The first Nowell
By Mack Wilberg

One keyboard is not sufficient to play the accompaniment. It is very beautiful, but I had to adapt it.

This arrangement of the first nowell is very beautiful, due to the unusual counterpoint and counter melodies in the piano. It does go up high for your average volunteer choir. . .a G#/Ab for the sopranos. So that should be kept in mind. If you have trained or gifted sopranos...

and tenors there should not be a problem

This piece has a beautiful counter melody in the accompaniment making for a rich and wonderful arrangement. The piece is not too difficult for the choir, first verse men unison, second verse women unison except for last line; but the third verse splits into SSAATTBB. Therefore it does require a...

somewhat large choir, but it is only a short period of time that they are split. However, it is a rather difficult accompaniment -- I would rate it intermediate for choir and advanced for accompaniment. High note for 1st soprano is high A, high note for 1st tenor is middle A.

By singing this with 110 voices, we were able to carry out the very end so it slowly mellowed to a whisper. Very touching.

This piece follows the formula Wilberg uses on many of his satb pieces - two verses unison men or women, and a third satb verse that is truely exultant and inspiring. The accompanyiment weaves a nice countermelody giving the piece nice variety from other arrangements.