First Noel, The (Band Gr. 2)

Invite your audience to take in the simple joys of the holiday season during this heartwarming setting of the famous carol, The First Noel. This arrangement allows young and intermediate bands alike to sound mature and expressive!

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Sapphire Band Series
Level: 2 | Duration: 2:30

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score
Flute
Oboe [optional]
Bassoon [optional]
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
F Horn
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba
Timpani [3 drums]
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Chimes
Percussion 1: Wind Chimes, Concert Bass Drum, Crash Cymbals
Percussion 2: Triangle, Suspended Cymbal

Program Notes
The First Noel — or Nowell, or Noël, or Christmas, or day of birth — has both a wide-ranging textual etymology as well as various current forms of meaning and practice. Regardless of one’s perspective, the first day of the life of Jesus Christ most likely was not a “Silent Night” in that manger with his young and scared parents. The feeling of calm as captured by the original melody could only come from the angelic chariots of Heaven. Likewise, our often celebrated Westernized holiday traditions are more akin to the feelings of the serendipitous blessings bestowed to the shepherds and magi. (The Holiday Inn of Bethlehem certainly did not seem to be into happy season’s greetings.) However, in this “fireside chat” setting of The First Noel, I hope to invoke the warmth of family and love often celebrated during this time; and I truly hope that each of you feel Christ’s blessings in a tangible way during this holiday season.