The French Noel: With an Anthology of 1725 Arranged for Flute Duet

From the Renaissance to the Baroque, French noels joined sacred texts with profane music and dance. They relate tales of shepherds and shepherdesses along with stories of Mary and the Child. This performing edition contains sixteen noels that appeared in an anthology of popular tunes published in 1725, where they were arranged for two flutes by the instrument maker Jean-Jacques Rippert. Betty Bang Mather and Gail Gavin present them here in modern notation in a form that may also be sung. They provide the original lyrics - which had disappeared from song collections - and include all the verses for each piece as well as English translations of first verses. Part I discusses the meaning of the word Noel, the noel as sacred parody and rustic poetry, and its place in the church. It also explores the relationship between noels and dance, the musical notation and styles of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century noel settings, and the long-standing relationship between flutes, shepherds, angels, and song. The volume is enhanced by facsimiles from early collections of noels, including several pages from Rippert's publication. Mather and Gavin define the noel's place in history and encourage today's readers to play these charming pieces, sing them, and dance to their music.

The French Noel is a performing edition of 16 noels, including their lyrics and arrangements for two flutes.

"The book will be of great interest to instrumentalists and singers looking for new sources of chamber music, as well as to all those who wish to experience a musical form that played an important role in France for over two centuries." --French Review

"... an excellent resource for anyone who wants to play, sing, and/or dance to these delightful little pieces. The authors approach this work in the careful, thoughtful, and scholarly manner which is a trademark of Betty Mather's style... I highly recommend this book to anyone intersted in any aspect of the noel and/or its performance." --National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors

"...Something unusual and lovely for Christmas...it would interest anyone who is interested in Christmas music or who has to plan music and dance for worship. The carols themselves are beautifully printed and laid out for playing..." --The Sign

French noels unite sacred and profane texts, music, and dance as performed from the late Middle Ages through the Baroque. Mather and Gavin have transcribed these charming pieces with lyrics of the period so that they may be either sung or played.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [111]-116) and index.

BETTY BANG MATHER is Professor Emerita of Flute at The University of Iowa and author of Interpretation of French Music from 1675 to 1775 and (with the assistance of Dean M. Karns) Dance Rhythms of the French Baroque. GAIL GAVIN is a graduate of The University of Iowa, where she studied flute with Betty Bang Mather. In 1994 she received an NEH Younger Scholars Research Grant.

Preface

Part I: History and Interpretation of Noels

Chapter 1 The Noel

Chapter 2 Noel Forms for Singing, Dancing, and Playing: Renaissance to Baroque

Chapter 3 Dance Steps for Early Noel Melodies

Chapter 4 Prformance of Noel Melodies

Chapter 5 Flutes, Angels, Shepards, and Song

Part II: Flute Duet Anthology

1. Ou s'en vont ces gais bergers

2. Quoi, ma voisine, es-tu fachee?

3. Laissez paitre vos betes

4. Vous qui desirez sans fin

5. Chantons je vous prie

6. Tous les bourgeois de Chatre

7. Noel pour l'amour de Marie

8. A minuit fut fait un reveil

9. Or nous dites Marie

10. Joseph est bien marie

11. Une jeune pucelle de noble cauer

12. Noici le jour solemnel

13. A la venue de Noel

14. Quand Dieu naquit a Noel

15. Grace Soit Rendue

16. Je me suis leve par un matinet

Appendix 1 Facsimile of Three Noels from La fleur des noelz (Moderne, 1535)

Appendix 2 Facsimile of First Page from Chants des Niels de la Grande bible (Ballard, 1704/12)

Appendix 3 Facsimile of Noels from Brunettes ou petits airs a II dessus

(Rippert, 1725)

Appendix 4 Scansions and English Translations of First Stanzas

Bibliography

Index