The First Noël
Encyclopedia
The First Nowell 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 "Birthday", 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 variation on that phrase. All three phrases end on the third of the scale. The refrain, also unusually, merely repeats the melody of the verse. It is thought to be a corruption 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
.
(1986) (which is the version used in Henry Ramsden Bramley
and John Stainer
's, Carols, New and Old), Ralph Dunstan
's gallery version in the Cornish Songbook (1929) and Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins' American version in Carols Old and Carols New (1916).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier. The word Noel comes from the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
word Noël
Noel
Noel is a masculine French given name derived from noël . The actual feminine form is Noelle, but in English-speaking regions Noel is sometimes used for females as well...
meaning "Birthday", from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word natalis "birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
".
In its current form it is of Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
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
William B. Sandys
William B. Sandys , was an English solicitor, member of the Percy Society, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern , a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys had gathered and also apparently improvised...
and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert
Davies Gilbert
Davies Gilbert FRS was a British engineer, author, and politician. He was elected to the Royal Society on 17 November 1791 and served as President of the Royal Society from 1827 to 1830....
Hymns and Carols of God. Today, it is usually performed in a four-part hymn arrangement by the English composer John Stainer
John Stainer
Sir John Stainer was an English composer and organist whose music, though not generally much performed today , was very popular during his lifetime...
, 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 variation on that phrase. All three phrases end on the third of the scale. The refrain, also unusually, merely repeats the melody of the verse. It is thought to be a corruption of an earlier melody sung in a church gallery
West gallery music
West Gallery Music, also known as "Georgian psalmody" refers to the sacred music sung and played in English parish churches, as well as nonconformist chapels, from 1700 to around 1850...
setting "The First O Well"; a conjectural
Conjecture
A conjecture is a proposition that is unproven but is thought to be true and has not been disproven. Karl Popper pioneered the use of the term "conjecture" in scientific philosophy. Conjecture is contrasted by hypothesis , which is a testable statement based on accepted grounds...
reconstruction of this earlier version can be found in the New Oxford Book of Carols
New Oxford Book of Carols
The New Oxford Book of Carols is a comprehensive anthology of Christmas carols, edited by Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott, and intended to supplement if not supersede the original Oxford Book of Carols of 1928...
.
Textual comparison
In common with many traditional songs and carols the lyrics vary across books. The versions compared below are taken from the New English HymnalNew English Hymnal
The New English Hymnal is a hymn book and liturgical source, aimed towards the Church of England, first published in 1986. It was published by the Canterbury Press . The copyright is held by The English Hymnal Company Limited. It is a successor to, and published in the same style as, the 1906...
(1986) (which is the version used in Henry Ramsden Bramley
Henry Ramsden Bramley
Henry Ramsden Bramley was an English clergyman and hymnologist perhaps best known for his collaborations with the composer Sir John Stainer...
and John Stainer
John Stainer
Sir John Stainer was an English composer and organist whose music, though not generally much performed today , was very popular during his lifetime...
's, Carols, New and Old), Ralph Dunstan
Ralph Dunstan
Ralph Dunstan Mus. Doc. Cantab was born at Carnon Downs in the parish of Feock, Cornwall and is buried at Perranzabuloe. He is honoured now as one of the greatest song collectors in the Cornish musical tradition....
's gallery version in the Cornish Songbook (1929) and Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins' American version in Carols Old and Carols New (1916).
| New English Hymnal. | Cornish Songbook. | American version. |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The first Nowell the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep: Refrain Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. |
1. O well, O well, the Angels did say To shepherds there in the fields did lay; Late in the night a-folding their sheep, A winter's night, both cold and bleak. Refrain O well, O well, O well, O well, Born is the King of Israel. |
1. The first Noel, the angels say To Bethlehem's shepherds as they lay. At midnight watch, when keeping sheep, The winter wild, the light snow deep. Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel. |
| 2. They lookèd up and saw a star, Shining in the east, beyond them far: And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night: |
2. And then there did appear a Star, Whose glory then did shine so far: Unto the earth it gave a great light, And there it continued a day and a night. |
2. The shepherds rose, and saw a star Bright in the East, beyond them far, Its beauty gave them great delight, This star it set now day nor night. |
| 3. And by the light of that same star, Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek for a King was their intent, And to follow the star whersoever it went: |
3. And by the light of that same Star, Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek a King was their intent - They follow'd the Star wherever it went. |
3. Now by the light of this bright star Three wise men came from country far; They sought a king, such their intent, The star their guide where'er it went. |
| 4. This star drew nigh to the north-west; O'er Bethlehem it took its rest; And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay: |
4. The Star went before them unto the North West, And seemed o'er the City of Bethlehem to rest, And there did remain by night and by day, Right over the place where Jesus Christ lay. |
4. Then drawing nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem town it took its rest; The wise men learnt its cause of stay, And found the place where Jesus lay. |
| 5. Then entered in those Wise Men three, Fell reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence, Their gold Gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a... and myrrh Myrrh Myrrh is the aromatic oleoresin of a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus Commiphora, which grow in dry, stony soil. An oleoresin is a natural blend of an essential oil and a resin. Myrrh resin is a natural gum.... and frankincense Frankincense Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana... : |
5. Then enter'd in these Wise Men three, With reverence fall on their knee, And offer'd up in His presence The gifts of gold and frankincense. |
|
| 6. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made heaven and earth of nought, And with his blood mankind hath bought: |
6. 'Tween an ox manger and an ass, Our Blest Messiah's place it was; To save us all from bond and thrall, He was a Redeemer for us all! |