O Come, O Come, Emmanuel {Robert Shaw}

[MrGer2295]

MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you for sharing and MERRY CHRISTMAS !

[lewilliams213]

Many of the Shaw Christmas albums are now on CD! It's not Christmas until Shaw is in the house!

[tomwtrevor]

My parents had this album. It and few others would be playing while we ate the Christmas goose. It bring tears to my eyes today,while I remember the happy times I had as a kid listening to this song, but now my parents are dead. God bless them.

[bartje11]

@tomwtrevor God bless you! Thanks for sharing!

[BrownieFuscia]

@tomwtrevor Your parents wanted to share with their children the "true" spirit of Christmas through this sacred, glorious music. Thank you for sharing your childhood memories with us. Merry Christmas, Tom. And may you always be blessed by God's presence.

[purplemanatee12]

most beautiful version I have heard.

[Sesshomaus1fangirl]

i like enyas version

[AkumoHyoukyo]

@Sesshomaus1fangirl

her's is the best <3

[maxbatch70]

Thank you very much YouTube, I discovered Robert Shaw, thank you very much

[dbrel]

@maxbatch70 You went too long without knowing of him! Amazing conductor.. Very glad I spent time in his chorus...

[maxbatch70]

@dbrel - we have a saying here, 'better late than never' - yes amazing conductor, you must have a rich experience with the maestor, congrats

[MrRhino18603]

I hope this is what heaven sounds like

[TheHateHarbinger]

Illegal downloading has a good purpose sometimes =)

[hanuy0728]

Our High School choir sang this for Madrigal Feast! I've sang many, many songs but this song is always my top list of my favorites. Simply amazing.

[brassytenor18]

By far one of my favorite arrangements of this beautifull song! :) But what ekse should I expect from Mr. Shaw...I just love his work!

[Tan1723]

In my freshman year of high school, my high school chorus I think did this arrangement of Gregorian Chant like quality. It is my favorite arrangement of O Come Emmanuel. Here I am in my senior year of high school listening to it thinking about how time flies by... I could listen to Gregorian Chant forever.

[AceinIN]

Still the definitive performance of this most powerful of carols!

[1laughinggravy]

@AceinIN Agreed. No other rendition can match this beautiful and awesome performance of this outstanding song.

[emncaity]

I'm trying to remember the last thing I ever heard from the Shaw chorale that wasn't good. Can't remember anything off the top of my head.

[pzeud0nym]

I don't even believe in god, but I cannot deny the majesty of the music he inspires.

[Ebhetome]

@pzeud0nym...that's quite interesting. You don't believe in God, but you admit He inspires music. Just doesn't sound right. Anyways, Merry Christmas.

[pzeud0nym]

@Ebhetome

I don't necessarily have to believe in god to say that god inspires music. Inspiration by something doesn't have to prove its existence. Look at the art and architecture inspired by the pantheons of the Greek or Egyptian civilizations. Zeus, Ra, Quetzalcoatl, or even all the lesser known folk spirits and deities have inspired plenty of awe-inspiring human works, but none of us believe in them, do we?

I'm not dogging you over your comment, just saying that it really is possible :)

[Limeade04]

Oh My God. I'm in tears.. My favorite arrangement of this song...

[PoplarAv]

A lot of us have similar memories of this beautiful music being played on Christmas. Nice to know.

[eandn96]

Inman, we still have that album you mentioned. My mother has the original LP and I managed to find one online, so I have one. We still play it every year at Christmas. It is one of my favourite things to do at Christmas: candles lit, everyone sitting around looking at presents, talking, playing Boggle, or reading, and the Robert Shaw album playing on the turntable.

[Tilara]

this is beautiful. just beautiful

[lokotasioux]

Innman, your story reminded me of my own. Thanks.

[hnacndy22]

Finally I have found this version!! We r singing it in choir and it sounds pretty darn cool. Still working on the fading out part though.

[Limeade04]

@hnacndy22 My Friend!! The Fade part is the Most difficult and beautiful part of the arrangement!!!

