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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Yes, it's "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" |
| I subtitled my Tech Tip "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" after reading someone's posted message on a guitar web forum. The writer asserted that professional virtuoso guitarists all had secrets they kept to themselves and wouldn't tell anyone else, so no one would play as well as them! |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" Doug's Dirty Little Secrets. It contains ALL of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
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A Christmas Gift For You. We Three Kings |
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift to my fellow
guitarists. I am giving it to you now so you have time to learn it by Christmas. It is an
arrangement of We Three Kings. I have made it easy enough that it won't be too much of a
struggle to learn.
We Three Kings
Words and Music by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
The Story Behind the Carol
"We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar," goes the famous Christmas
carol, but from where? Little is known about the Magi, or three wise men as they've come to
be known. Over 2,000 years later, the three kings remain one of the great mysteries of
Christ's nativity.
The Three Kings, or as they are commonly known, the Three Wise Men or Wisemen, have
long been one of the most mysterious aspects of Christ's nativity. They are mentioned in
Matthew's Biblical nativity but not Luke's, and Matthew refers to them, without number, as
Magi. In the words of the Church of England, "the visitors were not necessarily wise and not
necessarily men." So who exactly were these Magi?
We Three or 12 Astrologers or Magicians
Many traditions surround the Magi. Some people believe that Matthew's nativity is intended to
be symbolic rather than literal. But those who believe in the real existence of the Three Kings
have put great effort into uncovering their origins.
What is known for sure is that the Magi were followers of the Zoroastrian religion. The word
Magi is a complicated one and has been translated many ways, including shaman, sorcerer,
wizard, and astrologer. It is also the source of the English words magic and magician.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Zoroastrianism was originally a Persian religion, but in a form of Zoroastrianism known as
Zurvanism, Magi was the specific title of a priestly caste that paid great attention to astrology.
As Babylon was the center of Zurvanism, some people believe the Magi came from there
rather than Persia.
Some traditions embrace both the symbolic and literal aspects of the Three Wise Men story.
The "Three Kings" were seen as real-life symbols of worldwide submission to Christ's rule, and
under the names Balthasar, Gaspar/Casper, and Melchior, were reported to be the kings of
Arabia, India, and Persia, respectively.
Yet the number three is not found in Matthew's nativity. Eastern traditions put the number of
Magi visitors at 12. Although there is no scriptural basis for stating dogmatically that there
were three wise men, the belief in Three Wisemen stems solely from Matthew's mention of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to the holy family. Master artists throughout the
centuries have depicted three wise men on camels as one of their favorite nativity themes.
The number of wise men is not important, but the fact that they persisted in following the light
that was given them until they found the object of their search, that they responded in
worship, and that they returned home to share their experience with others all has much to tell
us. Also, the gifts presented to the Christ child were both significant and appropriate: gold,
symbolic of His kingly reign; frankincense, symbolic of His priestly ministry; myrrh, symbolic of
our redemption through His death.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Following Yonder Planet
The star of Bethlehem that the Three Wise Men were said to follow has also caused great
speculation. Skeptics have pointed out that a star would be too high in the sky to indicate a
particular town or house, but this has not prevented astronomers from seeking a real-life
astronomical event that could have coincided with Christ's nativity.
Some believers in the literal truth of Matthew's nativity story have dismissed astronomy
altogether and claimed the Bethlehem star was a one-time miracle. Others have pointed out
that the Greek word used, anatole, means star rising, suggesting the possibility that the
Bethlehem star was actually a planet. Around 2 or 3 B.C. there were several pairings of
planets such as Venus and Jupiter that would have produced great visual interest for
astronomers such as the Magi. However, the death of King Herod is set at around 4 or 5 B.C.,
which would disrupt the continuity of Matthew's nativity story.
Spiritual Symbols
Whatever their number or origin, the Three Kings have become a fundamental part of
traditional outdoor nativity scenes. They can be seen as eternal spiritual symbols, or as a
mysterious complement to the gospel of Luke's more detailed nativity story. Having endured in
our memory, the Three Wise Men certainly deserve their place alongside the holy family.
The Composer
Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., from Pennsylvania, was an author, book illustrator, stained
glass window designer, Episcopalian minister and editor of the New York Church Journal. He
wrote We Three Kings for an 1857 Christmas pageant put on by the General Theological
Seminary of New York City. In 1863, he also published the Christmas Carol in his book Carols,
Hymns and Song. Hopkins has been credited with contributing much to the development of
music in his denomination during the nineteenth century, writing a number of fine hymns and
hymn tunes.
