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David Redbranch - We Three Kings

from A Bluer State of Christmas by Various Artists

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Nostalgia is one of my favorite sensations, and Christmas carols are some of its most potent catalysts. Like beloved relatives who visit once a year, every encounter triggers the feelings of every one that came before. It’s only much later that we realize that they have a life outside of our personal associations. This project was an opportunity to get to know a favorite song on a deeper level. “We Three Kings” has always stood out to me, largely due to its distinctive minor key, so unusual for a carol. It sounds more like the something that would be sung by my Jewish forebears than my Methodist grandmother. As it turns out, that’s probably not an accident.
Written in New York City in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins Jr., “We Three Kings” was originally part of a Christmas pageant. At the time, most new carols consisted of original words set to old tunes. But Hopkins chose to write his own music, perhaps because no existing Western melodies fit the Middle Eastern Jewish characters. I like to think that he might have visited a synagogue in search of inspiration, and there heard the Hebrew hymn, “Hine Ma Tov”, which has always felt very similar to me.

In recording the song, I began to see the Three Kings as truth seekers. They travel in the darkness, through unknown territory, overcoming hardships, but maintaining faith in the light of a magical star. After the scene portrayed in the song, they are intercepted by an evil king, Herod, who seeks to deceive them into helping him destroy the very source of their hope.

Today, we too find ourselves in darkness, contending with the lies of ignominious men who have no qualms about murdering children to preserve their own power. May we follow the Kings’ example, and keep following the light to a better world.

lyrics

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

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

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship Him GodMost High

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone cold tomb

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia!, Alleluia!
Peals through the Earth and skies

credits

from A Bluer State of Christmas, released December 10, 2018
Originally Recorded by: John Henry Hopkins Jr, General Theological Seminary in New York City
Traditional

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Hoover Dam Collective New York

The Hoover Dam Collective is a group of young artists based in Brooklyn, NY, who are particularly interested in making work that crosses the boundaries of traditional art disciplines. The Collective was founded in 2009 at SUNY Purchase College. The HDC produces performances in and around New York City, which feature collaboration between music, dance, film, theater, comedy, and visual art. ... more

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