norman hutchins emmanuel with guitar chords

What are some interesting cover versions? It was, however, the combination of the tune with John Mason Neale’s translation of the Latin text that began its life as a perennial festive favourite. So the actual composer of the music for one of the world’s most popular carols is enigmatically anonymous. It wasn’t until the 1960s musicologist Mary Berry (not that Mary Berry) sourced the 15th century manuscript that bore the tune’s building blocks, among many others used for processional chants for burials. The haunting melody of ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ has its roots as far back as 15th Century France, with a sketchy-at-best history.

The Emmanuel of the title refers to the Hebrew ‘Immanuel’ which appears in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament more as a sign of God’s protection than an actual person, whereas in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament the name Emmanuel refers specifically to Jesus Christ. The distinctly biblical feel of the lyrics differ from the more overtly celebratory tone of most carols (there’s no herald angels harking nor flocks being watched by night, for example), and the actual nativity narrative doesn’t feature in any meaningful way. This is perhaps because the strong roots of the Latin text come from the ‘O Antiphons’ (so-called because each one begins with an ‘O’), traditionally used during the last seven days of advent during the Roman Catholic Vespers service. Quite unusually for a Christmas carol still commonly performed, there are all sorts of arcane words and expressions littered throughout.

What is ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ about?

Norman hutchins emmanuel with guitar chords