An evening blog about the real meaning of Christmas. This piano solo is the bonus track of the Prayerful Improvisations Christmas album. We’ve been through many trials and challenges during this pandemic that shook us. And we didn’t know it would change our lives drastically. Now more than ever the world needs a Savior.
Two thousand years ago, the Jewish people cried out for the promised Messiah to come and save them from captivity in Babylon. The birth of Jesus Christ announced in Luke 2:11 in the Bible is the fulfillment of prophecy for the long-awaited Messiah. John 3:16 says “For God so Loved the World that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus is the Son of God who came to live among us and then died on the cross for the sin of mankind, so that when we accept Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior, we are reconciled to God and live through all eternity .
Based on the chant or plainsong, Kenneth Osbeck writes “‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ was originally used in medieval church liturgy as a series of antiphons sung for the week of Vesper services just before Christmas Eve.” Each stanza (verse) below is about the different biblical names of Jesus Christ: Emmanuel-God with us; Wisdom from on high; Desire of nations; and Dayspring. Today, this hymn is sung in churches as Christians prepare for Christmas which is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.
| Stanza 1 | Stanza 3 |
| O come, O come, Emmanuel, | O come, Desire of nations, bind |
| And ransom captive Israel, | All people in one heart and mind; |
| That mourns in lonely exile here | Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; |
| Until the Son of God appear. | Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. |
| Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel | Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel |
| shall come to thee, O Israel. | shall come to thee, O Israel. |
| Stanza 2 | Stanza 4 |
| O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, | O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer |
| And order all things, far and nigh; | Our spirits by Thine advent here; |
| To us the path of knowledge show, | Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, |
| And cause us in her ways to go. | And death’s dark shadows put to flight. |
| Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel | Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel |
| shall come to thee, O Israel. | shall come to thee, O Israel. |
This recording is a reflective musical interpretation of the song. Imagine the opening musical notes representing the heavens and the space between heaven and earth. The oboe then plays the melody as if praying to God to send Emmanuel.
Listen to Peter’s piano solo arrangement and performance on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or watch the video on YouTube. This is the Dec. 18 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.
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