Instrumental Duet Alto Saxophone,Instrumental Duet,Trumpet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.593684 Composed by David McKeown. Children,Halloween,Jazz,Standards,World. Score and parts. 18 pages. David McKeown #6499127. Published by David McKeown (A0.593684). 10 Easy Halloween Duets is a fun collection of original compositions by David McKeown for one Trumpet and one Alto Saxophone.Each duet is a Halloween flavoured snack. Witches, ghosts, vampires and other favourites appear, with cartoon illustrations on each page. The duets cover many different styles, each as spooky as the rest..The ten titles are, Monstrous Mango, Phantom Phries, Pumpkin Pizza, Skeleton Soup, Spectral Sausage, Spider Sandwich, Vegetable Vampire, Werewolf Waffle, Witchy Watermelon and Zombie Zucchini.These duets are ideal for players of an Early Intermediate to Intermediate standard and above. The keys and range are as accessible as possible for your instrument. Click the link above to hear short samples of each duet on YouTube played on clarinet.10 Easy Halloween Duets areperfect for concert performances large and small; each piece lasts between one and two minutes. spooky pieces to get you and your audience in the mood for Halloween, but playable any time of year. fully articulated to help interpret each style. great for helping with simple rhythms and developing that internal pulse. road tested with scores of students and performed all over the world.fun to play. an exciting introduction to different musical styles. 16 pages adding up to around a quarter of an hour of quality music. If you enjoyed these duets or are looking for something more challenging for Halloween, then use the search bar to find 10 Spooky Halloween Duets for the same instrumentation, which are written with Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate players in mind.There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Instrumental Duet,Tenor Saxophone,Trumpet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.593685 Composed by David McKeown. Children,Halloween,Jazz,Standards,World. Score and parts. 18 pages. David McKeown #6499131. Published by David McKeown (A0.593685). 10 Easy Halloween Duets is a fun collection of original compositions by David McKeown for one Trumpet and one Tenor Saxophone.Each duet is a Halloween flavoured snack. Witches, ghosts, vampires and other favourites appear, with cartoon illustrations on each page. The duets cover many different styles, each as spooky as the rest..The ten titles are, Monstrous Mango, Phantom Phries, Pumpkin Pizza, Skeleton Soup, Spectral Sausage, Spider Sandwich, Vegetable Vampire, Werewolf Waffle, Witchy Watermelon and Zombie Zucchini.These duets are ideal for players of an Early Intermediate to Intermediate standard and above. The keys and range are as accessible as possible for your instrument. Click the link above to hear short samples of each duet on YouTube played on clarinet.10 Easy Halloween Duets areperfect for concert performances large and small; each piece lasts between one and two minutes. spooky pieces to get you and your audience in the mood for Halloween, but playable any time of year. fully articulated to help interpret each style. great for helping with simple rhythms and developing that internal pulse. road tested with scores of students and performed all over the world.fun to play. an exciting introduction to different musical styles. 16 pages adding up to around a quarter of an hour of quality music. If you enjoyed these duets or are looking for something more challenging for Halloween, then use the search bar to find 10 Spooky Halloween Duets for the same instrumentation, which are written with Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate players in mind.There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Alto Saxophone,Clarinet,Instrumental Duet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.593658 Composed by David McKeown. Children,Halloween,Jazz,Standards,World. Score and parts. 18 pages. David McKeown #6499075. Published by David McKeown (A0.593658). 10 Easy Halloween Duets is a fun collection of original compositions by David McKeown for one Clarinet and one Alto Saxophone. Each duet is a Halloween flavoured snack. Witches, ghosts, vampires and other favourites appear, with cartoon illustrations on each page. The duets cover many different styles, each as spooky as the rest.. The ten titles are, Monstrous Mango, Phantom Phries, Pumpkin Pizza, Skeleton Soup, Spectral Sausage, Spider Sandwich, Vegetable Vampire, Werewolf Waffle, Witchy Watermelon and Zombie Zucchini. These duets are ideal for players of an Early Intermediate to Intermediate standard and above. The keys and range are as accessible as possible for your instrument. Click the link above to hear short samples of each duet on YouTube played on clarinet. 10 Easy Halloween Duets are perfect for concert performances large and small; each piece lasts between one and two minutes. spooky pieces to get you and your audience in the mood for Halloween, but playable any time of year. fully articulated to help interpret each style. great for helping with simple rhythms and developing that internal pulse. road tested with scores of students and performed all over the world. fun to play. an exciting introduction to different musical styles. 16 pages adding up to around a quarter of an hour of quality music. If you enjoyed these duets or are looking for something more challenging for Halloween, then use the search bar to find 10 Spooky Halloween Duets for the same instrumentation, which are written with Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate players in mind. There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Clarinet,Instrumental Duet,Tenor Saxophone - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.593657 Composed by David McKeown. Children,Jazz,Multicultural,Standards,World. Score and parts. 18 pages. David McKeown #6499079. Published by David McKeown (A0.593657). 10 Easy Halloween Duets is a fun collection of original compositions by David McKeown for one Clarinet and one Tenor Saxophone.Each duet is a Halloween flavoured snack. Witches, ghosts, vampires and other favourites appear, with cartoon illustrations on each page. The duets cover many different styles, each as spooky as the rest..The ten titles are, Monstrous Mango, Phantom Phries, Pumpkin Pizza, Skeleton Soup, Spectral Sausage, Spider Sandwich, Vegetable Vampire, Werewolf Waffle, Witchy Watermelon and Zombie Zucchini.These duets are ideal for players of an Early Intermediate to Intermediate standard and above. The keys and range are as accessible as possible for your instrument. Click the link above to hear short samples of each duet on YouTube played on clarinet.10 Easy Halloween Duets areperfect for concert performances large and small; each piece lasts between one and two minutes. spooky pieces to get you and your audience in the mood for Halloween, but playable any time of year. fully articulated to help interpret each style. great for helping with simple rhythms and developing that internal pulse. road tested with scores of students and performed all over the world.fun to play. an exciting introduction to different musical styles. 16 pages adding up to around a quarter of an hour of quality music. If you enjoyed these duets or are looking for something more challenging for Halloween, then use the search bar to find 10 Spooky Halloween Duets for the same instrumentation, which are written with Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate players in mind.There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.684585 Composed by Thesaurus Musicus (1744). Arranged by Gert Th. Walter. Patriotic,Praise & Worship,Sacred. 3 pages. Gert Th. Walter #6472413. Published by Gert Th. Walter (A0.684585). Very easy arrangement, but not only for pupil and beginners. It works for any church services, and it is especially appropriate for schools and students. © 2021 MusikVerlag Gert Walter, Germany. All Rights Reserved. https://www.musikverlaggertwalter.de

Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.684540 Composed by Thesaurus Musicus (1744). Arranged by Gert Th. Walter. Patriotic,Praise & Worship,Sacred. 3 pages. Gert Th. Walter #6471693. Published by Gert Th. Walter (A0.684540). Very easy arrangement, but not only for pupil and beginners. It works for any church services, and it is especially appropriate for schools and students. © 2021 MusikVerlag Gert Walter, Germany. All Rights Reserved. https://www.musikverlaggertwalter.de

Alto Saxophone Duet Alto Saxophone - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.590821 Composed by David McKeown. African,Folk,Holiday,Love,Spiritual,World. 2 scores. 5 pages. David McKeown #6246237. Published by David McKeown (A0.590821). حب (Hubb, Arabic for Love), is a beautiful original composition by David McKeown, arranged as a duet for two Clarinets, and is one of series of pieces celebrating Love in different languages around the world.This duet is inspired by the Andalusi music of the Maghreb. The music is thought to have originated in Muslim Spain a thousand years ago and spread across North Africa in the following centuries. The music is set to the ancient Muwasha poetry, often with secular themes such as love. Andalusi music remains popular today, especially in Morocco, and has influenced many other forms of Arab music. حب aims to capture the melody and spirit of this timeless music.حب is written for players at an advanced intermediate standard and upwards. The preamble is in free time, like an improvisation, followed by the melody and instrumental interludes in a typical ten beat cycle. Ø­Ø¨ has a performance time of around three minutes. Click on the link above to listen to a full YouTube performance of Ø­Ø¨ played on Clarinet.There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Piano Quartet - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548639 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Christmas. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3406037. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548639). The First Nowell arranged for Piano Quartet featuring a thought-provoking re-harmonization of the final verse.OriginsThe 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 an everyday 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 revised and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Piano Quartet Version brings new harmony in the final verse for more energy and drive.StainerOrganist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870s. Stainer is, above all, famous for his songbook entitled Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an essential catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol. Other favorite Stainer arrangements from this book include What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships.Diatonic FunctionThe melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice and then follows a variation refrain. All three words 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 an open-ended feeling – like maybe it never ends.Political ContextThe 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 a common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in the 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 melodies were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.

Piano,Violin - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548506 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387409. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548506). The First Noel arranged for Violin & 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: Violin 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.    

Piano,Trombone - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548503 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387395. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548503). The First Noel arranged for Trombone & 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: Trombone 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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano Quartet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549902 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Standards. 6 pages. Jmsgu3 #3685135. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549902). 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: Piano 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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

B-Flat Trumpet,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548502 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387385. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548502). The First Noel arranged for Trumpet in Bb & 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: Trumpet 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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano,Viola - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548507 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387407. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548507). The First Noel arranged for Viola & 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: Viola 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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano,Tuba - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548505 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387403. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548505). The First Noel arranged for Tuba & 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: Tuba 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.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano Trio - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549903 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Standards. 9 pages. Jmsgu3 #3685139. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549903). Arranged 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 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.  Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870s.  Stainer is, above all, famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an essential catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book include 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 and 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 an open-ended feeling – like maybe it never 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 a common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in the 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.