Three Holy Kings

A beautiful, rhythmic Puerto Rican Christmas Carol that features:

  • The natural minor scale.
  • Syncopation.

With older students, this song works well with modal transformation. E.g. make la=do and sing it in Major tonality!

Verse 1 talks about the 3 holy kings coming from afar.Verse 2 says it's time to go away, and wishes everyone a Happy New Year.

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Kodály Analysis:

Three Holy Kings Theme: Christmas Games:
Partner: Form: Binary Song Type:
Scale: Natural Minor CSP: C - D Age: Upper Primary - Middle Secondary
Tones: l low finalis ti low d r m f s l Rhythm: ; ; ;  
Melodic: l low ti low d r m ; m l ; l s f m ; r f l ; l f ; m d l low ; l low r ; r d ti low l low finalis

 

Origin: Traditional Puerto Rican
Source: SING 1987

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