The First Noel: All Piano Arrangements and Lead Sheets

Intermediate piano arrangements

• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 1
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 2
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 3
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 4
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 5
• Intermediate Piano Arrangement No. 6

Advanced piano arrangements

• Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 1
• Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 2
• Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 3
• Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 4
• Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 5

Lead sheets in 7 keys

Choose a key — 7 available

• A major
• B♭ major
• C major
• D major
• E♭ major
• F major
• G major

Hymnal setting

This is a traditional hymnal setting, listed separately from the piano arrangements.

• The First Noel — Hymnal

An English carol in print

The First Noel, also spelled The First Nowell, belongs to the English carol tradition. Its tune appeared with the text in William Sandys’s Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern in 1833. The recurring refrain gives a shared musical response to the unfolding Christmas story. Hymnary’s history of The First Nowell.

Choosing a version to play

Start with the difficulty group that matches your current playing, then open a score and compare its texture, hand positions, and length with music you already play comfortably. Arrangement numbers identify versions; they do not rank the pieces from easiest to hardest.

For a melody with your own accompaniment, choose a lead sheet in a comfortable key. Try a simple chord pattern first, then adjust the accompaniment to suit a solo performance or a singer.

More Christmas sheet music on RTV

Explore Christmas Lead Sheets in Different Keys or browse Christmas Hymns from the Hymnal.