O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Piano Solo - Digital Sheet Music

Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1035905

By William Gerdes. By English translation by John Mason Neale., Melody of French origin., and Traditional hymn. Arranged by William Gerdes. Christian,Christmas,Holiday,Praise & Worship,Sacred. Score. 5 pages. William Gerdes #6476219. Published by William Gerdes (A0.1035905).

This arrangement of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, veni, Emmanuel) encapsulates the music of the ages throughout which it has lasted. From the beautifully haunting, ancient sounds of the middle ages, from whence it arose, to the sparse and contrapuntal lines of the Renaissance and Baroque, to the Alberti Bass patterns of the Classical period, to the "vertical" hymnal-style writing of the 18th and 19th centuries, to the contemporary blending of Jazz and New Age harmonies and playing styles. 

At times peaceful and meditative and other times joyfully powerful, this arrangement was written with the intention to be an etude that develops both hands and the ability to quickly switch back and forth between various playing patterns of thin and thick musical textures. Yet, this arrangement was also written with attention to musicality, form, feeling and beauty.

The performer will play at all registers of the piano. Mastery of playing this piano solo will yield a true sense of satisfaction. Perfect for church services of all denominations, recitals, holiday get-togethers or simply to unwind and recenter at the end of the day.

History: This hymn originated over 1,200 years ago, in the 8th or 9th century! The hymn paraphrases the seven O Antiphons that were sung as vespers (evening prayers) leading up to Christmas. One O Antiphon was sung per night from December 17-23. The text was originally written in Latin. The words and the music of O Come O Come Emmanuel were developed separately. 

The ancient latin text was translated to english by priest and scholar John Mason Neale. In 1851 the tune called "Veni Emmanuel" was combined with the english translation and published by Thomas Helmore in a volume called The Hymnal Noted. The volume stated that the tune was from a French source. No one could find the exact source of the tune until 1966 when British nun, musicologist and teacher Mary Berry found it in a 15th century manuscript in the National Library of France. 

As one article out it, "Miss Berry believed that the tune she discovered had probably been around longer than the 15th Century. As to when the "O Antiphons" were married to the ancient French tune we may never know. Yet who among us can imagine a Christmas season without the haunting beauty of John Mason Neale’s translated text and Christmas hymn?"