The First Nowel

For Christmas Day In The Morning

Version 3
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Words and Music: Traditional

Carol 266, Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New
(Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

1. The first Nowel that the Angel did say,
Was to certain poor Shepherds in fields as they lay,
In fields as they lay a-keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was freezing so deep.

Chorus
Nowel, Nowel, Nowel, Nowel,
Born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up above, to the East where a Star
That beyond them shone out in the Heavens from afar,
And which to the earth did send down a great light,
And so it continued by day and by night. Chorus

3. And then by the light of that bright guiding Star,
There came three Wise Men from a country afar;
To seek for a King, it was their intent,
And to follow the Star wherever it went. Chorus

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. Chorus

5. Then entered they all, and those Wise Men three
Most reverently worshiped with low bended knee;
And offered to Christ in His Sacred Presence,
Gifts of Gold, and of Myrrh, and of sweet Frankincense. Chorus

6. And now Christians all, with most gladsome accord,
Sing praises, sing praises to Jesus our Lord,
That made both the Heaven, and the Earth out of nought,
And with His Own Blood our Redemption hath wrought. Chorus

Sheet Music from Rev. Charles L. Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New
(Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol 266

Sheet Music from Rev. Richard R. Chope, Carols For Use In Church (London: William Clowes & Sons, 1894), Carol #117

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Sheet Music from Edward F. Rimbault, A Little Book of Christmas Carols. London: Cramer, Beale & Co., 201, Regent Street, No Date (circa 1863).
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See and play the Noteworthy Composer score if you have installed the NoteWorthy Composer Browser Plug-in Hutchins, "Carols Old and Carols New," #266 The First Nowel Arrangement from Hutchins (#266) Only tested by Noteworthy for Netscape, Opera, and IE Browsers (Versions 4 or 5) In my experience, it also works with Firefox.

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