Pronunciation- Israel in The First Nowell
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I’m listening to an older recording from Christmas Eve of a choir I used to sing in. I noticed that each chorus of The First Nowell “Israel” is pronounced differently. It sounds like we either couldn’t decide which was correct and just alternated between the two, or this was a compromise between two stubborn men.
Can anyone tell me what the correct pronunciation of Israel is when singing The First Nowell? We’re alternating between Is-rye-el and Is-ray-el. Which one is it? -
Your choirmaster is the final authority for you.
And it is his or her job to see that all sing the same vowel.
I have always sung 'Is-ray-el or Is-rah-el - - but never Is-rye-el
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This is more for congregational singing.
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