Last month I was wondering if there were any Christmas songs in minor keys besides "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." I suspected "We Three Kings of Orient Are," but when I sat down at my keyboard and played through it, I discovered that it's not that straight-forward. The verses are in a minor key, but the choruses are in a major key (the relative major of the minor key).
The only recording I have of "We Three Kings of Orient Are" is the Beach Boys' version, so I referenced that and figured out the vocal melody. Here's the melody for the verses, in F# minor:
And here's the melody for the choruses, in A major:
The minor key doesn't have implications for all of the verses, but for the first (along with the alliterative catalogue of "Field and fountain, moor and mountain"), it suggests the weariness of lengthy travel ("we traverse far... Following yonder star"). The turn to the major key for the chorus almost gives a sense of the joy and enlightenment that the kings receive from the "star of wonder" that "Guide[s] us to the perfect light."
While thinking about the melody, I also realized that its being in 3/4 is significant. There are three beats in each measure, and the song is about three kings.
While thinking about the melody, I also realized that its being in 3/4 is significant. There are three beats in each measure, and the song is about three kings.
