Skip to main content

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Image
By
Some have questioned the inclusion of what has become a stereotypically Advent seasonal hymn on a non-Christmas work. This song became a part of FBR because of its invitational message that recognizes the lordship of the Christ. The under currents of the project speak of man's desperate need for an ultimate answer and this text pictures gospel rescue beautifully.

As much as "Out of the Deep I Call" was a reference to the 90's, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" was a tribute to the 80's. Personally describing it as a hybrid of Johnny Cash and Depeche Mode, I enjoyed the U2-ish guitar riffs laid down by Ben. Indeed, the arrangement ended up being so unique that I chose to stay with the original melody and chord structure, so as to not completely alienate the worshiper.

Though I have fielded several comments in praise of this version of the tune, I have to admit that it was not an easy feat. After nearly two hours of rehearsal, this track was simply not coming together. As I have hinted at previously, rehearsing and recording the project was no mean task. We had a looming deadline, and I for one was becoming concerned that this hymn may have to be scrapped from the final lineup. Thankfully, Evan (one of the drummers) had several good pointers, and ultimately arranged a composition that handily took on a life of its own that was quite distant from its start. The goal, as he put it, was to record a hymn that didn't strike the listener as such.

As I listen to the track now, I am so thankful for the great group of musicians that were so eager to work on FBR and lend their ideas. I found the additional perspectives quite invigorating and certainly the FBR album would not be near the asset that it is without their late night sacrifices and contribution.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FBR on Boundless - Lisa Anderson Interview

By
  Listen to the entire interview with the Boundless podcast host, Lisa Anderson .
Post a Comment
Read more

Inner View

By
In the midst of economic woes, I have a personal and vested interest in utilizing my creative gifts to earn a living. Recently, I had an opportunity that looked promising towards such an end. Within a 24 hour window, I had: 1. An email in my inbox asking me to contact the interested company as soon as possible regarding an interview, 2. The phone interview, 3. The physical interview, 4. The job offer, and most importantly of all 5. An opportunity to trust in Grace. My attitude initially was very poor. I did not expect to be offered employment, and as a matter of fact, I had actually planned on such a contingency, so as not to be disappointed. Thus far, I had chosen to disregard the Savior's provision and lovingkindness in favor of another attempt at control. Having not interviewed for several years, my skills were quite rusty. Thankfully, the hiring manager was not overly seasoned, and God brought me favor during the interview process. In what seemed like a dizzying blur, the int
1 comment
Read more

Keep it to Yourself

By
Once upon a time, I heard that if I didn't have anything nice to say, then I shouldn't say anything at all. It seemed logical enough. I certainly appreciated, I thought, living in a realm of silence rather than negativity. What I couldn't see, however, was the seeping, wispy black cloud sneaking steadily through a crack in the door. I bought into the idea and it allowed a slow yet constant stream of grossness to flow into my space. With silent darkness as their incubator, the lies began to take shape and grow. Though their development was subtle, there were several points along the way when I was startled by the inundation. Spores gave way to ground cover, which gave way to small foliage, which eventually became a forest so thick that I could barely distinguish what was right in front of me. The problem, you see, was not that I wasn't saying anything nice. Rather, it was that I had become confused as to what nice was. That word had gotten thrown into a tumultuous sp
1 comment
Read more