Score: 3 pages, String parts 1 page each. The First Noel arranged for Alto Sax & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.

Origins
The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning ?Christmas.? Therefore ?the First Noel? translates as ?the First Christmas.? First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the ?Carols Ancient and Modern? songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: String Quartet Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive.

Stainer
Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870?s. Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol. Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships.

Diatonic Function
The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling ? like maybe it never really ends.

Political Context
The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.

The Best Hymns of All Time
Arranged for Strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Book 3

We?re really excited to present the third and last book of our collection of sixty of the best-loved hymns ever composed. The hymns are scored in four parts and could be used with virtually any combination of stringed instruments: string quartet or quintet or any size string ensemble. They are presented in a set of three books and include full four-part instrumental scores plus four separate parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello (and double bass). The bass part is also optional because it doubles the cello part an octave lower. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept as simple as possible. The piano part too means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. To make the music accessible to less experienced players, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of the arrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighter and richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octave higher. You can hear this effect in the audio samples.

These arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing. This is essential music for schools and many churches and contains probably all the hymns you?ll ever need. The scores and all the parts of Book 2 are contained in a single 65-page PDF file.

Book 3 contains the following twenty popular hymns: All Hail the Power of Jesus? Name (Miles Lane); All things Bright and Beautiful (Bright and Beautiful); Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol); Blessed Assurance (Assurance); Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (St George?s Windsor); Father, Hear the Prayer we Offer (Sussex & Gott Will's Machen); For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix); Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (Austrian hymn); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); Jesu, Lover of my Soul (Hollingside); Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (Jesus Loves Me); Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy); Kum Ba Yah (Afro-American folksong); Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory (Battle Hymn of the Republic); O God, Our Help In Ages Past (St. Anne); Morning has Broken (Bunessan); Praise to the Lord the Almighty (Lob den Herren); Shall We Gather at the River? (Hanson Place); The God of Abraham Praise (Leoni); When Peace Like a River (Ville du Havre).

The audio samples include (1) All things Bright and Beautiful, (2) How Firm a Foundation, (3) Kum Ba Yah and (4) Morning has Broken. The music has been set in string-friendly keys so they are not compatible with the brass collection of the same name.

The Best Hymns of All Time
Arranged for strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Book 2

We?re really excited to present our collection of sixty of the best-loved hymns ever composed. The hymns are scored in four parts and could be used with virtually any combination of stringed instruments: string quartet or quintet or any size string ensemble. They are presented in a set of three books and include full four-part instrumental scores plus four separate parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello (and double bass). The double bass part is optional because it doubles the cello part an octave lower. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept as simple as possible. The piano part too means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. To make the music accessible to less experienced players, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of the arrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighter and richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octave higher. You can hear this effect in the audio samples.

These arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing. This is essential music for schools and many churches and contains probably all the hymns you?ll ever need. The scores and all the parts of Book 2 are contained in a single 59-page PDF file.

Book 2 contains the following twenty popular hymns: A Mighty Fortress is our God (Ein Feste Burg); Awake my Soul (Morning Hymn); All Creatures of our God and King (Lasst uns Erfreuen); All People that on Earth do Dwell (Old Hundredth); Angels we have Heard on High (Gloria); Be thou my Vision (Slane); Come Thou Font of Every Blessing (Nettleton); Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Melita); God moves in a Mysterious Way (London New); Glory to Thee, My God, This Night (Tallis Canon); How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds (St. Peter); Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (St. Denio); Onward, Christian Soldiers (St. Gertrude); Let us with a Gladsome Mind (Monkland)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Beecher); Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven (Lauda Anima); The Day Thou Gavest (St. Clement); The King of Love my Shepherd is (St. Columba); We Plough the Fields and Scatter (Wir pflügen); Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us (Mannheim).

The audio samples include Angels we have Heard on High (Gloria); Be Thou my Vision (Slane) and Onward, Christian Soldiers (St. Gertrude). The music has been set in string-friendly keys so most of them are not compatible with the brass collection of the same name.

