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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. Writing in the
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and was later remembered as the melody rather than a harmony. A conjectural reconstruction of this earlier version can be found in
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In common with many traditional songs and carols, the lyrics vary across books. The versions compared below are taken from
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part to another carol "Hark, hark what news the angels bring"; her suggestion was that the treble part was passed down
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Today, "The First Nowell" is usually performed in a four-part hymn arrangement by the
English composer
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notes it was not recorded prior to Sandys' publication. She speculated based on a set of
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carol of the 16th or 17th century, but possibly dating from as early as the 13th century
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Christmas carols were common as early as the 15th century. ... Many carols, such as '
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made audio recordings of several traditional versions of the song in
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1096:' and 'The First Nowell', date from the 16th century or earlier.
550:
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of carols in the Middle Ages towards the early modern period;
1404:"Whitney Houston Chart History (Hot Gospel Streaming Songs)"
1168:
Selden MS, B.26 f.14v. in Edith
Rickert (1914), pp. 165–166.
811:
666:
261:(1929) and Reverend Charles Lewis Hutchins's version in
1539:"Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)"
1377:"Whitney Houston Chart History (Gospel Digital Songs)"
223:
in the early 1930s, which can be heard online via the
1724:
1652:"Owl City Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)"
330:
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
300:; it does not appear in the story of the shepherds.
1150:"The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts O.3.58"
151:) and "Nowel – out of youre slepe arise and wake" (
19:For the choral work by Ralph Vaughan Williams, see
1601:"Gabby Barrett Chart History (Hot Country Songs)"
202:in 1871. Variations of its theme are included in
135:" of birth". The word was regularly used in the
131:, "the Christmas season", ultimately from Latin
93:origin. Its current form was first published in
517:And seemed o'er the City of Bethlehem to rest,
515:The Star went before them unto the North West,
332:In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
1431:"Whitney Houston Chart History (Holiday 100)"
521:Right over the place where Jesus Christ lay.
73:, although possibly earlier. It is listed as
8:
1620:"Owl City – Chart History: Christian Songs"
1292:"First Noel, The (VWML Song Index SN16748)"
1265:"First Noel, The (VWML Song Index SN16739)"
1238:"First Noel, The (VWML Song Index SN16732)"
1140:(London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 218
1138:Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400–1700
1041:(London: Novello, Ewer & Co., c. 1878).
467:And to follow the star whersoever it went:
177:that the tune may have had its origin as a
1512:"Hot Gospel Streaming Songs Year End 2019"
1485:"Hot Gospel Streaming Songs Year End 2018"
1458:"Hot Gospel Streaming Songs Year End 2017"
1333:
1331:
1088:The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary of Music
1051:
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937:
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439:And there it continued a day and a night.
334:On a cold winter's night that was so deep:
1565:"Gabby Barrett Chart History (Canada AC)"
1159:, Trinity College Library, Cambridge 2014
1022:
1020:
1018:
519:And there did remain by night and by day,
502:4. This star drew nigh to the north-west;
480:They follow'd the Star wherever it went.
360:To shepherds there in the fields did lay;
598:And with his blood mankind hath bought:
543:5. Then entered in those Wise Men three,
426:And so it continued both day and night:
362:Late in the night a-folding their sheep,
302:
1731:
1583:"Gabby Barrett Chart History (Hot 100)"
1113:Eytmonline: Online Etymology Dictionary
1014:
493:The star their guide where'er it went.
280:described in the second chapter of the
1316:
1314:
1180:, "Note on the Carol 'The First Nowell
1059:(Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), No. 643.
532:The wise men learnt its cause of stay,
508:Right over the place where Jesus lay:
491:They sought a king, such their intent,
461:3. And by the light of that same star,
392:At midnight watch, when keeping sheep,
364:A winter's night, both cold and bleak.
147:), "Nowell sing we now all and some" (
1067:
1065:
568:Then enter'd in these Wise Men three,
534:And found the place where Jesus lay.
530:O'er Bethlehem town it took its rest;
489:Three wise men came from country far;
476:Three Wise Men came from country far;
463:Three Wise Men came from country far;
437:Unto the earth it gave a great light,
424:And to the earth it gave great light,
422:Shining in the east, beyond them far:
390:To Bethlehem's shepherds as they lay.
328:1. The first Nowell the angel did say
241:(1986) (which is the version used in
101:(1833), both of which were edited by
7:
609:To save us all from bond and thrall,
574:The gifts of gold and frankincense.
