Davis, Katherine Kennicott 25.jun.1892-20.apr.1980 USA Missouri, St Joseph - Massachusetts, Concord
studied at Wellesley College, studied with Stuart Mason at New England Conservatory, 1916-1918 taught at Wellesley College, 1920-1923 at Concord Academy, 1923-1930 at Shady Hill School in Philadelphia, she composed very few original works compared to her numerous arrangements of traditionals and compositions by other composers, she is unjustly credited as the composer of 'Little drummer boy' while she was actually only granted copyright on her arrangement of the Czech carol

Title Parts


** Carol of the drum "The Little drummer boy". Mixed choir. 1941
copyright words and music freely transcribed from a Czech carol Katherine Kennicott Davis 2may1941
pub B. F. Wood Music Co., Boston 1941

best perf. 1988 : Boney M. EVA Imperial 259267
good perf. 1988 : Kiri Te Kanawa, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Voices / Carl Davis. Decca 414632
later many better performances appeared :
best perf. 2023 : Philip Park, Gracias Choir and Orchestra / Eunsook Park 		lyrics Little drummer boy :

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum ?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
1988-11-26 00:00:00