WHEN YOU HEAR THE PIPE AND DRUM (PATAPAN)

Music: French carol
Arrangement: Richard Elliott

“Patapan” is often listed as a traditional French carol, though its text and music are usually credited to the French author Bernard de La Monnoye (1641–1728). It’s possible that La Monnoye simply collected or adapted an existing folk melody for “Patapan,” but he almost certainly wrote the lyrics himself. He published “Patapan” under a pseudonym in 1720 as part of a collection of 30 noëls written in the Bourgogne or Burgundian dialect. The onomatopoetic title, mimicking the sound of a drum, refers to the original lyrics which speak of inviting two youths to bring their flute and drum to sing and celebrate Christmas.
 

One of the traditional features of these Tabernacle Choir Christmas concerts is a showstopping organ solo prepared by Principal Tabernacle Organist Richard Elliott. This year, Elliott takes the tune of “Patapan” and reinterprets it as an upbeat jazz number, with drumset, bass, saxophone, and clarinet representing the “pipe and drum” of the carol . . . and a little of Bach’s solo pipe organ music thrown in for good measure!