O Emmanuel (album)
| O Emmanuel | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by | |
| Released | 2016 |
| Genre | Sacred jazz |
| Length | 43:45 |
| Language | English |
| Label | Dynamic Catholic |
| Producer | Thomas Moore |
O Emmanuel is a 2016 Adventide album composed by J.J. Wright and performed by the Notre Dame Children's Choir, Fifth House Ensemble, and Wright himself.[1][2][3][4] The album is a mix of various genres of sacred music, including traditional choral music, gregorian chant, gospel, and sacred jazz.[2][3]
Composition
O Emmanuel was composed by J.J. Wright while pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Notre Dame, while he was an intern for the Sistine Chapel Choir in Rome and studying abroad at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome.[5][6] Speaking with Catholic News Agency, Wright described the composition's music as an authentic description of his own Catholic faith, and described the album's composition as an attempted mixture of musical traditions native to the United States with the sacred music traditions of Western Europe.[2] In doing so, his music on the album took inspiration from the spirit of Sacrosanctum Concilium, a document produced during the Second Vatican Council that stated that a suitable place be given to the various musical traditions of the world within the context of religious life.[2][3] The particular songs Wright chose to compose for the album itself were inspired by O Antiphons, Christian prayers sung by Catholics in the final week of Advent during vespers.[3][7]
Recording
The album was recorded at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in Notre Dame, Indiana.[3] The album, produced by Thomas Moore with sound engineer Robert Friedrich, was performed by the Notre Dame Children's Choir and four adult vocalists, alongside the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble and Wright, who performs as part of his jazz trio.[3][7]
Track listing
All tracks are written by J.J. Wright
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gabriel's Message" | 3:08 |
| 2. | "I. Sapientia" | 1:46 |
| 3. | "II. Adonai" | 4:52 |
| 4. | "III. Radix" | 4:05 |
| 5. | "IV. Clavis" | 4:51 |
| 6. | "V. Oriens" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "VI. Rex" | 5:05 |
| 8. | "VII. Emmanuel" | 4:33 |
| 9. | "VIII. When the Sun Rises in the Morning Sky" | 6:19 |
| 10. | "IX. Christ the Lord is Born Today" | 5:09 |
| Total length: | 43:45 | |
Reception
Upon its release, O Emmanuel shot to the top of the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums chart, a place where it would spend the next eight weeks. Reviews of the album were generally positive.[8] Mary Kunz Goldman, writing in The Buffalo News, described the song's charting as "impressive" in light of the album's fusion of jazz with gregorian chant.[6]
References
- ^ Morrissey, Christopher S. (November 8, 2016). ""O Emmanuel": Oh, Not Just Another Christmas Album". The Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Elise (December 7, 2016). "Sacred music and … jazz? One composer's response to Vatican II". Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Walton, Jack (December 8, 2016). "Notre Dame Children's Choir debuts at No. 1 on Billboard chart". South Bend Tribune. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ McKenna, Josephine (December 23, 2016). "J.J. Wright's 'O Emmanuel' mixes it up". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Simon, Scott (December 3, 2016). "'O Emmanuel' Composer Mixes In Jazz To Provide 'Respite' Within Traditional Hit". NPR. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Goldman, Mary K. (December 9, 2016). "CDs to celebrate the Christmas season". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Reichert, Libby (December 17, 2016). "Heard of the O Antiphons? You've never heard them like this!". Aleteia. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Olson, Carl E. (November 24, 2019). "New "Vespers" composition flows from "the gift of meeting Mary and Jesus"". The Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.