Hyperion Records

The setting of O come, O come, Emmanuel by Andrew Carter (b1939) is an effective arrangement of the well-known Advent hymn. The words are adaptions by J M Neale of the so-called ‘Great Advent Antiphons’, sometimes known as the ‘O’ Antiphons as each of the texts in Latin begins with the word O. These are sung as follows:

O sapientia: O wisdom—December 16
O Adonaï: O Adonaï—December 17
O radix Jesse: O root of Jesse—December 18
O clavis David: O key of David—December 19
O oriens: O dayspring—December 20
O Rex gentium: O King of the nations—December 21
O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel—December 22
O Virgo virtutem: O Virgin of virtues—December 23

The inclusion of this great Advent hymn is, therefore, a neat summary of the various elements of the Advent message.

from notes by William McVicker © 1997