Have You Seen the Ghost of John,
a Round for Singers
Have You Seen the Ghost of John?
Despite its strange lyrics, this is perhaps the most beautiful short singing round in the world. Your voice students will love this free vocal sheet music!
I've added an additional sheet, with lettered notes, to assist singers whose voices are better than their note-reading... Also, I added a version in the key of Em, for easy playing by beginning fiddlers and violinists.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
The main technical difficulty in singing this song is the end of line 2, with the quick-moving eighth notes and no chance to take a breath.
Although it turns it into a very long phrase, I encourage my singers to sing all of lines 2 & 3 in one breath. This way, the eighth notes at the end of line 2 sound smooth and flowing.
However, then it takes a lot of control to get up to the top notes in line 3! But this trains singers to think and plan their breathing. They may not be able to achieve this, but give it an initial TRY.
Below is the same song but in Em. I wrote this for my violin players, because Em is such a lovely (& easy!) key for beginners, and rounds are a fun way to begin with harmony:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Here is the easy-to-read version of this fun Halloween round:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
The chord symbols in the D minor arrangements are only suggestions -- when you have just one singer rehearsing the song, it can be nice to have a bit of harmony in the background to help maintain pitch. I use very simple open chords -- just 2 notes.
One Christmas, I wanted a group of singers to sing this beautiful round for the recital, but I felt the words would seem frivolous in that particular setting.
I decided to substitute Latin words with which many people are already familiar, from Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful): "Venite adoremus, Dominum." (This means "Come let us adore the Lord.")
I'll admit this was a bit of a stretch.
The stresses on the Latin syllables don't work out the same in Ghost of John as they do in Adeste Fideles, and I had to shift a few notes around.
Instead of "ve-NI-te a-do-RE-mus," my version goes "VE-ni-TE a-DO-re-MUS." (I actually think that might be correct emphasis for classical Latin, but I don't KNOW.) I'm hoping Thomas Aquinas, medieval scholar, won't roll over in his grave!
But I'll join hands with Peter Needham, who translated "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" into Latin (and had to invent some new words in the process). It's fun to sing in other languages!
Have You Seen the Ghost of John could just be the loveliest vocal round in the world...if it isn't, I want to hear the singing rounds that beat it out!
The words are silly but fun; of course, it's a Halloween round.
The links for the vocal round:
Print out singing round Have You Seen the Ghost of John
Have You Seen the Ghost of John in the key of Em
Download easy to read version of Have You Seen the Ghost of John with lettered music notes
More Rounds at Music-for-Music-Teachers.com
A pretty round with a reach of an octave, slow-moving notes, and easy intervals. The scale-wise movement makes this song easy for a beginner.
With lyrics from an older time, this is more difficult than many rounds, but compensatingly more beautiful, with more complex harmonies as well!
From Canada, a minor harmony round with energy and a catchy melody.
New lyrics for an old round by Haydn - well-suited to a mix of voices, a satisfying round
Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat
Lots of big interval jumps, even octaves, make this round fun and tricky.
Originally from Germany (Kaffee), this is great fun to sing, and a lasting favorite with my students! With English lyrics - by me - that mention mochas, lattes, and "coffee black!"
A fancy melody from the 1600's with rhythmic intricacies, that is also pretty!
Difficult! Quite difficult for beginners, this beautiful round works best with a bigger group of singers, or even instrumentalists, unless your singers are experienced with harmony, and good note readers.
For Health & Strength & Daily Bread
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The famous French melody.
Meditative, slow, and minor... a lovely round. This is a lullaby.
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Haida is vigorous and fun - there are two spots that invite a clap, adding to the rhythmic feeling of this song. Along with "Coffee," this is a favorite, frequently requested!
The Hart, He Loves the High Hill
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Have You Seen the Ghost of John
An unbelievably pretty round, with lyrics that DO NOT do it justice! One of my students' perennial favorites. I have added alternate lyrics in Latin, to make it sing-able for Christmas.
The first round I use with beginning singers. Very singable!
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A pretty song with lovely lyrics
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Viva la musica
A little different - there is a bit of dissonance to learn to sing through. A joyful melody!
A pretty little round with two parts and two verses, about white coral bells flowers along a garden path.
A street-seller's cry from England.
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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Comments
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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Ghost of John Church Lyrics
I taught this to my daughters so we could all sing it in a 4-pt. round. It's so beautiful but I didn't care for the words. I turned it into a worship song: …
Daily Warm-up
We sing this in choir class to warm up our voices at Halloween time. We sometimes try to sing it in harmony with eight different voice parts. I really …
Different Lyrics for Ghost of John tune
A prettier set of lyrics perhaps for those who are squeamish!
Milk white snowdrops grow 'round here,
Lovely bluebells and scarlet pimpernel.
Wild …
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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