The First Nowell

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The First Nowell in Carols, New and Old (1879)

The First Nowell ( The First Christmas ; also written The First Noel or The First Noël ) is a traditional English Christmas carol . It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and the adoration of the baby Jesus by the wise men from the east who brought gold, frankincense and myrrh with them as gifts ( Mt 2.11  EU ). Nowell is another word for noël , the French word for Christmas .

In its present form it is of Cornish origin. It was first published in the Carols Ancient and Modern collection (1823).

It is often performed in the four-part set by the English composer John Stainer from his Christmas Carols, New and Old (first published in 1871).

There are numerous arrangements and countless recordings of this song in various styles. The known text versions sometimes differ slightly from one another. German translations exist, for example, by Johannes Haas (1966) and Manfred Paul (1972).

text

English
(oremus.org) 		translation

The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked 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.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

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 whoever it went.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those wise men three
full reverently upon their knee
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
that hath made heaven and earth of naught,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

First Christmas, the angel said,
was for some poor shepherds who lay
in the fields, they lay in the fields tending and their sheep
on a cold, dark winter night.

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

They looked up to see a star
shining far above them in the east.
And he illuminated the earth brightly
and so it went on, day and night.

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of the same star
came three wise men from distant lands
To look for a king, their intention was,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

This star rose in the northwest
, and finally stopped over Bethlehem.
And there he stopped and stopped,
right over the place where Jesus was lying.

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

Then the three wise men went in,
fell reverently on their knees,
and offered
gold, myrrh and frankincense in his presence .

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

Let us all give praise to
our heavenly Lord,
who created heaven and earth out of nothing
and who redeemed humanity with his blood.

Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël,
born is the King of Israel.

various

Christmas Carols, New and Old

The English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) wrote in 1958, shortly before his death, the vocal set The First Nowell ("The First Christmas Festival") for soloists, choir and small orchestra.

Web links

Sound samples

Footnotes

  1. ↑ douglasniedt.com (A Christmas Gift For You), p. 3 (PDF file; 113 kB)
  2. ↑ see notes 1 , 2
  3. ↑ see sound examples
  4. ↑ https://www.scm-shop.de/noel-noel-noel-noel-christ-ist-geboren-o-israel-141310.html
  5. ↑ Copyright information on the audio carrier Reue dich Welt: Singing-sounding Christmas time. , Janz Team, LP no. 6019, 1972
  6. ↑ Sound sample with Sarah Fox (soprano), Roderick Williams (baritone), the Joyful Company of Singers and the City of London Sinfonia under the overall direction of Richard Hickox