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The First Nowell, the Angels 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel! 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel! 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: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel! This star drew nigh to the northwest; O'er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right o'er the place where Jesus lay: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel! Then entered in those Wise men three Full rev’rently upon their knee, And offer’d there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel! Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord That hath made Heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind has bought: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel!
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by David Willcocks (1919 - 2015), "The First Nowell", 1980 [ chorus and piano ], arrangement of a 13th-century song [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lidy van Noordenburg) , "De eerste Kerst", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Lidy van Noordenburg
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-10
Line count: 36
Word count: 235
De eerste Kerst, toen de engelen spraken tegen wat arme herders die in ‘t veld lagen Zij hielden daar bij hun schapen de wacht In ‘t holst van een koude winternacht: Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is! Ze keken omhoog en zagen een ster blinken in ‘t oosten, heel erg ver; die heel de aarde dag en nacht verlichtte in grootse pracht: Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is! Bij het licht van diezelfde ster kwamen drie wijzen van heel ver; Ze waren op zoek naar een koning en volgden ze de ster waar hij ook ging. Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is! Deze ster in noordwestelijke richting stond boven Bethlehem stil Daar stopte hij en bleef er staan Gaf zo Jezus’ verblijfplaats aan: Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is! Toen kwamen de drie wijzen binnen Zij bogen en knielden neer Ze offreerden hem daar ook Hun goud, myrrhe en wierook: Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is! Laten wij nu met één zelfde stem Een loflied zingen op Hem Die uit niets de wereld heeft geschapen En met zijn bloed de mensheid bevrijdde: Kerstmis, Kerstmis, … Nu Israel’s Koning geboren is!
Authorship:
- Translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2023 by Lidy van Noordenburg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-10
Line count: 36
Word count: 200