Jingle Bells – Boston to the North Pole
Every year, just before Thanksgiving, I start working on Christmas and other holiday songs with my piano students. For the student who has become familiar with the basic I-IV-V-I chord progression by learning how to play selections from my Six Simple Songs collection, including When the Saints Go Marching In, This Old Man and Michael Row the Boat Ashore), the most sensible seasonal selection for her to learn is Jingle Bells.
I would venture a guess that, over the years, most piano students, regardless of their playing level, have included Jingle Bells in their repertoire of holiday songs. In addition to the simplicity of learning the refrain, this song is one of the most well known Christmas holiday standards. It seems to me that whether my piano student is 6 or 66 or any age in between, he is familiar with Jingle Bells. This is no accident, especially in America.
Jingle Bells was composed a little more than 150 years ago by the Boston native James Lord Pierpont (1822 -1893). In my beguine blog series, I brought up the idea that there no such thing as an overnight success. In addition to that, I’ve noticed that many composers create their compositions after being inspired by a particular encounter or personal experience. Not only that, pieces of music often evolve over a much longer period of time than you might expect.
The story of the writing of the most well known Christmas holiday standard, Jingle Bells, is no exception. James Lord Pierpont was sent to boarding school in New Hampshire at age 10. His first inspiration for the theme of song Jingle Bells came during December of that year while he was riding in a sleigh in the snow. However, although Pierpont’s idea originated at such a young age, the journey from concept to creation continued for another quarter of a century.
Returning to Boston in 1845, Pierpont married, fathered two children and then left to seek his fortune by opening a business in the California during the Gold Rush of 1849. About four years later, his older brother Rev. John Pierpont became the Pastor of the Unitarian Church of Savannah, Georgia. A short time later, after his business failed, James became the organist and music director at his brother’s church. He supplemented his salary by giving organ and singing lessons (Later in life he moved to Georgia where he worked in a Presbyterian Church and gave private piano lessons.)
It continues to amaze me when I find that so many composers gave private music lessons as well as worked as church musicians. Since I have been the Music Director at the Hartford Street Presbyterian Church for nearly three decades as well as giving piano lessons to children and adults at the Ed Mascari Piano Studio for more than 30 years, I am grateful to be in such good company.
Along with his ongoing work as a professional musician, Pierpont composed many songs (some became hits) with a variety of music publishers. In 1857, the first version of Jingle Bells called The One Horse Open Sleigh was published in Boston by Ditson & Company. Two years later, the song was slightly revised and re-released as Jingle Bells.
Ironically, neither version became a hit song. In fact, it was only through the efforts of the efforts of the composer’s son Dr. Juriah Pierpont, MD that the copyright was renewed and James Lord Pierpont’s name became permanently attached to the song. Despite this humble beginning, Jingle Bells has become one of the most often performed as well as one of the most widely recognized holiday songs throughout the world.
Since I have been a professional musician for most of my life, I have played this song thousands of times. As a result, in order for me to arrange, perform and record my solo piano version Jingle Bells to go with today’s post, I really needed to hear some renditions that would fuel my enthusiasm.
Among the many out there, I found an older solo piano/vocal version of Jingle Bells by Diana Krall. She’s got both areas covered so well! When I recommend certain types of recordings to my piano students, I often need examples of excellent solo piano performances. This one is sure to be at the top of the list. What are some of your favorite versions of Jingle Bells?
Before the fall season comes to a close and the holiday period really begins is a good time to go after your long-desired goal to learn how to play the piano. In fact, lately several parents and adult students have inquired about beginning their piano lessons in January.
Whether you live near our centrally located Natick Studio or close to our convenient Hudson Piano Studio location, contact us today to find out all about piano lessons. All of the piano instructors at the Ed Mascari Piano Studio are knowledgeable, patient, encouraging and always delighted to help you or your son or daughter Learn to Play the Music You Love!