I Saw Three Ships

Anonymous / traditional

At a glance

Voicing
SATB
Language of the text
English
Key
G major
Genre
Christmas carol
Season
Christmas
Series
Choir
Available voices
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Score
PDMX / MuseScore, Public domain licence

Chapters, Soprano part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Alto
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Alto part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Soprano
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Tenor part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Basso
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Bass part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Tenore
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Practise with the player

Notes on the piece

A traditional English carol, attested since the seventeenth century: three ships sail in on Christmas Day. Here in a four-voice arrangement.

Written with AI assistance

Text and translations

Original text · English

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
Our Savior Christ and His lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Our Savior Christ and His lady,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the bells on Earth shall ring,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the bells on Earth shall ring,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Then let us rejoice amain,
On Christmas day in the morning.

Source of the text: lyricsforchristmas.com

Score

The source and licence of the score are acknowledged; the editions below are for cross-checking.

PDMX / MuseScore · Licence: Public domain

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