Variations on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Instrumentation
Duration
Score
Program Notes
Due to the popularity of the Jingle Bells Variations in the styles of famous composers that I wrote in 2024, I decided to write some variations on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (one of my favorite Christmas carols) in 2025. But this time, I decided to write variations in the styles of ten less famous composers that I felt deserved more recognition. Included in this list are three women (von Bingen, Beach, Boulanger) and three non-Caucasians (Chevalier, Still, Takemitsu). Though the majority of these composers are inevitably from Europe and North America, some were heavily influenced by musical styles from South America (Milhaud), Africa (Still) and the Far East (Takemitsu) – influences that should hopefully come through in their respective variations.
The Boulanger and Takemitsu variations, apart from being my favorites of this set, are almost short standalone works of their own and could be programmed as such.
Movements:
- Theme (von Bingen, 2’40”)
- Gesualdo (1’35”)
- Biber (35”)
- Chevalier (45”)
- Beach (1’30”)
- Boulanger (3’)
- Milhaud (55”)
- Still (40”)
- Takemitsu (3’-3’30”)
- Rautavaara (1’50”)