Rejoice! Rejoice! LSB 357, O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of the most recognizable Advent hymns in our hymnody. Learn from Peter Reske as he walks us through the history and meaning behind the text, tune, and themes of this beloved hymn.

Peter Reske is Senior Editor of Music/Worship at Concordia Publishing House.

Learn more about the Lutheran Service Book and the Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns.

Show Notes:

Many look forward to hearing this hymn during the Advent season, it’s one of not only our Lutheran favorites but of other backgrounds worldwide. If you guessed this episode covers LSB 357, O Come, O Come Emmanuel you would be correct. The popularity of this text and tune asks us to question, what exactly is it that makes this hymn so great?

In this bonus episode of the Concordia Publishing House Podcast join host Elizabeth Pittman and guest Peter Reske as they discuss why the history, translation, text and tune all play a piece in the popularity of this Advent hymn.

Questions Covered:

• What does the history of this hymn suggest?
• How does the translation compare to the original text?
• What are the reasons this hymn is so popular?
• How is the name of the tune misleading? Were they always paired together?
• Does the order of the verses make a difference?
• How do the lyrics inform our view of who Christ is?
• What names of Christ do we see in the words for specific Sundays?
• How do the antiphons popularity add to the meaning of this hymn?
• What is the connection to Lord of the Rings?
• What can the latin names tell us about the order?
• How can we use this hymn in our Advent devotional time?

About the Guest:

Peter C. Reske, senior editor of music/worship at Concordia Publishing House, holds degrees in English literature and historical musicology from Marquette University and The Pennsylvania State University. He was the editor of Lutheran Service Book and its attendant resources.

About the Host:

Elizabeth Pittman is the manager of public relations and CGO at Concordia Publishing House. She received degrees from Valparaiso University and the University of Missouri School of Law. It should come as no surprise that Elizabeth is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus. Her life is very busy raising three active sons with her husband.