This is our last song for the year! Frère Jacques (Jacques means “John” in French, and “Frère” means “brother”) is a traditional children’s song. You can learn to sing it in either French or English.
Here’s the song sung in French:
Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, Sonnez les matines
Din, dan, don! Din, dan, don!
And in English:
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother John? Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, Morning bells are ringing,
Ding, ding, dong! Ding, ding, dong!
Here is the Solfa:
drmd drmd mfs mfs slsfmd slsfmd ds,d ds,d
Here is the rhythm notation:
You can print out the sheet music for the key of C major (do=C) here.
You can print out the sheet music for the key of D major (do-D) here.
You can learn to play it on the piano from this website.
Here is the sheet music for the resonator bells (with Solfa and without).
Once you have learned the notes to the song on your instrument, you can play along with a violin or cello recording at 40 bpm, 50 bpm, and 60 bpm. (I will hopefully get these made soon!!)
Once you have learned the notes of the song and can play along with the recording, then try playing along with it, beginning after the first two measures. This means you will start playing the beginning of your song when the recording is at mi-fa-sol (the first “Brother John”).