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.

These arrangements of favorite Christmas carols for clarinets are sure to brighten up your next Christmas event. They are written in three independent parts and can be used with any number of B flat instruments. The scores include a simplified keyboard part. The arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a concert or service. The arrangements been written in clarinet-friendly keys as often as possible. You can use as many clarinets as you wish or even clarinet duets. For this reason, the third clarinet often appears between the first and second, partly to avoid extremely low notes and partly to allow the 2nd clarinet to play essential notes for complete harmony. Movement around the break has been avoided whenever possible, especially in the 2nd and 3rd clarinet parts. It is assumed that the pianist will read from the score/piano part, so a separate keyboard part has not been provided.The scores and all the parts are contained in a single 54-page PDF file. These arrangements are not necessarily compatible with other Kirkpatrick collections with the same title.


The arranger, ColinKirkpatrick is indebted to clarinetist and independent musician Genessa West,for reviewing the clarinet parts and for her invaluable assistance andtechnical advice. Genessa is a member of the SMP Community and you can see herpublications at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/genessa-west/15963

This collection includes the following favorite carols: Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria); Lo, How a Rose E?er blooming (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen); O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel); The First Noel; Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Bransle de l?Officiel); O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis); Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn); Go Tell It on the Mountain; O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis); O Holy Night (Cantique de No�l); Silent Night (Stille Nacht); Away in a Manger (Mueller); Joy to the World (Antioch); O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum); We Three Kings (Kings of Orient); I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Waltham); What Child is This? (Greensleeves); God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum) and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

As with Gladness Men of Old;Auld Lang Syne; Bright and Joyful is the Morn;Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning; Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella; Calm on the Listening Ear;Christ Was Born on Christmas Day;Christians, Awake;Cold is the Morning;Deck the Halls;Entre le Boeuf et L? Ane Gris;To Us a Child of Hope is Born;From Heaven Above to Earth I Come;From the Eastern Mountains;God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen;Good Christian Men, Rejoice;Good King Wenceslas;Hark! The Herald Angels Sing;Here We Come A-Caroling;How Brightly Shines the Morning Star; I am so Glad Each Christmas Eve; I Saw Three Ships;In Dulci Jubilo;Infant Holy, Infant Lowly; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear;Jingle Bells; Jolly Old St. Nicholas; Kling, Glockchen; Lo, How a Rose Ever Blooming;Noel Nouvelet;O, Little Town of Bethlehem;Pat-a-Pan; The First Noel;The Holly and the Ivy; We Wish You a Merry Christmas;All Through the Night;Away in a Manger; Birthday of a King; Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light ;Gaudete;Gesu Bambino;Go, Tell it on the Mountain;Greensleeves;I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day; In the Bleak Midwinter;O, Christmas Tree;O, Come Little Children; O Thou Joyful Day;Once in Royal David's City;Shout the Glad Tidings;Sing a Song of Bethlehem;Snow Lay on the Ground;Star of the East;Still, Still, Still;The Coventry Carol;The Happy Christmas Comes Once More;There's a Song in the Air;Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Are We;Twelve Days of Christmas;What Child Is This?;A Great and Mighty Wonder;All My Heart This Night Rejoices;Angels from the Realm of Glory;Angels We Have Heard on High;Carol of the Bells;Ding Dong Merrily on High;Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring;Joy to the World;O Come, O Come, Emmanuel;O Holy Night ;Maria Wiegenlied;Silent Night;The Friendly Beasts;The Boar's Head Carol;Up on the Housetop;Wake, Awake, for the Night is Flying;Watchman, Tell Us of the Night ;We Three Kings of Orient Are;Wexford Carol;While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring.
On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth!

This joyous Christmas song was first published by Luke Wadding, an Irish bishop, in a 17th century collection called Small Garland of Godly and Pious Songs. It became known as ?Sussex Carol? in the early 20th century upon being collected by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who heard it being sung by a folk singer in Sussex, England. He later included it in his choral settings, Eight Traditional English Carols and Fantasia on Christmas Carols.

This lever harp arrangement is in the key of G (with a short section in D mixolydian for variety, from measures 56 to 65). There are no lever changes. It is suited for harps with at least 34 strings.

The right hand has the melody most of the time, with the left hand accompanying; but the left hand gets to take center stage from measures 33 through 47; again from measures 86 through 89; and again at the end, from measures 100 through 106.

This arrangement is great for all Christmas events, from church services to concerts to parties.
The YouTube video shows the pedal harp arrangement, which is exactly the same as the lever harp arrangement except that it is in the key of G flat instead of G; and it has ONE extra very low note at the very end.

For more harp arrangements by Stephanie Bennett, please subscribe to HarpworldMusicCo on Youtube, and visit www.harpworld.com/sheetmusic.html.
I hope you enjoy sharing this cheerful song with your listeners, during many happy holidays! - Stephanie Bennett

Item Number: S0.940053

On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring.
On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth!

