Advent Calendar – 19th December, 2021 – O Come all ye Faithful
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar, 2021
19th December, 2021
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
words translated from Latin by Oakley (1802-1880), Brooke and others;
music probably 18th century,
arr. Sir David Willcocks (1919 – 2015)
This carol was first printed in 1751 with the Latin words, Adeste Fideles, but it was in 1841 that Frederick Oakley, an English Roman Catholic priest published the English version of the words which became the basis of what we know and love today.
It is probable that the music was by a composer called John Francis Wade (1711 – 1786), but this is not 100% certain. Meanwhile, the music was attributed to composers of the calibre of Handel, Arne and Gluck.
So far in compiling this Advent calendar I have amazingly managed not to refer to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, but this carol is the penultimate congregational carol in that inspiring and celebratory service each year.
This service, broadcast across the world has had a profound impact on the choice of carols in so many far flung places and partially accounts for the popularity of this carol However, the version which I have attempted to convey here on solo harp by the late Sir David Willcocks is particularly uplifting and popular – especially with its wonderful descant evoking the exultant singing of angels and frankly, I think it is quite simply a jolly good sing!
The Latin version, Adeste Fideles, is the last anthem in the Midnight Mass from St Peter’s at the Vatican in Rome.
Finally, one intriguing point is that an academic named Bennett Zon, has argued that Wade was conveying covert Jacobite messages in the hymn about Bonnie Prince Charlie; it is argued that Bethlehem in the text meant England whilst in the Latin version Angelorum meant Anglorum – the English.
Laeti triumphantes (joyful and triumphant) is deemed actually to be referring to Jacobites.
1.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
2.
God of God, Light of Light
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb
Very God
Begotten, not created
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
3.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
All glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
4.
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
Recorded on: David Concert Harp c2000
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Wade
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come,_All_Ye_Faithful
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/oh-come-all-ye-faithful?lang=eng