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Nowell Nowell Tydings Trew
Noel Noel Tidings True

Medieval Christmas Hymn

Noel Noel Tidings True is an old Irish Christmas hymn that recounts the joyful mystery of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin. The Archangel Gabriel descends from Heaven and delivers the message of God to the chaste Virgin of Nazareth. She is to bear the Son of God, and through this miracle she will raise the Child that will sacrifice himself to redeem mankind. Our Lady, assured that her purity should remain intact, completely accepts God's will.

Believed to have originated in the 15th century, Noel Noel Tidings True is a pious hymn that still captures the mentality and spirit of the Middle Ages.

It is performed here by the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra,
conducted by Jeannette Sorrell.



Listen to Nowell Nowell Tydings Trew


Old English Lyrics:

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
of the Aungell Gabriell.

Tydynges trew ther be cum new,
Sent frome the Trynyte,
Be Gabriel to Nazaret, cite of Galile;
A clene mayden and pure virgyn,
Thorow hyre humilite,
Conceyvid the Secunde Person in Divinite.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

Whan he fyrst presentid was,
Before hyr fayer visag,
In the most demuer and goodly wys,
He ded to hyr omag,
And seid, "Lady, frome heven so hy,
That Lordes herytag,
The wich off the borne wold be,
I am sent on messag."

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

"Hayle, Virgyne celestial,
The mekest that ever was;
Hayle, temple of Deite,
And myrrour off all grace;
Hayle, Virgyne puer, I the ensure,
Within full lytyl space,
Thou shalt receyve and hym conceyve,
That shal bryng gret solace."

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
of the Aungell Gabriell.

Sodenly she, abashid truly,
But not al thyng dysmaid,
With mynd dyscret and mek spyryt,
To the aungell she said:
"By what maner shuld I chyld bere,
The wich ever a maid,
Have lyvid chast, al my lyf past,
And never mane asaid?"

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

Than ageyne to hire certeyn,
Answered the aungell,
"O Lady dere, be off good chere,
And dred thee never a dell,
Thou shalt conceyve in thi body,
Mayden, very God hym self,
In whos byrth heven and erth shal joy,
Callid Emanuell."

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

Than bespake the Virgyne again,
She answered womanly,
"What ever my Lord commaund me do,
I wyll obey mekely,
Ecce sum humilima,
Ancilla Domini;
Secundum verbum tuum,"

She seid, "Fiat Mihi."

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
This is the salutacion,
Of the Aungell Gabriell.

Translation:

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

Tidings true there be newly come,
Sent from the Trinity,
By Gabriel to Nazareth, City of Galilee;
A clean Maiden and pure Virgin,
Through her humility,
Conceived the Second Person in Divinity.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

When he first presented was,
Before her fair visage,
In the most demure and goodly manner,
He did to her homage;
And said, “Lady, from heaven so high,
That Lord's heritage,
Which would of thee be born,
I am sent on message."

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

"Hail, Virgin celestial,
The meekest that ever was;
Hail, temple of Deity,
And mirror of all grace;
Hail, Virgin pure, I thee ensure,
Within a full little space,
Thou shalt receive and Him conceive,
Who shall bring great solace."

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

Suddenly she, abashed truly,
But not at all dismayed,
With mind discreet and meek spirit,
To the Angel she said:
"By what manner should I bear a child,
Who was ever a maid,
Have lived chaste all my life past,
And never by man assailed?"

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

Then again to her certain,
Answerëd the Angel,
“O Lady dear, be of good cheer,
And fear thee not a bit,
Thou shalt conceive in thy body,
Maiden, the very God himself,
In whose birth heaven and earth shall joy,
Called Emmanuel."

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

Then bespake the Virgin again,
And answered womanly,
“Whatever my Lord commanded me do,
I will obey meekly.”
“Behold the most humble,
Slave of the Lord;
According to your word,”
She said, “Be it done unto me.”

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
This is the salutation,
Of the Angel Gabriel.


Nowel Nowell Tydings Trew Sheet Music


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King David playing the harp


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