For SSA Voices, unaccompanied
Arranger: David Conte
This carol concerns the birth of Jesus Christ, and is told from the perspective of shepherds playing simple instruments- flutes and drums- the onomatopoetic sound of which gives the song its name. "Pat-a-pan" is meant to mimic the sound of the drum, and an accompanying lyric, "tu-re-lu-re-lu," the flute.