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18 Comments on “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Sleeping at Last”
Rhythmically interesting version, the waltz measure adds forward motion and flow but reduces strength and excitement. Difficult to explain. I think I prefer the oldfashioned way to sing it. Emmanuel is one of my favorite chorus Christmas songs.
Brigit,
I have played a variety of singers doing this song. I agree that the traditional, the old-fashioned way, is probably the best. It has a solemnity about it.
Thank you, Kat. It’s actually not a Christmas carol at all. It is an antiphon for the Advent season – which is now, so it is very appropriate!
Perhaps some will enjoy a less emotive version? Soli Deo Gloria!
Well, I’ll go on record as saying I love alternative versions of classic songs for their ability to help us hear them anew. I like Christmas songs and can sing along without even remotely needing to think about it; I’d have to if I wanted to join in on this rendition, which I liked quite a bit.
sprite,
I totally agree except for a couple of songs which seemed forever identified with a particular singer like Gene Autry and Rudolph, Bing and White Christmas.
Like you, I sing right along. It doesn’t matter who is singing. I sing along in English to carols in other languages.
Nicely produced version by this group. But as I said previously, it is a song for the Advent season. Check out the wiki article and then look up the other “O antiphons”. The tune we associate with the text is from the Renaissance in France.
Well it is a dark hymn; the people of Israel are suffering and pleading for salvation. So a somewhat raw and chaotic musical presentation is not inappropriate.
It’s such a lovely hymn; one could spend a couple days listening to the different recording and not lose interest. That’s one great aspect of Christmas songs – they are so widely recorded there is a great host to choose from.
I go to a non-denominational church, which is real scarce on liturgy. So on the high Christian holidays, I often go to a Lutheran service (Missouri synod of course) for the liturgy and the mystery (including antiphons). And the Catholic girls know about antiphons, but maybe forgot what they are called….
When I was in Israel a couple years, due to the timing, I signed up with a Catholic tour group (206 Tours). I was the lone protestant out of about 50, but hey I was graciously welcomed and had a great time. Because the Orthodox and Catholics do a lot to maintain the various Christian historic sites, they have special access. About 10 people from the group (including myself) were selected by lot to do a meditation lock-in at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher from 8 to 12 PM on a Saturday night. So right before midnight the giant doors were swung open and a swarm of priests and nuns and monks from the various Orthodox churches (Russian, Greek, Armenian) and also from the Catholic church came in to feverishly set-up for midnight mass in their area of the church- many wore traditional robes and clothing. Wow, what an absolutely splendid scene and easily the most memorable moment of any of my travels. I get feeling joyous just remembering
Spaceman,
I have seen a small bit of that splendid scene you mention. It was during a pontifical high mass. A bishop celebrated the mass. There were other priests on the altar who had roles in the mass. The singing was lovely. It was like a lesson in liturgy.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
December 12, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Rhythmically interesting version, the waltz measure adds forward motion and flow but reduces strength and excitement. Difficult to explain. I think I prefer the oldfashioned way to sing it. Emmanuel is one of my favorite chorus Christmas songs.
December 12, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Brigit,
I have played a variety of singers doing this song. I agree that the traditional, the old-fashioned way, is probably the best. It has a solemnity about it.
December 12, 2016 at 4:56 pm
Thank you, Kat. It’s actually not a Christmas carol at all. It is an antiphon for the Advent season – which is now, so it is very appropriate!
Perhaps some will enjoy a less emotive version? Soli Deo Gloria!
December 12, 2016 at 5:51 pm
61cqr,
I think the first time I heard this song it was much like this. The song is lovely.
December 12, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Well, I’ll go on record as saying I love alternative versions of classic songs for their ability to help us hear them anew. I like Christmas songs and can sing along without even remotely needing to think about it; I’d have to if I wanted to join in on this rendition, which I liked quite a bit.
December 12, 2016 at 9:21 pm
sprite,
I totally agree except for a couple of songs which seemed forever identified with a particular singer like Gene Autry and Rudolph, Bing and White Christmas.
Like you, I sing right along. It doesn’t matter who is singing. I sing along in English to carols in other languages.
December 12, 2016 at 9:22 pm
There are so many wonderful versions of this song. For a harder edge version, there’s Big Daddy Weave:
December 12, 2016 at 9:29 pm
Spaceman,
I get what you mean by the harder edge. I like his voice but I find the percussion a bit of a distraction.
December 14, 2016 at 8:38 am
Nicely produced version by this group. But as I said previously, it is a song for the Advent season. Check out the wiki article and then look up the other “O antiphons”. The tune we associate with the text is from the Renaissance in France.
December 14, 2016 at 12:02 pm
61,
I did look up antiphons when I first read it as I didn’t know what that meant. I also happened to read Wiki when I was hunting.
December 12, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Well it is a dark hymn; the people of Israel are suffering and pleading for salvation. So a somewhat raw and chaotic musical presentation is not inappropriate.
December 12, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Spaceman,
I also think that a raw and chaotic presentation is appropriate. I just wanted to hear more of the singer.
December 13, 2016 at 3:36 pm
It’s such a lovely hymn; one could spend a couple days listening to the different recording and not lose interest. That’s one great aspect of Christmas songs – they are so widely recorded there is a great host to choose from.
December 13, 2016 at 5:40 pm
Spaceman,
I start listening to Christmas songs early, even in my cr. The time is short, and there are so many songs.
December 15, 2016 at 4:33 pm
I go to a non-denominational church, which is real scarce on liturgy. So on the high Christian holidays, I often go to a Lutheran service (Missouri synod of course) for the liturgy and the mystery (including antiphons). And the Catholic girls know about antiphons, but maybe forgot what they are called….
December 15, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Spaceman,
I don’t think I was ever taught antiphons and I spent most of my education in Catholic schools.
I loved the church at midnight mass. The boys’ choir sang, and there was a feeling of joy and excitement.
December 15, 2016 at 9:21 pm
When I was in Israel a couple years, due to the timing, I signed up with a Catholic tour group (206 Tours). I was the lone protestant out of about 50, but hey I was graciously welcomed and had a great time. Because the Orthodox and Catholics do a lot to maintain the various Christian historic sites, they have special access. About 10 people from the group (including myself) were selected by lot to do a meditation lock-in at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher from 8 to 12 PM on a Saturday night. So right before midnight the giant doors were swung open and a swarm of priests and nuns and monks from the various Orthodox churches (Russian, Greek, Armenian) and also from the Catholic church came in to feverishly set-up for midnight mass in their area of the church- many wore traditional robes and clothing. Wow, what an absolutely splendid scene and easily the most memorable moment of any of my travels. I get feeling joyous just remembering
December 15, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Spaceman,
I have seen a small bit of that splendid scene you mention. It was during a pontifical high mass. A bishop celebrated the mass. There were other priests on the altar who had roles in the mass. The singing was lovely. It was like a lesson in liturgy.