The first Nowell

"The first Nowell" is one of those essential carols that instantly brings the joy of Christmas into the choir loft. This particular arrangement by Mack Wilberg takes the familiar traditional English melody and gives it a wonderful, building structure that keeps both the singers and the congregation engaged.

The piece opens gently with the tenors and basses sharing the story of the shepherds in the fields, before the sopranos and altos take over to sing of the star shining in the East. This back-and-forth approach allows the different sections of the choir to lead the narrative. When all voices finally join together in harmony for the third verse, singing "Then let us all with one accord," it creates a powerful, sweeping moment of praise.

Choirs often bring this out during Midnight Mass or parish carol services. The soaring "Nowell" refrains and the grand, layered ending give the classic text a majestic feel, making it a brilliant way to announce the birth of the King of Israel.