It’s a song of anticipation. A song born out of years of longing and yearning for the Promised One, the Messiah.
A song with the melody of a Gregorian chant and the celebrative chorus of angels.
O Come O Come Emmanuel ‘s author is unknown, but it was supposedly written in Latin in the 12 century and translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.
You can hear Casting Crown’s version here.
Which authors said that this carol was their FAVORITE Christmas song?
My favorite Christmas carol is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I have always loved that one. Aaron Shust sings it sooooooo well. I think I like it partly because it just sounds so cool. And because it sounds very medieval. So when I was writing The Merchant’s Daughter and I needed a song for them sing at church, I looked up O Come, O Come Emmanuel and it was written a hundred years before my story, so I used it. It plays into two scenes in the book. It was perfect.
Melanie Dickerson (author of The Healer’s Apprentice and the newly released Merchant’s Daughter)
Growing up, my parents had an album The Glorious Sounds of Christmas. One of the songs was “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and the orchestration with the cellos and violins was just soooo soulful and moving, it gripped my heart and imagination every time. I could just see the Israelits traversing across the plains, searching for the promised on.
It’s still one of my favorite songs. I have the original album loaded in my iTunes!
Rachel Hauck (author of Dining With Joy and The Wedding Dress)

Janice Thompson ( author of Weddings by Bella series and When Stars Collide)

Siri Mitchell (author of She Walks in Beauty and A Heart Most Worthy) – and of course, her answer is as poetic as her books 😉
Find out more Song of Christmas with your favorite authors coming later this week, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
Oh my goodness! I’m in good company here! LOL!
If you haven’t heard Aaron Shust’s version, it is amazing. It starts out with this wonderful pan flute and a woman singing the lyrics in Latin, as they were originally written. It’s a much more upbeat version than some. You can hear it on YouTube.
(I’m not sure it posted – trying again – sorry if duplicated)
Pepper
This is one of my all time fave Christmas carols.
Looks like I’m in good company!!!
Thanks for sharing this…
and MERRY Christmas everyone!
Hi Melanie!! That is sooo neat about using it in your latest and greatest. Just super!
KC,
You and me both. I LOVE this carol and was really glad to be among this group of ladies too 🙂
Great minds….