Miss Emily Barlaston's
Repertory of Songs...
Jingle, bells
Every Christmas, millions of people the world over sing Jingle, Bells. However, not many people know the man behind the song. His name was James Lord Pierpont.
Pierpont was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and later moved with his family to Savannah in Georgia, where he became a voice teacher, as well as being organist in a Unitarian Church where his brother, John Pierpont, was the pastor.
Although it is unknown exactly where he was when he wrote the song, it has been recorded that he copyrighted Jingle, Bells in 1857, when he was living in Savannah. Originally, the song had the title The One Horse Open Sleigh.
Although others in his family opposed slavery in the United States of America, James Pierpont joined the Confederacy and composed several songs which supported the cause of the Southerners, such as Strike for the South and We Conquer or Die!.
Before his retirement, Pierpont was head of the Musical Department of Quitman Academy in Quitman, Florida. He died in 1894, and was later buried in his beloved Savannah.
According to tradition, he had the idea for the text of the song when a lady, on hearing the tune, said to him: "Mr. Pierpont, what a merry little jingle!"
Do you have a favourite song of your own?
Why not e-mail Emily about it?
