping keep the arrangement moving.

The arrangement begins with the mysterious, minor-tinged atmosphere associated with the traditional carol before opening into a warmer, more expansive sound. As the journey of the Magi unfolds, the music alternates between intimate passages and fuller, more energetic choral statements. The final section gathers momentum toward a broad, celebratory conclusion, transforming the familiar “star of wonder” refrain into a satisfying jazz-waltz finale.

About the Carol

John Henry Hopkins Jr. wrote We Three Kings of Orient Are in 1857, originally for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. He later published it in Carols, Hymns, and Songs in 1863. The original publication actually envisioned three male singers representing the three kings, with individual verses assigned as solos (as is an option in this arrangement).

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The five stanzas trace the journey and meaning of the Magi’s gifts: gold represents Christ’s kingship, frankincense his divinity, and myrrh foreshadows his death. The final stanza brings these themes together in its declaration of Christ as “King and God and Sacrifice.”

Text

1.
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.

2.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again;
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

3.
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshiping God on high.

4.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in a [borrowed] tomb.

5.
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and Sacrifice;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

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I would love to hear your choir perform this piece! Please consider sending me a recording, photos, a copy of your program, or a link to your performance at ryan@choirworks.com.

With your permission, I may share selected recordings, photos, or performance information through Choirworks’ website and social media to help introduce your ensemble to other singers and conductors—and to help other choirs discover this piece. Thank you for giving this work a life beyond the page!

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