The First Noel

Year: 1800

Written By: Unknown

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A hugely popular and classic English carol, 'The First Nowell' is a traditional beautiful much loved carol which most likely dates back to the 18th century. However, a number of people speculate that the origin of the song may in fact be even earlier than the 18th century. 'The First Nowell' is also written as 'The First Noël'. The word 'Noël' is a French word, the translation of this word to English is 'Birthday'. The Latin word for 'Birthday' is 'natalis'.

'The First Nowell' was first published in 1823, in Carols Ancient and Modern and a few years later in 1833 in Gilbert and Sandys Carols. Both of these published versions were edited by the world famous William B. Sandys. Davies Gilbert made further arrangements, and continued editing as well adding extra lyrics for Carols of God. In today's performances, 'The First Nowell' is usually performed in a four-part hymn arrangement which comes from the English composer John Stainer. This version was first published in his Carols, New and Old of 1871.

Although a traditional, popular English song, 'The First Nowell' is considered unusual amongst the usual standard English folk melodies. It is considered unusual in comparison to other English folk melodies as 'The First Nowell' consists of just one musical phrase which is repeated twice, it is then followed by a variation of that phrase. All three of these phrases end on the third of the scale. The refrain is unusual as well as the refrain merely just repeats the melody of the verse. Some critics, believe that the 'The First Nowell' is actually just a corruption of an earlier melody which was sung in a church gallery setting known as 'The First O Well'. You are able to find a reconstruction of this earlier version, it is located in the New Oxford Book of Carols.

The popularity and success of 'The First Nowell' has led to the carol being commonly placed in many traditional songs and carols books, although the lyrics of the carol do vary from book to book. Examples of the variations of 'The First Nowell' are that in the New English Hymnal which was written in 1986 (where Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer's version is used. Whereas in the American version in Carols Old and Carols New, written in 1916, Reverend Charles Lewis Hutchins' version is used