James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893)
An American songwriter, James Lord Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells”, published in 1857 as “The One Horse Open Sleigh”.
Born in Boston in 1822, James Lord Pierpont led an eventful life: a sailor in his youth, he also tried his luck in California during the Gold Rush.
In 1857 he published in Boston a song called The One Horse Open Sleigh, reissued two years later as Jingle Bells. Written to evoke sleigh races, it says nothing about Christmas, yet became one of the most sung Christmas songs in the world.
Later settled in Savannah, Georgia, where he worked as an organist, he wrote other songs, several of them for the Confederate side in the Civil War. He died in Florida in 1893.
“Jingle Bells” is an excellent beginner piece: a repetitive chorus, lively rhythm and stepwise notes.
Piano sheet music (1)
- Jingle Bells · level 2
Guitar sheet music (1)
- Jingle Bells · level 2