Katherine K. Davis
Katherine K. Davis was a composer, pianist, and author of the famous Christ… Read Full Bio ↴Katherine K. Davis was a composer, pianist, and author of the famous Christmas tune "The Little Drummer Boy".
She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on June 25, 1892, and composed her first piece of music, "Shadow March," at the age of 15. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1910, and studied music at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. After her graduation, she continued at Wellesley as an assistant in the Music Department, teaching music theory and piano. At the same time, she studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Davis also studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.
She taught music at the Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts, and at the Shady Hill School for Girls in Philadelphia. Many of her over 600 compositions were written for the choirs at her school.
Her most famous composition, "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally titled "The Carol of the Drum"), which she wrote in 1941, became famous when it was recorded by the Trapp Family Singers.
She was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and was granted an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, in DeLand, Florida.
She left all of the royalties and proceeds from her compositions, which include operas, choruses, children's operettas, cantatas, piano and organ pieces, and songs, to Wellesley College's Music Department. These funds are used to support musical instrument instruction.
Katherine K. Davis continued writing music until she became ill in the winter of 1979-1980. She died on April 20, 1980, at the age of 88, in Littleton, Massachusetts.
She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on June 25, 1892, and composed her first piece of music, "Shadow March," at the age of 15. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1910, and studied music at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. After her graduation, she continued at Wellesley as an assistant in the Music Department, teaching music theory and piano. At the same time, she studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Davis also studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.
She taught music at the Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts, and at the Shady Hill School for Girls in Philadelphia. Many of her over 600 compositions were written for the choirs at her school.
Her most famous composition, "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally titled "The Carol of the Drum"), which she wrote in 1941, became famous when it was recorded by the Trapp Family Singers.
She was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and was granted an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, in DeLand, Florida.
She left all of the royalties and proceeds from her compositions, which include operas, choruses, children's operettas, cantatas, piano and organ pieces, and songs, to Wellesley College's Music Department. These funds are used to support musical instrument instruction.
Katherine K. Davis continued writing music until she became ill in the winter of 1979-1980. She died on April 20, 1980, at the age of 88, in Littleton, Massachusetts.
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Katherine K. Davis Lyrics
Abide With Me Hey there cutes, put on your dancin' boots And come dance…
Amazing Grace Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like…
Ave Maria Oi Oi Oi Oi Du willst für mich beten, aber ich…
Ave Maria dolce Maria Oi Oi Oi Oi Du willst für mich beten, aber ich…
Do You Hear What I Hear? Do nothin' till you hear from me Pay no attention to…
Hark The Herald Angels Sing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Glory to the newborn king Peace…
Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
Noël Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Noel, Noel The first Noel The angel …
O Little Town of Bethlehem Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee…
Silent Night Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, all is bright 'Round y…
The Christmas Song All through the year we've waited Waited through spring and …
The Little Drummer Boy Come, they told me pa-rum pum pum pum Our newborn King…
The Little Drummer Boy carol Come, they told me (pa-rum-pa-pa-pum) A new-born King to se…
White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I…