The Little Drummer Boy by Katherine Kennicott Davis (1892-1980)
| “The Little Drummer Boy” (originally known as “Carol of the Drum”) is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary’s approval, remembering “I played my best for Him” and “He smiled at me”. |
Notes
Christmas. 2/4 time signature. 89 measures. 5 pages. The song was originally titled “Carol of the Drum” and was published by Davis as based upon a traditional Czech carol. Transcribed by Po-Ning Chen