O come, O come, Emmanuel
Encyclopedia
O come, O come, Emmanuel is a translation of the Latin
text ("Veni, veni, Emmanuel") by John Mason Neale
and Henry Sloane Coffin
in the mid-19th century. It is a metrical version of a collation of various Advent
Antiphon
s (the acrostic O Antiphons
), which now serves as a popular Advent hymn
. Its origins are unclear, it is thought that the antiphons are from at least the 8th Century, but "Veni, veni Emmanuel" may well be 12th Century in origin.
The text is based on the biblical prophecy from that states that God
will give Israel
a sign that will be called Immanuel
(Lit.: God
with us). states fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus
of Nazareth
.
for Franciscan nuns, but it may also have 8th Century Gregorian origins. It is one of the most solemn Advent
hymns.
One widespread practice in the Catholic Church has two subsequent verses sung each week of Advent, beginning with the First Sunday of Advent as verses 1 & 2. The Second Sunday of Advent, verses 3 & 4 are sung. On the Third Sunday of Advent, verses 5 & 6. On the Fourth Sunday of Advent however, verses 1 & 7 are then sung.
Performance variations exist today over the rhythm of the music. Many performances pause after "Emmanuel" in both the verse and the chorus, or extend the final syllable through a similar count. Often however, performances omit these pauses to emphasize the meaning of the chorus: "Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel". If a pause is included, the meaning may be confused, as an audible comma is perceived between "Emmanuel" and "shall come to thee...", changing the grammatical subject
of the sentence from Israel to Emmanuel. Rushing the first and final lines to omit the pause produces a greater sense of movement, which may or may not be desirable in performance as it contrasts with the unhurried pace of the remainder of the song.
quotes the melody in "The Gift of the Magi" in his Trittico Botticelliano. The composer James MacMillan
wrote a percussion concerto
, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
, based on this carol in 1991, premiered during the 1992 BBC Proms
.
The composer Arvo Pärt
wrote a symphony
, his 1977 Symphony no. 3, that utilizes the melody and expresses the millenarian (or even apocalyptic) theme of the text. He also wrote seven Magnificat Antiphons, which were essentially the German texts of the hymn set to a variety of arrangements. The first movement of George Dyson
's 1949 Concerto da Chiesa uses the theme as a basis for the first movement. U2
's song White as Snow
from its 2009 release No Line on the Horizon takes its tune directly from the hymn.
Ecclesiastical Latin
Ecclesiastical Latin is the Latin used by the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in all periods for ecclesiastical purposes...
text ("Veni, veni, Emmanuel") by John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale
John Mason Neale was an Anglican priest, scholar and hymn-writer.-Life:Neale was born in London, his parents being the Revd Cornelius Neale and Susanna Neale, daughter of John Mason Good...
and Henry Sloane Coffin
Henry Sloane Coffin
Henry Sloane Coffin was president of the Union Theological Seminary, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA, and one of the most famous ministers in the U.S...
in the mid-19th century. It is a metrical version of a collation of various Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
Antiphon
Antiphon
An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
s (the acrostic O Antiphons
O antiphons
thumb|The [[Annunciation]]The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in various liturgical Christian traditions.Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture...
), which now serves as a popular Advent hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
. Its origins are unclear, it is thought that the antiphons are from at least the 8th Century, but "Veni, veni Emmanuel" may well be 12th Century in origin.
The text is based on the biblical prophecy from that states that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
will give Israel
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
a sign that will be called Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel or Emmanuel or Imanu'el . It is a theophoric name used in the Bible in and...
(Lit.: God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
with us). states fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
of Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
.
Musical setting
It is believed that the traditional music stems from a 15th Century French processionalProcessional hymn
A processional hymn is a chant, hymn or other music sung during the Procession, usually at the start of a Christian service although occasionally during the service itself. The procession usually contains members of the clergy and the choir walking behind the processional cross...
for Franciscan nuns, but it may also have 8th Century Gregorian origins. It is one of the most solemn Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
hymns.
One widespread practice in the Catholic Church has two subsequent verses sung each week of Advent, beginning with the First Sunday of Advent as verses 1 & 2. The Second Sunday of Advent, verses 3 & 4 are sung. On the Third Sunday of Advent, verses 5 & 6. On the Fourth Sunday of Advent however, verses 1 & 7 are then sung.
Performance variations exist today over the rhythm of the music. Many performances pause after "Emmanuel" in both the verse and the chorus, or extend the final syllable through a similar count. Often however, performances omit these pauses to emphasize the meaning of the chorus: "Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel". If a pause is included, the meaning may be confused, as an audible comma is perceived between "Emmanuel" and "shall come to thee...", changing the grammatical subject
Subject (grammar)
The subject is one of the two main constituents of a clause, according to a tradition that can be tracked back to Aristotle and that is associated with phrase structure grammars; the other constituent is the predicate. According to another tradition, i.e...
of the sentence from Israel to Emmanuel. Rushing the first and final lines to omit the pause produces a greater sense of movement, which may or may not be desirable in performance as it contrasts with the unhurried pace of the remainder of the song.
Musical influence
Ottorino RespighiOttorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
quotes the melody in "The Gift of the Magi" in his Trittico Botticelliano. The composer James MacMillan
James MacMillan (musician)
James MacMillan CBE is a Scottish classical composer and conductor.-Early life:MacMillan was born at Kilwinning, in North Ayrshire, but lived in the East Ayrshire town of Cumnock until 1977....
wrote a percussion concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Veni, Veni, EmmanuelThis favourite carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century. The author of the words and composer to the music is unknown. It is, however, believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into...
, based on this carol in 1991, premiered during the 1992 BBC Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
.
The composer Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian classical composer and one of the most prominent living composers of sacred music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-made compositional technique, tintinnabuli. His music also finds its inspiration and influence from...
wrote a symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, his 1977 Symphony no. 3, that utilizes the melody and expresses the millenarian (or even apocalyptic) theme of the text. He also wrote seven Magnificat Antiphons, which were essentially the German texts of the hymn set to a variety of arrangements. The first movement of George Dyson
George Dyson (composer)
Sir George Dyson KCVO was a well-known English musician and composer. His son is the physicist and mathematician Freeman Dyson and among his grandchildren are the science historian George Dyson and Esther Dyson...
's 1949 Concerto da Chiesa uses the theme as a basis for the first movement. U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's song White as Snow
White as Snow (song)
"White as Snow" is a song by Irish rock band U2 and the ninth track on their 2009 album No Line on the Horizon. It was written from the perspective of a dying soldier serving in Afghanistan, and lasts the length of time it takes him to die...
from its 2009 release No Line on the Horizon takes its tune directly from the hymn.