Christmas songs
"The First Nöel"
1 4 6 8 10
12 14 16 18 20
AUDIO
1
AUDIO 2
--------campanas--------
The dot is a little sign that goes next to a note. It makes the note a little longer.
For example:
A quarter note is 1 beat.
A dotted quarter note is 1 and a half beats!”
Dotted quarter
History of “The First Noël”
“The First Noël” (or “Nowell”) is an old English Christmas song.
People started to sing it a lot in the 1800s, but it might be even older — maybe from the 1200s!
We don’t know who wrote it.
The word “Nowell” comes from the French word “Noël,” which means Christmas.
A long time ago, some people in England spoke a mix of French and English.
That’s why the word stayed and became part of English too.
Today, we can say “Noël” or “Nowell.”
But “Nowell” sounds old and special, so people use it when they talk about the song or about old Christmas times.
Task Time!
-
Sing the melody “The First Noël” using the note names while you listen to Audio 1.
-
Play it on the piano in GarageBand.
-
Play the melody on the recorder while you listen to Audio 2.
-
Copy the melody in your notebook.
-
Look at the score and complete the table.
6. Listen to these versions of “The First Noël”.
7. Use a Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences you hear between the two versions (voice, instruments, sound, speed, dynamics).
Children’s choir
"Libera"
Country music trio
Time signature
Differences
Differences
Similarities
8. Paint this beautiful Christmas song any way you like.
9. Which emoji would you pick for this music? Tell us why.
