Brass Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.951645 Composed by Daryl Burgess and Jaida Elizabeth Lauren Dreyer. Arranged by Travis Hayman. Contemporary. Score and parts. 20 pages. Travis Hayman #6617369. Published by Travis Hayman (A0.951645). I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is a Christmas novelty song written by John Rox (1902–1957) and performed by Gayla Peevey (10 years old at the time) in 1953. The song peaked at number 24 on Billboard magazine's pop chart in December 1953.