487:Now by the light of this bright star
465:To seek for a King was their intent,
452:This star it set now day nor night.
448:Bright in the East, beyond them far,
394:The winter wild, the light snow deep
1341:(London: Reid Bros., 1929), p. 126.
1325:, (Canterbury Press, 1986), No. 36.
1086:Barrie Jones, ed. (2014). "carol".
528:Then drawing nigh to the northwest,
506:And there it did both stop and stay
474:And by the light of that same Star,
450:Its beauty gave them great delight,
21:The First Nowell (Vaughan Williams)
570:With reverence fall on their knee,
547:And offered there in his presence,
446:The shepherds rose, and saw a star
435:Whose glory then did shine so far:
358:O well, O well, the Angels did say
109:(who also wrote extra lyrics) for
14:
1297:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
1270:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
1243:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
607:Our Blest Messiah's place it was;
590:Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
478:To seek a King was their intent –
433:And then there did appear a Star,
420:2. They looked up and saw a star,
225:Vaughan Williams Memorial Library
1734:
1698:
1686:
1219:(Oxford University Press, 1992)
1187:Journal of the Folk-Song Society
592:That hath made heaven and earth
545:Full reverently upon their knee,
504:O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
162:Journal of the Folk-Song Society
37:
1777:Hymns in The New English Hymnal
605:'Tween an ox manger and an ass,
376:O well, O well, O well, O well,
346:Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
155:) being 15th century examples.
1609:. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
1591:. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
1573:. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
1132:British Library, Add.5665, in
611:He was a Redeemer for us all!
572:And offer'd up in His presence
388:The first Noel, the angels say
1:
1216:The New Oxford Book of Carols
1193:19 (June 1915), pp. 240–242.
1094:God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
1077:Hymns and Carols of Christmas
1055:Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins,
270:annunciation to the shepherds
188:The New Oxford Book of Carols
69:origins most likely from the
61:)", is a traditional English
585:6. Then let us all with one
411:Born is the King of Israel.
381:Born is the King of Israel.
351:Born is the King of Israel.
292:appears in the story of the
790:US Gospel Streaming Songs (
770:US Gospel Streaming Songs (
750:US Gospel Streaming Songs (
703:US Gospel Streaming Songs (
645:South Korea International (
105:and arranged and edited by
1795:
1352:"2010년 48주차 Digital Chart"
971:Holiday Digital Song Sales
837:Holiday Digital Song Sales
274:adoration of the shepherds
257:'s gallery version in the
18:
1057:Carols Old and Carols New
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319:Carols Old and Carols New
263:Carols Old and Carols New
198:, first published in his
99:Gilbert and Sandys Carols
95:Carols Ancient and Modern
89:"The First Nowell" is of
1155:24 December 2014 at the
1003:List of Christmas carols
1757:British Christmas songs
217:James Madison Carpenter
111:Hymns and Carols of God
16:English Christmas carol
1710:Free arrangements for
1322:The New English Hymnal
406:Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
307:The New English Hymnal
296:(the Wise Men) in the
238:The New English Hymnal
204:Victor Hely-Hutchinson
46:
32:"The First Nowell" in
1339:The Cornish Song Book
1027:Henry Ramsden Bramley
243:Henry Ramsden Bramley
31:
1695:at Wikimedia Commons
689:Gospel Digital Songs
276:are episodes in the
215:American folklorist
173:parts discovered in
121:Early Modern English
79:Roud Folk Song Index
1664:on 21 December 2019
1632:on 18 November 2021
251:Carols, New and Old
200:Carols, New and Old
71:early modern period
34:Carols, New and Old
1767:Cornish folk songs
1178:Annie G. Gilchrist
1073:"The First Nowell"
1039:Carols New and Old
1035:"The First Nowell"
827:Chart (2012–2013)
231:Textual comparison
149:Trinity Carol Roll
85:Origin and history
53:", modernised as "
47:
1772:Songs about Jesus
1703:Works related to
1691:Media related to
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298:Gospel of Matthew
290:Star of Bethlehem
278:nativity of Jesus
153:Selden Carol Book
145:Ritson Manuscript
43:
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1705:The First Nowell
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63:Christmas carol
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167:Anne Gilchrist
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127:" from French
107:Davies Gilbert
103:William Sandys
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55:The First Noel
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