French Christmas Carols – Noëls – Sheet Music and Arrangements

The term “Noël” is actually a literary one to begin with: it is used to describe a poem in French, often dialectal language, which is related to Christmas in a broader sense, often depicting shepherds, for example. The songs based on it are therefore not only spiritual, they also belong to the folk tradition. Their origins go back to the 13th century, and the evening singing of Noëls in the home has a long tradition.

Not only the texts often have a rather worldly character. Although the melodies initially mostly go back to well-known Gregorian or hymnal melodies, since the 15th century secular songs have also been used, and to a lesser extent original compositions. Nevertheless, since the 17th century they have found their way into Christmas services, both in sung and instrumental form. The Messe de minuit by Marc-Antoine Charpentier is based on one or more Noëls in each movement.

Apart from organ masses, which process Noëls, it is above all the numerous variation works for organ known as Noël varié that have made this genre famous.

Composers of French Christmas carols

• Nicolas Lebègue
• Pierre Dandrieu
• Jean-François Dandrieu
• Louis-Claude Daquin
• Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
• Michel Corrette
• Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet-Charpentier
• Alexandre-Pierre-François Boëly
• César Franck
• Eugène Gigout
• Felix Alexandre Guilmant
• Charles Tournemire
• Marcel Dupré
• Jean Langlais
• Pierre Pincemaille