We Three Kings Sheet Music For Classical Guitar
Nov 5th, 2007 by skanson.com
“This arrangement of We Three Kings is for classical guitar and starts with the guitar outlining a beatiful minor nine chord. The effect is returned for the cool and mysterious ending. This soft triplet feel creates images of 
We Three Kings and their journey.
If you are in a quiet place when you listen to the recording of this song, check out the icy shimmer of the violins and cello at the beginning and at the end of We Three Kings. I love those
parts. They are done by a tremolo technique on the violin and cello where the bow is moved rapidly back and forth over the strings and played with a light “flautondo” or floating touch. We also have the very string parts from the record available for sale if you want to play in ensemble. Just send us an email and request the We Three Kings score with the parts you need..
We use the tremelo technique fairly often in our arrangements so keep an ear open for it. You can hear it on the Solamente Romanz, Classica, and A Queit Moment CD’s as well as the Christmas CD A Light Classical Christmas where this arrangement of We Three Kings appears.” - Darren Curtis Skanson
We Three Kings appears on Darren Curtis Skanson’s A Light Classical Christmas CD. The CD is a true 
Classical and Christmas experience. The Light Classical arrangements of great old Hymns and Classical selections will delight everyone and move you into the spirit of the season all year long. It has classic hymns like “O’ Holy Night” and “Carol Of The Bells” and outstanding guitar arrangements of Nutcracker Ballet favorites like “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Arabian Dance.” The CD also features “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach and an a mesmerizing version of Schubert’s “Ave Maria”. A must have for Classical and Christmas lovers! Darren also has a wonderful collection of classical guitar sheet music including this very arrangement of We Three Kings and the selections mentioned above.
Song History - We Three Kings of Orient Are is a Christmas carol (technically an Epiphany carol) written in 1857 by
Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the words and the music for We Three Kings of Orient Are as part of a Christmas. We Three Kings of Orient Are first appeared in his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.
According to tradition dating back to medieval times, the 3 kings names were Balthasar, Gaspar (or Casper), and Melchior. They are often depicted as representing the three races although the song title We Three Kings of Orient Are suggests they are only from the orient. However, this was a common reference to anything east of the Holy land at the time the lyrics were written. So the Bible says they came from the East, but from where is not known. Arabia, Babylon, and Persia are popular choices. According to one tradition, Balthasar was king of Arabia, Gaspar was king of India, and Melchior was king of Persia. The idea that they were kings arose in the Middle Ages and was based on earlier Biblical prophecies about kings bearing gifts. Unlike the song We Three Kings of Orient Are, the Bible does not describe the kings or reveal their names and does not even call them kings, but rather Magi or Wise Men.
Legend has it that in later years the Wise Men were baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle; all three became bishops and spent the rest of their lives spreading Christianity, and at the end of their lives they each saw the Star of Bethlehem again and were reunited. Another legend says that the kings from We Three Kings of Orient Are were over 100 years old when they met to celebrate Christmas and each died within a few days of each other.
