{"product_id":"traditional-we-three-kings","title":"Traditional :: We Three Kings","description":"\u003cspan class=\"NameInDesc\"\u003eWe Three Kings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ComposerInDesc\"\u003eTraditional\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eMusicians Publications presents the Christmas classic 'We Three Kings' arranged for flute, clarinet, and optional piano by Bill Holcombe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891) was the son of an Episcopal priest who was later Bishop of Vermont. He received a bachelor s and master s degree from the University of Vermont intending to go on to law school, but then he felt the Holy Spirit s prompting to go into the ministry instead. He graduated in 1850 from General Theological Seminary in New York City.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1855 he became the seminary s first music teacher and served there for two years. He wrote the hymn 'We Three Kings' in 1857, and it received its first performance at the Christmas pageant there.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt appears, however, that he didn t have the seminary in mind as he wrote it. He traveled back to Vermont every Christmas and, being a bachelor, always prepared a surprise for his nieces and nephews. In 1857 it was his new hymn, which fit well with the family tradition of dramatizing the Christmas story.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFamily and friends loved it immediately. Hopkins included it as 'Three Kings of Orient' in a compilation of his music published in 1863 titled Carols, Hymns, and Songs, the first of several compilations that established him as a leading composer of hymns in the Episcopal church. Thirty of his hymns appear in various Episcopal  hymnals, but only 'We Three Kings' is well known outside that denomination.'\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- David Guion, 2015\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Musicians Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46968605999398,"sku":"MPWD104","price":7.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0827\/3559\/5814\/products\/700000000MPWD104_d.jpg?v=1697516103","url":"https:\/\/www.flute4u.com\/products\/traditional-we-three-kings","provider":"Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}