An Aboriginal Carol Text by David Bouchard and Illustrations

by Moses Beaver
Level: Grade 4-6
Focus:
 Notation
 Creating

Curricular Outcomes:
 Grade 4 – R&W23, R&W29; C10, C12
 Grade 5 – R&W34;C14
 Grade 6 – R&W37, R&W40; C15

Materials Needed:
 Barred instruments (xylophones, metallophones, etc.)
 Non-pitched percussion (jingle bells, hand drums, etc.)

Process:
1. Read book to students.
2. Introduce the Huron Carol to the students, explaining that it is a traditional
Canadian winter song and that the words to the song appear as the first
few lines of each page in the book.
3. Teach the Huron Carol by rote.
*Consider displaying the verses to the piece.
4. Once the students are comfortable singing the piece, ask the students to
figure out the melody of the piece on barred instruments.
*Give the students their starting note and work bar by bar; coming
together every couple of minutes to notate the melody as a class.
5. Divide the class into small groups. Their task is to use the key of the song (a
minor) and set an additional line of text from the book to music.
*Use pitched and non-pitched instruments.
6. Come together as a class to showcase student work.
7. Piece Huron Carol and students’ compositions together.
*Consider setting additional lines of text from the book to music for a
performance.
Music:

Huron Carol
Words in Huron by St. Jean de Brebeuf Arr. Megan Fong
trans. by J.E. Middleton

Twas in the moon of win - ter - time when

3

all the birds had fled, That might - y Git - chi Man - i - tou sent
5

ang - el choirs in - stead; Be - fore their light the stars grew dim, And
7

wand - ering hunt - ers heard their hymn: Je - sus your King is born,
9

Je - sus is born, in ex - cel - sis glo - ri - a.

Verses:
2. Within a lodge of broken bark 3. O Children of the forest free,
The tender babe was found, O sons of Manitou,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin This Holy Child of earth and heaven
Enwrapped his beauty round; Is born this day for you.
And as the hunter braves draw nigh, Come, kneel before this radiant Boy
The angels song rang loud and high: Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, Jesus you King is born, Jesus is born.
In excelsis gloria. In excelsis gloria.