On Christmas Day

This well-known Christmas tune ("I Saw Three Ships") has been adapted for some parody fun. In our version, a jolly guy with his potato chip-eating reindeer has been spotted in a flying sleigh on Christmas morning.

You can perform this work exactly as it is written, using the optional solos, or not. On the P/A cassette, the solos sing the verses 2 through 8, with everyone joining in on the "on Christmas day" parts each time. You can mix and match your soloists as you wish, using solos, duets, trios, etc., or even featuring one soloist throughout. Whatever works for you is fine! Be sure to point out the unique orchestration to your students. (Have them try to identify the instruments - recorder, lute, piccolo trumpet, tambourine, etc.)

Another way to use this tune is to let your students write their own parodies! Turn it into a class project to come up with the most outlandish verses they can think of.

If you prefer, you can also use the background with the original, traditional verses.