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

by Betty Bang Mather, Gail Gavin

Overview

"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 Christmasit 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253210258
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	07/22/1996
Series:	Publications of the Early Music Institute
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

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