Noel! A New Noel!

For Christmas

Words: Noël nouvelet

English Translation by K. W. Simpson

Music: A Provençal Noël.
NWC / MIDI / PDF

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #86, pp. 16-17.

1. Noel! A new Noel!
Here together sing!
Faithful people crying
'Lord Our thanks we bring'
Noel! Noel!
Singing a Noel For the Saviour King.
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

2. Clearly spake the Angel:
'Shepherds, come away!
Peaceful and rejoicing
Bethlem seek this day!
Noel! Noel!
A Little Lamb is born to be our King!'
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

3. There they found together
Joseph – Mary blest –
Cradling 'gainst the weather
Jesus at Her breast!
Noel! Noel!
Only a manger for the Heavenly King!
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

4. Kings draw nigh to greet Him,
Neath the burning star,
Seeking Bethlem city
From their countries far.
Noel! Noel!
Here, in the dawning light, they find their King!
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

5. See! One beareth incense,
Others, gold and myrrh!
Offering them to Jesus
Sleeping sweetly there.
Noel! Noel!
See! The poor manger is a-blossoming!
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

6. See our Jesu Saviour
Who, by His great deeds
From despair will save us,
Dying for our needs.
Noel! Noel!
Shedding His blood, that all the world may sing,
Sing a new Noel,
Let your glad voices ring.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #86, pp. 16-17.
NWC / MIDI / PDF

Note from Rev. Terry:

After many experiments, the only convincing harmonies for this unique melody seemed to be the above “study in consecutive fifths.”

Editor's Note:

Quite intrigued by Rev. Terry's note, I sequenced this score in Noteworthy Composer: NWC / MIDI / PDF. You can get a free NWC listening program at Noteworthy Composer Viewer.

“NoteWorthy Composer Viewer is a free viewer for NoteWorthy Composer files (*.nwc and *.nwctxt). It will load, play, and print files created by users of the NoteWorthy Composer program, as well as any MIDI performances saved as *.mid files. “

Performance Note: Although Rev. Terry does not indicate it in his piece, in the carol “Nicholas The Shepherd,” 'Moderato' is given as a half note equals 72. See: 088a-Nicholas_Shepherd.jpg.

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