Read and play a three-part accompaniment on medium drum, low drum and tambourine.
Optional: read and play a four-part xylophone melody and accompaniment.
Materials
World map or map of Europe
Bodhran (or photo)
Low drums
Medium drums
Tambourines
Optional: Soprano, Alto and Bass Xylophones
Instructions
The jig is a 6/8 dance popular in Ireland and the British Isles, accompanied by a bodhran (BAHW-rahn). "Christmas Jig" uses two traditional English Christmas carols. As you listen, keep the steady beat by patting your lap.
Locate Ireland and the United Kingdom on a map of Europe.
Introduce the bodhran (or show a photo). It is an Irish frame drum. It is played with a double-ended stick. It is the principal Irish drum used for dances.
What two songs are sung in this jig? ("I Saw Three Ships" and "Here We Come A-Wassailing")
Echo-sing the melody to "I Saw Three Ships." This is a traditional British Isles Christmas song in call and response form. (If time permits, teach the harmony part which sings only on the response.)
Echo-sing the melody of "Here We Come A-Wassailing." This is also a 6/8 British Isles Christmas song. Wassailing songs were used both to toast the apple trees in hopes of a good harvest, and as part of the tradition of caroling from house to house at Christmas time. Wassail is a type of apple cider. (If time permits, teachers the harmony part.)
Learn the Drum Ensemble accompaniment. The drum ensemble simulates the sound of the bodhran. This ensemble has three parts: medium drum, low drum and tambourine. Display the Student Page (PDF).
Low drums and tambourines: Pat this rhythm on your lap. This rhythm is often used as a basic marching cadence.
Medium drums: This part has a typical jig rhythm that is often played on the Irish bodhran. Teach the first four measures of this part orally using these syllables:
"Deedle dee dum, Deedle dee dum, Dum dee deedle dee Dum dee dum." Then, play the part while continuing to say the syllables. (Learn the Drum Rule: "If you say the rhythm while you play, you will learn it twice as fast and remember it twice as long.") Finally, teach them the last four measures (say the same rhythm up to the second-to-the-last "Dum") and put it all together.
Combine all of the drum ensemble parts and play with the recording.
Sing both songs with the recording while the drum ensemble plays.
Optional: on a different day, learn the 4-part xylophone accompaniment.
The Bass Xylophone and Alto Xylophone 2 parts work together along with the Low Drum and Tambourine rhythm. Although the keys for the songs change from F to C and back, neither of these parts use a B or Bb, so that bar can be removed.
The Soprano Xylophone needs a B bar for "I Saw Three Ships," but "Here We Come a-Wassailing" does not use a B-bar, so no changes need to be made from song to song.
The Alto Xylophone 1 part should set up with a regular B-bar, because "I Saw Three Ships" (key of F) does not play the Bb note. This will allow the instrument to be ready to play "Here We Come a-Wassailing" in the key of C.
Combine parts with other instruments and voices when ready.
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