What is the story behind O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?

The words go back to the O Antiphons, Latin chants sung before Christmas since about the eighth century. A rhyming Latin hymn based on them was printed in Cologne in 1710, and in 1851 the Anglican priest John Mason Neale translated it. Thomas Helmore adapted the tune for The Hymnal Noted in the 1850s. It is older still: in 1966 Mary Berry found it in a fifteenth-century French processional, probably copied for nuns, where it was sung at funerals.

Christmas Carol Sing-Along · Advent

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Get ready for Christmas. Practise the carols at home, in your own time, on your own or with family and friends. First hear it, then sing it.

1 Listen

Let the choir sing it to you. Follow the music and the words.

2 Sing

Now it’s your turn. The organ plays, and the gold note shows the way.

5 verses · 3:48 · organ accompaniment · highest note D

The words go back to Latin chants sung before Christmas since about the eighth century. The tune was found in a fifteenth-century French processional, where it was sung at funerals.

On a phone? Turn it sideways and tap the full-screen button, and the music fills the screen.

The words go back to the O Antiphons, Latin chants sung before Christmas since about the eighth century. A rhyming Latin hymn based on them was printed in Cologne in 1710, and in 1851 the Anglican priest John Mason Neale translated it.

The rest of the story

Thomas Helmore adapted the tune for The Hymnal Noted in the 1850s. It is older still: in 1966 Mary Berry found it in a fifteenth-century French processional, probably copied for nuns, where it was sung at funerals.

The words

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 Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
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, 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! 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! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

All the carols