[dhowell888]

This is so awesome to me. Enya does an awesome version too. I just wish it were fully ion English! :) The melody of this song is so "Holy" sounding. Can't you just imagine the Jewish people singing this song before the 1st coming of Christ? GOD had been silent for a long time and they really needed a "spiritual awakening." Yes, even back then. They knew the Messiah had been promised to come and they waited patiently, but longingly. Can't you hear them sing this very song? O Come Emmanuel...

[pookerville]

I remember that this version of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" opened at least one or two editions of the annual WHRB radio Christmas special, which includes classical music, spoken word(including Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge) as many wonderful carols from all through the ages!

[chicagoman58]

wow

[lover7707]

GABBY! Gabby!  Gabby!

[lover7707]

Give me that old spirit and conviction...as it was in days of yore! Can never get enough! Give..me song; and I shall rejoice' ;give me Love and shall.... Rejoice!

[SoulsurferUK08]

If Carlsberg did Xmas carols..........

Just magnificent, my favourite carol and this is the best version I have heard, many thanks.

[angelofbebop]

BEAUTIFUL! Thank you to SoulsurferUK08 for sharing it and to bartje11 for posting it!

[Innman356]

My folks had a Robert Shaw Christmas album back in the '70s, a family favorite. As years went on, it developed some scratches. While it played, it made "snap-cracke-pop" sounds. But they were subtle, and as a kid, I'd sit in the dark, other than the Christmas Tree...and picture a crackling fire as I drifted off to sleep...mezmorized by the sounds of The Robert Shaw Chorale! The RCA album we had showed carolers covered in snow, holding a lantern. Thanks for such memories!

[bartje11]

Thank you for sharing!

[awetzel66]

I have a very similar memory.

[Grandtenore]

@Innman356 When I sang with the Morehouse College Glee Club, we sang with them every Christmas, and we were always amazed at the clarity of diction, purity of tone, beauty of the blend, and the breath control on the beginning of this piece...some of the older glee club members talk about Robert Shaw in almost reverential terms.

[jimraw1]

@Grandtenore Robert Shaw was probably the finest American Choral conductor there was. What he did with Cleveland and especially Atlanta, making it the only group to rival the Morman Tabernacle Choir, may never be seen again. While the British have several outstanding choral groups and directors, Shaw may be unsurpassed at leading large vocal organizations.

[Innman356]

@Grandtenore ...As well they should! (LOL) Robert Shaw was (and still is) Head & Shoulders above the rest!

[lichtbroeder]

@Innman356 We had his albums too, and also had a fake cardboard fireplace in the cellar that had a little revolving thing on a light bulb that simulated flickering flames. I too listened to this music in the dark as a child, by the light of the "fire".

I came across a photo of Shaw the other day that was taken in the 40's, showing him with an interracial choir in NYC. Talk about "ahead of his time".

[1ExtraChrispy1]

@Innman356

We had that same album, and I did the same thing!

[esergone]

@Innman356 I know it's been a year, but I have to say, that is a beautiful memory you describe. I can't thank you enough for sharing it.

[Innman356]

@esergone It is my pleasure. I'm tearing up a bit now...Listening to this recording again...and knowing I am a bit premature in listening to Christmas Music...But I can't wait until Thanksgiving...Once Santa hits the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...It's officially Christmas Season...and the Carols come out of Mothballs! Many Blessings of the Season to You & Yours!

[nogalesmaestro]

@Innman356 That was a beautiful album...I remember it well.

[CeliaVdeAguirre]

This is a masterpiece and you can clearly feel the spirit of Peace and Hope,Rejoice !Emmanuel ! God is here with us!

[scarlett24ca]

This is song version brings back memories. I always loved Robert Shaw even as a child.

[maculster]

Thank you for posting this-its my favorite Christmas carol and this is the best performance I have heard thus far.

[fullofsecrets]

This version always gives me chills. Thank you so much for posting it -- can't hear it without thinking of decorating the Christmas tree.

[abc1000001]

I have this on album. Must be over 40 years old by now.

[OkBellaOk]

This is the best rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel I have heard. :D

[loupblanc26]

Magnificent performance! Thanks