J.J.Wright
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Advent cantata · Choral · Jazz · Album · November 4, 2016

O Emmanuel

A ten-part Advent-to-Christmas work in which the Great O Antiphons move through children’s voices, chamber music, jazz, and gospel-inflected rhythm.

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01About the work

Expectation gathers into sound.

O Emmanuel begins in the stillness of the Great O Antiphons and moves gradually toward Christmas morning. Chant, hymnody, children’s voices, chamber instruments, and jazz do not appear as separate styles; they change one another as the work passes from expectation toward arrival.

Commissioned in 2015 by the Notre Dame Children’s Choir, the cantata was first performed that December at Christ the King Lutheran Church in South Bend. Wright played piano with Matt Ulery on bass and Jon Deitemyer on drums for the world premiere.

The recorded version followed in May 2016 at Leighton Concert Hall with more than fifty musicians. Wright composed, arranged, orchestrated, played piano, and guided the recorded project as executive producer; it was released that November.

People and credits

J.J. Wright
Executive producer · Composer · Pianist · Arranger · Orchestrator · Album artist
Dr. Mark Doerries
Conductor
Notre Dame Children’s Choir Chamber Choir
Choir
Arwen Myers
Soprano
Laura Thoreson
Mezzo-soprano
Brendan Tuohy
Tenor
David Farwig
Baritone
Ike Sturm
Bass
Zach Harmon
Drums
Fifth House Ensemble · Robert Simon
Strings and winds · Bassoon
Thomas C. Moore
Producer
Robert Friedrich
Recording · Mixing · Mastering
Erin Donegan · Daniel Stein
Assistant producers
Cory Davis
Score engraving
Ben Skudlarek
Artwork and layout
Erin Donegan
Assistant conductor
Hillary Doerries
Choir accompanist
Billboard Traditional Classical chart
No. 1 for two weeks; top ten for seven weeks

Track list

  1. 01Gabriel’s Message3:08
  2. 02I. Sapientia1:46
  3. 03II. Adonai4:52
  4. 04III. Radix4:03
  5. 05IV. Clavis4:52
  6. 06V. Oriens3:58
  7. 07VI. Rex5:05
  8. 08VII. Emmanuel4:32
  9. 09VIII. When the Sun Rises in the Morning Sky6:19
  10. 10IX. Christ the Lord Is Born Today5:10