Christmas songs for guitar--The First Noel |
GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your free classical guitar lesson |
| I'm Douglas Niedt and these are my very detailed, in-depth, how to play the classical guitar technique tips, many with high def classical guitar videos. Almost like free guitar lessons. This tip is a special one. It is a guitar Christmas song, The First Noel. This classical guitar arrangement is fairly easy. It's in standard classical guitar notation and Christmas guitar tab. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Even easy Christmas arrangements? Chances are, I've covered it, or will soon. The tips are free. |
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By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift of Christmas sheet
music for guitar to my fellow guitarists. I am giving this Christmas song to you now so you have
time to learn it by Christmas. It is a classical guitar arrangement of The First Noel. I have made
the arrangement for classical guitar easy enough that it won't be too much of a struggle to
learn.
The First Noel
Lyrics edited by William B. Sandys and Davies Gilbert
Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this
tuneful Christmas carol, very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its
rise in France during the fifteenth century.
Over time many people have wondered where the word "noel" came from. Some
scholars attest that "noel" is French, and means "a shout of joy" at the birth of Jesus.
Others claim that it comes from the medieval Latin word "natalis," meaning "birth,"
which would explain why some people refer to Christmas as "His natal day." There is
yet another Latin word could be the source of "noel," the word "novella," which means
"news," which corresponds with the idea that the news of Jesus' birth causes great
shouts of joy associated with Christmas time.
However, other scholars say that the original is of English spelling, "nowell," rather than
the French "noël." The song is thought to have been brought across the channel to
England before 1823 by the wandering troubadours. The Christmas carol under the
English form, "Nowell," became a great favorite for Christmas Eve, especially in the
west of England. This was when the entire village gathered for singing and celebrating
the bringing in of the Yule log. The Yule log was a custom adopted during the middle
ages from Norse tradition. A huge log was cut, hollowed out and filled with aromatic oils
and spices. It was lit on Christmas Eve with the hope it would burn through the 12 days
of Christmas ending on January 6.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
At this time carols were thought of as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside
the church rather than within. The early church looked down on peasant songs that they
felt lacked the solemnity of true hymns. Consequently, “The First Noel” was not used in
church services during the first several hundred years of its existence. Finally the
Christmas song was published and the Church of England began using it in Christmas
services in the mid-1800s.
In 1823, William B. Sandys (1792-1874), and Davies Gilbert (1767-1839) edited and
added lyrics to create the version of the Christmas song we sing today. The origin of
the current melody is uncertain.
The publication of Sandy's 1823 book Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern has
historical significance in that it was the first of its kind to include many of the songs we
now consider classic Carols. Songs such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The First
Nowell, I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing had
their public debut in this songbook.
The First Noel portrays in vivid narrative style the story of the birth of Christ. All six
stanzas are needed to complete the entire event when the hymn is sung. The sixth
stanza urges us to join together to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation
and for the salvation provided through Christ's shed blood. The repetition of the joyous
"noel" in the refrain is equivalent to our singing out "happy birthday" to someone.
It is interesting to observe that the "King of Israel" was first announced to "certain poor
shepherds" only, but in the final stanza the phrases "let us all" and "mankind hath
brought" remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.
The first noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay-in
fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
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.
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 wherever it went.
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.
Then entered in those wise men three, full rev'rently upon their knee, and offered there,
in His presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heav'nly Lord, that hath made heav'n
and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.
Chorus: Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
Have fun with this Christmas music for classical guitar of The First Noel. It's a relatively
easy Christmas song for guitar that you can learn quickly in either standard classical
guitar notation or Christmas guitar tab.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift of Christmas sheet
music for guitar to my fellow guitarists. I am giving this Christmas song to you now so you have
time to learn it by Christmas. It is a classical guitar arrangement of The First Noel. I have made
the arrangement for classical guitar easy enough that it won't be too much of a struggle to
learn.
The First Noel
Lyrics edited by William B. Sandys and Davies Gilbert
Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this
tuneful Christmas carol, very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its
rise in France during the fifteenth century.
Over time many people have wondered where the word "noel" came from. Some
scholars attest that "noel" is French, and means "a shout of joy" at the birth of Jesus.
Others claim that it comes from the medieval Latin word "natalis," meaning "birth,"
which would explain why some people refer to Christmas as "His natal day." There is
yet another Latin word could be the source of "noel," the word "novella," which means
"news," which corresponds with the idea that the news of Jesus' birth causes great
shouts of joy associated with Christmas time.
However, other scholars say that the original is of English spelling, "nowell," rather than
the French "noël." The song is thought to have been brought across the channel to
England before 1823 by the wandering troubadours. The Christmas carol under the
English form, "Nowell," became a great favorite for Christmas Eve, especially in the
west of England. This was when the entire village gathered for singing and celebrating
the bringing in of the Yule log. The Yule log was a custom adopted during the middle
ages from Norse tradition. A huge log was cut, hollowed out and filled with aromatic oils
and spices. It was lit on Christmas Eve with the hope it would burn through the 12 days
of Christmas ending on January 6.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
At this time carols were thought of as popular religious songs meant to be sung outside
the church rather than within. The early church looked down on peasant songs that they
felt lacked the solemnity of true hymns. Consequently, “The First Noel” was not used in
church services during the first several hundred years of its existence. Finally the
Christmas song was published and the Church of England began using it in Christmas
services in the mid-1800s.
In 1823, William B. Sandys (1792-1874), and Davies Gilbert (1767-1839) edited and
added lyrics to create the version of the Christmas song we sing today. The origin of
the current melody is uncertain.
The publication of Sandy's 1823 book Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern has
historical significance in that it was the first of its kind to include many of the songs we
now consider classic Carols. Songs such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The First
Nowell, I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing had
their public debut in this songbook.
The First Noel portrays in vivid narrative style the story of the birth of Christ. All six
stanzas are needed to complete the entire event when the hymn is sung. The sixth
stanza urges us to join together to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation
and for the salvation provided through Christ's shed blood. The repetition of the joyous
"noel" in the refrain is equivalent to our singing out "happy birthday" to someone.
It is interesting to observe that the "King of Israel" was first announced to "certain poor
shepherds" only, but in the final stanza the phrases "let us all" and "mankind hath
brought" remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.
The first noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay-in
fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.
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.
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 wherever it went.
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.
Then entered in those wise men three, full rev'rently upon their knee, and offered there,
in His presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heav'nly Lord, that hath made heav'n
and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.
Chorus: Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!
- This is my classical guitar arrangement of the Christmas song The First Noel for
you to print out. It is in standard notation for classical guitar and Christmas guitar
tab.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
Have fun with this Christmas music for classical guitar of The First Noel. It's a relatively
easy Christmas song for guitar that you can learn quickly in either standard classical
guitar notation or Christmas guitar tab.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
| A Christmas Gift For You. Christmas Sheet Music for Guitar The First Noel |
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