Veni, Veni, Emmanuel: An Obscure French Funeral March

Link to music: https://tinyurl.com/nasceturprote

Although Veni, Veni, Emmanuel as a whole only dates back to the 17th century, its origins are much more ancient. This hymn, perhaps the best known Advent hymn of all time, is a combination of the O Antiphons which are at least 1200 years old. Based on prophecies about Jesus from Isaiah all the way through Zachariah, these antiphons were sung before the Magnificat during Vespers: one on each of the last seven days before Christmas:

17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

18 December: O Adonai (O Lord)

19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

21 December: O Oriens (O Dayspring)

22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

23 December: O Emmanuel (O God is With Us)

It didn't first appear as a hymn until the 18th century, and it wasn't until the 20th century that the origins of the melody were discovered: in an old manuscript of music for a French Requiem Mass. If you recall the readings for the first Sunday of Advent, and the apocalyptic, end-times imagery there, and Christ's exhortation to "stay awake and keep watch!" then perhaps the most popular Advent carol of all time having its melodic origins in a Requiem is rather appropriate.

In this episode, we’ll teach you both the traditional melody for the hymn, as well as the simple original harmony, and give you some ideas for varying the way you sing this to make it possible to sing the whole hymn at Mass!

LATIN

Veni, veni Emmanuel! Captivum solve Israel! Qui gemit in exilio, Privatus Dei Filio, Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel. Veni o Jesse virgula! Ex hostis tuos ungula, De specu tuos tartari Educ, et antro barathri. Gaude…

Veni, veni o oriens! Solare nos adveniens, Noctis depelle nebulas, Dirasque noctis tenebras. Gaude… Veni clavis Davidica! Regna reclude coelica, Fac iter Tutum superum, Et claude vias Inferum. Gaude… Veni, veni Adonai![b] Qui populo in Sinai Legem dedisti vertice, In maiestate gloriae. Gaude…

Veni, O Sapientia, Quae hic disponis omnia, Veni, viam prudentiae Ut doceas et gloriae.

Gaude… Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium, Veni, Redemptor omnium, Ut salves tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.

Gaude…

ENGLISH

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 victory o'er the grave. Rejoice!...

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice!...

O come, Thou Key of David, come And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice!...

O come, Adonai, 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!...

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, And order all things, far and nigh; To us the path of knowledge show, And cause us in her ways to go. Rejoice!...

O come, Desire of nations, bind All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice!...