Blackmore’s Night is led by the husband and wife team, Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night. In a live setting the two principal members are surrounded by a compliment of side musicians. For the album “Winter Carols” from which this song is taken, only one other musician was utilized: producer Pat Regan who added keyboards to the mix. Vocalist Candice Night also plays the shawm and pennywhistle. The remaining instrumentation was provided by Ritchie Blackmore. In addition to guitar, he added mandola, nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, and percussion to this 2006 release.
Those familiar with history of rock and roll will readily recognize Blackmore’s name, as he was a founding member of both Deep Purple and Rainbow. Incidentally, he was a member of both bands – each on two different occasions. Blackmore was in Deep Purple from 1968 to 1975; that same year he formed Rainbow. When Rainbow initially disbanded in 1984, he joined a reconstituted Deep Purple. This relationship continued until Blackmore walked out on the band in August 1993. Following this untimely exit from Deep Purple, he reformed Rainbow and this band continued until he and Candice created Blackmore’s Night in 1997.
This Renaissance inspired band typically performs period songs and similar sounding original material. Today’s song “Emmanuel,” which is typically titled as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” predates the Renaissance with roots extending back to the 8th century. Originally written in Latin as “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel,” the current tune and lyrics were not joined until the 15th century. John Mason Neale translated the song from Latin into English during the 19th century.
The song is based upon the Isaiac prophecy concerning the coming Immanuel, which is translated from the Hebrew as meaning “God with us.” "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel,” Isaiah 7:14 NASB.
This a beautiful rendition of this traditional air. While there are several versions of the lyrics that differ from each other to some extent, Blackmore's Night uses an abbreviated version that contains only the first and third verses.
Blackmore’s Night Lyrics
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the face of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
And drag away the shades of night
And pierce the clouds and bring us light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the face of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Complete Lyrics from One Version
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! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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