And Now, The Arrangement
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift to my fellow
guitarists. I am giving it to you now so you have time to learn it by Christmas. It is an
arrangement of We Three Kings. I have made it easy enough that it won't be too much of a
struggle to learn.
We Three Kings
Words and Music by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
The Story Behind the Carol
"We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar," goes the famous Christmas
carol, but from where? Little is known about the Magi, or three wise men as they've come to
be known. Over 2,000 years later, the three kings remain one of the great mysteries of
Christ's nativity.
The Three Kings, or as they are commonly known, the Three Wise Men or Wisemen, have
long been one of the most mysterious aspects of Christ's nativity. They are mentioned in
Matthew's Biblical nativity but not Luke's, and Matthew refers to them, without number, as
Magi. In the words of the Church of England, "the visitors were not necessarily wise and not
necessarily men." So who exactly were these Magi?
We Three or 12 Astrologers or Magicians
Many traditions surround the Magi. Some people believe that Matthew's nativity is intended to
be symbolic rather than literal. But those who believe in the real existence of the Three Kings
have put great effort into uncovering their origins.
What is known for sure is that the Magi were followers of the Zoroastrian religion. The word
Magi is a complicated one and has been translated many ways, including shaman, sorcerer,
wizard, and astrologer. It is also the source of the English words magic and magician.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Zoroastrianism was originally a Persian religion, but in a form of Zoroastrianism known as
Zurvanism, Magi was the specific title of a priestly caste that paid great attention to astrology.
As Babylon was the center of Zurvanism, some people believe the Magi came from there
rather than Persia.
Some traditions embrace both the symbolic and literal aspects of the Three Wise Men story.
The "Three Kings" were seen as real-life symbols of worldwide submission to Christ's rule, and
under the names Balthasar, Gaspar/Casper, and Melchior, were reported to be the kings of
Arabia, India, and Persia, respectively.
Yet the number three is not found in Matthew's nativity. Eastern traditions put the number of
Magi visitors at 12. Although there is no scriptural basis for stating dogmatically that there
were three wise men, the belief in Three Wisemen stems solely from Matthew's mention of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts to the holy family. Master artists throughout the
centuries have depicted three wise men on camels as one of their favorite nativity themes.
The number of wise men is not important, but the fact that they persisted in following the light
that was given them until they found the object of their search, that they responded in
worship, and that they returned home to share their experience with others all has much to tell
us. Also, the gifts presented to the Christ child were both significant and appropriate: gold,
symbolic of His kingly reign; frankincense, symbolic of His priestly ministry; myrrh, symbolic of
our redemption through His death.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Following Yonder Planet
The star of Bethlehem that the Three Wise Men were said to follow has also caused great
speculation. Skeptics have pointed out that a star would be too high in the sky to indicate a
particular town or house, but this has not prevented astronomers from seeking a real-life
astronomical event that could have coincided with Christ's nativity.
Some believers in the literal truth of Matthew's nativity story have dismissed astronomy
altogether and claimed the Bethlehem star was a one-time miracle. Others have pointed out
that the Greek word used, anatole, means star rising, suggesting the possibility that the
Bethlehem star was actually a planet. Around 2 or 3 B.C. there were several pairings of
planets such as Venus and Jupiter that would have produced great visual interest for
astronomers such as the Magi. However, the death of King Herod is set at around 4 or 5 B.C.,
which would disrupt the continuity of Matthew's nativity story.
Spiritual Symbols
Whatever their number or origin, the Three Kings have become a fundamental part of
traditional outdoor nativity scenes. They can be seen as eternal spiritual symbols, or as a
mysterious complement to the gospel of Luke's more detailed nativity story. Having endured in
our memory, the Three Wise Men certainly deserve their place alongside the holy family.
The Composer
Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., from Pennsylvania, was an author, book illustrator, stained
glass window designer, Episcopalian minister and editor of the New York Church Journal. He
wrote We Three Kings for an 1857 Christmas pageant put on by the General Theological
Seminary of New York City. In 1863, he also published the Christmas Carol in his book Carols,
Hymns and Song. Hopkins has been credited with contributing much to the development of
music in his denomination during the nineteenth century, writing a number of fine hymns and
hymn tunes.
And Now, The Arrangement
- Listen to me play the arrangement. Make sure you listen to the WHOLE clip. I stop part
of the way through to explain an alternative way to play it, and then continue on.
- (A separate window will open that you can minimize in order to still see the written
musical example as you listen.)
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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