The Best Hymns of All Time
Arranged for Strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Book 1

We?re really excited to present our collection of sixty of the best-loved hymns ever composed. The hymns are scored in four parts but could be used with virtually any combination of stringed instruments from string quartet upwards. Book 1 includes full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello/double bass reading from the same part. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part as simple as possible. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment and means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. To make the music accessible to less experienced string players, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of the arrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighter and richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octave higher. You can hear this effect in the audio sample.

These arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing. This is essential music for schools and many churches and contains probably all the hymns you?ll ever need. The score and all the parts are contained in a single 60-page PDF file.

Book 1 contains the following twenty popular hymns: Abide with Me (Eventide); All Glory, Laud and Honor (St. Theodulph); All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (Coronation); All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos); City of God, How Broad and Far (Richmond - Haweis); Fairest Lord Jesus (Crusader?s Hymn); Fight the Good Fight (Duke Street); Forth in Thy Name (Angel's Song, Song 34); Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda); He who Would Valiant Be (Monk?s Gate); Holy, Holy, Holy! (Nicea); I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (Kingsfold); Jesu, Lover of my Soul (Aberystwyth); Nearer my God to Thee (Bethany); Now Thank We All Our God (Nun Danket); O Worship the King (Hanover); Rejoice, the Lord is King (Darwall?s 148th); Soldiers of Christ, Arise (Diademata); The Lord?s my Shepherd (Crimmond); What a Friend we Have in Jesus (Converse).

The audio samples include Abide with me (Eventide); All Through the Night (Ar Hyd y Nos); Nearer my God to Thee (Bethany), Soldiers of Christ, Arise (Diademata) and What a Friend we Have in Jesus (Converse). The music has been set in string-friendly keys so they are not compatible with the brass or wind publications of the same name.

YourFavorite Christmas Hymns and Carols for Strings, Book 1

Arrangedfor strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Here?sa brand new collection of best-loved Christmas hymns and carols arranged for strings,to brighten up your next Christmas event. They are presented in a set of twobooks and include full four-part instrumental scores plus parts for first violin,second violin, viola, cello and optional double bass. Both cello and bass partsappear on a single staff. The arrangements can be used with string quartet, stringquintet or string ensemble. There?s also an optional but useful simplifiedkeyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left handplays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept assimple as possible. It could be used as the basis of an accompaniment whichmeans that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios.

Thearrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used asinterludes in a concert or service, or they could be used to accompany solo,choral or congregational singing. The arrangements been written in string-friendlykeys as often as possible. While the hymns mostly use the traditionalharmonies, the carols have been treated more freely.
Book 1 includes thefollowing 19 titles: Angels from the Realms of Glory (Melody: Gloria); Awayin a Manger (Melody: Mueller); Unto Us a Child Is Born (Melody: PuerNobis); Christians Awake! (Melody: Yorkshire); Deck the Halls withBoughs of Holly (Melody: Nos Galan); Go Tell it on the Mountain; GoodChristian Men, Rejoice (Melody: In Dulci Jubilo); Good King Wenceslas(Melody: Tempus Adest Floridum); I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In; ItCame Upon the Midnight Clear (Melody: Carol); Little Jesus, SweetlySleep (Melody: Rocking); O Christmas Tree (Melody: Tannenbaum); OCome all ye Faithful (Melody: Adeste Fidelis); O Little Town ofBethlehem (Melody: Saint Louis); O Holy Night (Melody: CantiqueNoël); Silent Night (Melody: Stille Nacht); The Holly and the Ivy;We Wish You a Merry Christmas and What Child is This? (Melody:Greensleeves)

Theaudio samples include Go Tell it on the Mountain; O Christmas Tree; O Holy Night and SilentNight. Please note that the arrangements are usually not usually compatiblewith the brass collection of the same name