The First Nowell (also written The First Noël) is a
traditional classical English carol, most likely from
the 18th century, although possibly earlier. The word
Noel comes from the French word Noël meaning
"Christmas", from the Latin word natalis
"birthday".
In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was
first published in Carols Ancient and Modern (1823) and
Gilbert and Sandys Carols (1833), both of which were
edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and
with extra...(+)
The First Nowell (also written The First Noël) is a
traditional classical English carol, most likely from
the 18th century, although possibly earlier. The word
Noel comes from the French word Noël meaning
"Christmas", from the Latin word natalis
"birthday".
In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was
first published in Carols Ancient and Modern (1823) and
Gilbert and Sandys Carols (1833), both of which were
edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and
with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert Hymns and
Carols of God. Today, it is usually performed in a
four-part hymn arrangement by the English composer John
Stainer, first published in his Carols, New and Old of
1871.
The melody is unusual among English folk melodies in
that it consists of one musical phrase repeated twice,
followed by a refrain which is a variation on that
phrase. All three phrases end on the third of the
scale. It is thought to be a version of an earlier
melody sung in a church gallery setting "The First O
Well"; a conjectural reconstruction of this earlier
version can be found in the New Oxford Book of
Carols.
Although traditionally sung as a hymn, I created this
arrangement for Woodwind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet
& Bassoon).
PARTITION