Once in Royal David's City Clarinet Notes with Letters
Letter notes in the written key for B♭ clarinet, with the words under each note. Starts G B C C C B C D.
The notes and words
Key: C major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in B♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in B♭.
GOnceBinCroy-CalCDa-BCvid'sDDci-CtyCStoodEaGlow-ElyEcat-DCtleBCshed,
GWhereBaCMo-CtherClaidBCherDDBa-CbyCInEaGman-EgerEforDChisBCbed:
AMa-AryGwasCthatFMo-FtherEmild,
AJe-AsusGChristEherElit-DCtleBCChild.
Key: B♭ major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in A♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in A♭.
FOnceAinB♭roy-B♭alB♭Da-AB♭vid'sCCci-B♭tyB♭StoodDaFlow-DlyDcat-CB♭tleAB♭shed,
FWhereAaB♭Mo-B♭therB♭laidAB♭herCCBa-B♭byB♭InDaFman-DgerDforCB♭hisAB♭bed:
GMa-GryFwasB♭thatE♭Mo-E♭therDmild,
GJe-GsusFChristDherDlit-CB♭tleAB♭Child.
Clarinet fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: D major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in C major, so it plays along with a piano in C.
AOnceC♯inDroy-DalDDa-C♯Dvid'sEEci-DtyDStoodF♯aAlow-F♯lyF♯cat-EDtleC♯Dshed,
AWhereC♯aDMo-DtherDlaidC♯DherEEBa-DbyDInF♯aAman-F♯gerF♯forEDhisC♯Dbed:
B↑Ma-B↑ryAwasDthatGMo-GtherF♯mild,
B↑Je-B↑susAChristF♯herF♯lit-EDtleC♯DChild.
Notes marked ↑ are above B♭4 and cross the break (use the register key).
Clarinet fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Key: A major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in G major, so it plays along with a piano in G.
EOnceG♯inAroy-AalADa-G♯Avid'sBBci-AtyAStoodC♯aElow-C♯lyC♯cat-BAtleG♯Ashed,
EWhereG♯aAMo-AtherAlaidG♯AherBBBa-AbyAInC♯aEman-C♯gerC♯forBAhisG♯Abed:
F♯Ma-F♯ryEwasAthatDMo-DtherC♯mild,
F♯Je-F♯susEChristC♯herC♯lit-BAtleG♯AChild.
Clarinet fingering chart: every note, tap to hear it
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s clarinet sound, at concert pitch. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes
About this song
- Melody
- Tune IRBY, Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849
- Words
- Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895), 1848 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1849, words 1848: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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