This joyous Christmas song was first published by Luke Wadding, an Irish bishop, in a 17th century collection called Small Garland of Godly and Pious Songs. It became known as ?Sussex Carol? in the early 20th century upon being collected by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, who heard it being sung by a folk singer in Sussex, England. He later included it in his choral settings, Eight Traditional English Carols and Fantasia on Christmas Carols.

This pedal harp arrangement is in the key of G flat (with a short section in D flat mixolydian for variety, from measures 56 to 65). There are no pedal changes.

The right hand has the melody most of the time, with the left hand accompanying; but the left hand gets to take center stage from measures 33 through 47; again from measures 86 through 89; and again at the end, from measures 100 through 106.

I?ve also made a lever harp arrangement of this song, which is similar except that it?s in the key of G. If you ever wanted to play this arrangement in G instead of G flat, you could do so just by setting the pedals to the key of G at the beginning (and ignoring the key signature).

Perfect for all Christmas events: from church services, to concerts, to parties.

For more harp arrangements by Stephanie Bennett, subscribe to HarpworldMusicCo on YouTube, and visit www.harpworld.com/sheetmusic.html.

I hope you enjoy sharing this cheerful song with your listeners, during many happy holidays! ? Stephanie Bennett

The Christmas Duet Book is a collection of 20 Christmas carols, arranged for two violas.
Level: Easy to intermediate.

Contents:

What Child Is This
Joy To The World
Song To The Christmas Tree (Du Gr�nne, Glitrende Tre, Goddag)
Lo, How A Rose E?er Blooming (Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen)
How Glad I Am On Christmas Eve (Jeg Er S� Glad Hver Julekveld)
Angels We Have Head On High
Away In A Manger
Star Of Bethlehem (Betlehems Stj�rna)
Carol Of The Bells
Lovely Is The Midnight Sky (Deilig Er Den Himmel Bl�)
Deck The Hall
The First Nowell
O Chistmas, You Season Of Childlike Delight (O Jul Med Din Glede)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Fir Tree Dark (Det Kimer N� Til Julefest)
To Drive The Cold Winter Away
Silent Night
Ring, O Ye Bells, O Ring Out (Kimer, I Klokker)
He is born (Il Est N�, Le Divin Enfant)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)

The Christmas Duet Book is a collection of 20 Christmas carols, arranged for two cellos.
Level: Easy to intermediate.

Contents:

What Child Is This
Joy To The World
Song To The Christmas Tree (Du Gr�nne, Glitrende Tre, Goddag)
Lo, How A Rose E?er Blooming (Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen)
How Glad I Am On Christmas Eve (Jeg Er S� Glad Hver Julekveld)
Angels We Have Head On High
Away In A Manger
Star Of Bethlehem (Betlehems Stj�rna)
Carol Of The Bells
Lovely Is The Midnight Sky (Deilig Er Den Himmel Bl�)
Deck The Hall
The First Nowell
O Chistmas, You Season Of Childlike Delight (O Jul Med Din Glede)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Fir Tree Dark (Det Kimer N� Til Julefest)
To Drive The Cold Winter Away
Silent Night
Ring, O Ye Bells, O Ring Out (Kimer, I Klokker)
He is born (Il Est N�, Le Divin Enfant)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)

The Christmas Duet Book is a collection of 20 Christmas carols, arranged for viola and cello.
Level: Easy to intermediate.

Contents:

What Child Is This
Joy To The World
Song To The Christmas Tree (Du Gr�nne, Glitrende Tre, Goddag)
Lo, How A Rose E?er Blooming (Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen)
How Glad I Am On Christmas Eve (Jeg Er S� Glad Hver Julekveld)
Angels We Have Head On High
Away In A Manger
Star Of Bethlehem (Betlehems Stj�rna)
Carol Of The Bells
Lovely Is The Midnight Sky (Deilig Er Den Himmel Bl�)
Deck The Hall
The First Nowell
O Chistmas, You Season Of Childlike Delight (O Jul Med Din Glede)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Fir Tree Dark (Det Kimer N� Til Julefest)
To Drive The Cold Winter Away
Silent Night
Ring, O Ye Bells, O Ring Out (Kimer, I Klokker)
He is born (Il Est N�, Le Divin Enfant)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)

The Christmas Duet Book is a collection of 20 Christmas carols, arranged for violin and viola.

Level: Easy to intermediate.

Contents:

What Child Is This
Joy To The World
Song To The Christmas Tree (Du Gr�nne, Glitrende Tre, Goddag)
Lo, How A Rose E?er Blooming (Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen)
How Glad I Am On Christmas Eve (Jeg Er S� Glad Hver Julekveld)
Angels We Have Head On High
Away In A Manger
Star Of Bethlehem (Betlehems Stj�rna)
Carol Of The Bells
Lovely Is The Midnight Sky (Deilig Er Den Himmel Bl�)
Deck The Hall
The First Nowell
O Chistmas, You Season Of Childlike Delight (O Jul Med Din Glede)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
O Fir Tree Dark (Det Kimer N� Til Julefest)
To Drive The Cold Winter Away
Silent Night
Ring, O Ye Bells, O Ring Out (Kimer, I Klokker)
He is born (Il Est N�, Le Divin Enfant)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)