第一個聖誕

〈第一個聖誕〉，又稱〈聖誕佳音〉（英語：The First Noel、The First Noël或The First Nowell）是一支傳統英格蘭聖誕頌歌，大約出自18世紀，但也可能更早。^[1][2] 「Noel」一詞來自法語Noël（即「聖誕節」），而這個法語詞則來自拉丁語「natalis」（即生日）。^[3]

《新舊頌歌集》（1879）中的第一個聖誕

現在流行的版本起源自康沃爾郡，最早出現於《古今頌歌集》（《Carols Ancient and Modern》，1823）和吉爾伯特與山迪頌歌集（《Gilbert and Sandys Carols》，1833）中，這兩個集子的作者都是威廉·山迪，並由大衛·吉爾伯特編輯。現在的版本由英國作曲家約翰·斯坦納編輯，分成四個部份收錄於其《新舊頌歌集》（《Carols, New and Old》，1871）中。^[2] 此外第一個聖誕的樂譜也有許多變體。

第一個聖誕的一段旋律重複了兩次，並還有一次幾乎一致的旋律，這一點不同於常見的英國民歌。其更早版本可在《新牛津頌歌書》中找到。^[4] 此外，後來有許多知名歌手，如艾維斯·普里斯萊、鮑勃·迪倫等都在其專輯中收錄過這首歌。

歌詞比較

以下的版本來自《新英語讚美詩集》（1986年）（此版本出現在《新舊頌歌集》）、^[5][6] 拉爾夫·鄧斯坦的《康沃爾歌集》（《Cornish Songbook》，1929）^[7] 和哈欽斯（《Reverend Charles Lewis Hutchins》）的美國版《舊頌歌集和新頌歌集》（《Carols Old and Carols New》，1916）。^[8]

《新英語讚美詩集》[6]	《康沃爾歌集》[7]	《舊頌歌集和新頌歌集》[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!

參考文獻

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 （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）, Hymns and Carols of Christmas.
3. Noel. Eytmonline: Online Etymology Dictionary. [29 December 2011]. （原始內容存檔於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 （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館） 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

外部連結

• Free arrangements for piano （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館） and voice （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館） from Cantorion.org