Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2008
December 3
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an Advent hymn based on one of the oldest Christian prayers, the "O" Antiphons. The hymn we sing today is a translation of a Latin hymn "Veni, Veni, Emanuel" set to a French plain song melody from the 15th century. Shadyside Presbyterian Church here in Pittsburgh uses the first verse as the sung response to the prayer of confession during Advent.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words: Latin, circa 12th century; stanzas 1-2 trans. John Mason Neale, 1851; stanza 3 trans. Henry Sloane Coffin, 1916.
Music: VENI EMMANUEL, 15th Century French Plain Song melody, arranged by Thomas Helmore, 1854.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Sources and more information
- Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990.
- Cyber Hymnal
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- Wikipedia