第一个圣诞

《第一个圣诞》，又称《圣诞佳音》（英语：The First Noel、The First Noël或The First Nowell）是一支传统英格兰圣诞颂歌，大约出自18世纪，但也可能更早。^[1][2] “Noel”一词来自法语Noël（即“圣诞节”），而这个法语词则来自拉丁语“natalis”（即生日）。^[3]

《新旧颂歌集》（1879）中的第一个圣诞

现在流行的版本起源自康沃尔郡，最早出现于《古今颂歌集》（《Carols Ancient and Modern》，1823）和吉尔伯特与山迪颂歌集（《Gilbert and Sandys Carols》，1833）中，这两个集子的作者都是威廉·山迪，并由大卫·吉尔伯特编辑。现在的版本由英国作曲家约翰·斯坦纳编辑，分成四个部份收录于其《新旧颂歌集》（《Carols, New and Old》，1871）中。^[2] 此外第一个圣诞的乐谱也有许多变体。

第一个圣诞的一段旋律重复了两次，并还有一次几乎一致的旋律，这一点不同于常见的英国民歌。其更早版本可在《新牛津颂歌书》中找到。^[4] 此外，后来有许多知名歌手，如艾维斯·普里斯莱、鲍勃·迪伦等都在其专辑中收录过这首歌。

歌词比较

以下的版本来自《新英语赞美诗集》（1986年）（此版本出现在《新旧颂歌集》）、^[5][6] 拉尔夫·邓斯坦的《康沃尔歌集》（《Cornish Songbook》，1929）^[7] 和哈钦斯（《Reverend Charles Lewis Hutchins》）的美国版《旧颂歌集和新颂歌集》（《Carols Old and Carols New》，1916）。^[8]

《新英语赞美诗集》[6]	《康沃尔歌集》[7]	《旧颂歌集和新颂歌集》[8]
1. 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: Refrain Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.	1. O well, O well, the Angels did say To shepherds there in the fields did lay; Late in the night a-folding their sheep, A winter's night, both cold and bleak. Refrain O well, O well, O well, O well, Born is the King of Israel.	1. The first Noel, the angels say To Bethlehem's shepherds as they lay. At midnight watch, when keeping sheep, The winter wild, the light snow deep. Refrain Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel.
2. They lookèd 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:	2. And then there did appear a Star, Whose glory then did shine so far: Unto the earth it gave a great light, And there it continued a day and a night.	2. The shepherds rose, and saw a star Bright in the East, beyond them far, Its beauty gave them great delight, This star it set now day nor night.
3. 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 whersoever it went:	3. And by the light of that same Star, Three Wise Men came from country far; To seek a King was their intent - They follow'd the Star wherever it went.	3. Now by the light of this bright star Three wise men came from country far; They sought a king, such their intent, The star their guide where'er it went.
4. This star drew nigh to the north-west; O'er Bethlehem it took its rest; And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay:	4. The Star went before them unto the North West, And seemed o'er the City of Bethlehem to rest, And there did remain by night and by day, Right over the place where Jesus Christ lay.	4. Then drawing nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem town it took its rest; The wise men learnt its cause of stay, And found the place where Jesus lay.
5. Then entered in those Wise Men three, Fell reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence, Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:	5. Then enter'd in these Wise Men three, With reverence fall on their knee, And offer'd up in His presence The gifts of gold and frankincense.
6. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made heaven and earth of nought, And with his blood mankind hath bought:	6. 'Tween an ox manger and an ass, Our Blest Messiah's place it was; To save us all from bond and thrall, He was a Redeemer for us all!

参考文献

1. Remembered as the treble part to a carol "Hark, hark the angels sing", according to Annie G. Gilchrist, "Note on the Carol "The First Noel" Journal of the Folk-Song Society 519 (June 1915), pp. 240-242.
2. The First Nowell （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）, Hymns and Carols of Christmas.
3. Noel. Eytmonline: Online Etymology Dictionary. [29 December 2011]. （原始内容存档于2013-12-15）.
4. Keytes and Parrott, New Oxford Book of Carols (《Oxford University Press》, 1992) ISBN 0-19-353323-5.
5. Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, The First Nowell （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） in Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878)
6. New English Hymnal, (Canterbury Press, 1986), No. 36
7. Ralph Dunstan, The Cornish Song Book (London: Reid Bros., Ltd., 1929), pp. 126
8. Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), No. 643

外部链接

• Free arrangements for piano （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） and voice （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆） from Cantorion.org