Listen to the MIDI file (AWE32 mix) whilst browsing the music? (MIDI player for Internet Explorer and Netscape, try select for other browsers) I’ve always loved plainsong, even though I’m every bit as much a rock’n’roller at heart, and this is one of my favourite plainsong hymns. I can’t claim any credit for the important parts of the new chord sequence - it’s very close, though not identical, to one that an old aquaintance of mine, Colin Hodgetts, published in a book “Sing True” back in 1969, though it never received due recognition then. But I think it stands the test of time, and makes a classic hymn accessible in music for today. Of course, some of the words are not easy for those who are not steeped in the imagery of the prophets, and maybe even for some who are. But it’s still a great part of our Christian heritage. There are many choices of verses that appear in different hymn books, but this setting is for the five that appear in “Mission Praise” Download the sheet music and related midi files in “zipped” format (20Kb)? Words (from the Latin, translated J M Neale) 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, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’ s height in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice, rejoice ... O come, thou rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’ s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice, rejoice ... O come, thou dayspring, 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 ... O come, thou key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice, rejoice ... Reflection Home Page Back to List of Music
I’ve always loved plainsong, even though I’m every bit as much a rock’n’roller at heart, and this is one of my favourite plainsong hymns. I can’t claim any credit for the important parts of the new chord sequence - it’s very close, though not identical, to one that an old aquaintance of mine, Colin Hodgetts, published in a book “Sing True” back in 1969, though it never received due recognition then. But I think it stands the test of time, and makes a classic hymn accessible in music for today.
Of course, some of the words are not easy for those who are not steeped in the imagery of the prophets, and maybe even for some who are. But it’s still a great part of our Christian heritage. There are many choices of verses that appear in different hymn books, but this setting is for the five that appear in “Mission Praise”
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’ s height in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice, rejoice ...
O come, thou rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’ s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.
O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night. and death’ s dark shadows put to flight
O come, thou key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.