O Come, O Come, Emmanuel — Boys Air Choir

The Boys Air Choir, a chamber ensemble of young choristers drawn from such cathedrals as St Paul's, Salisbury, Winchester, and Westminster Abbey, perform a simple arrangement of the traditional Advent hymn 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.' Though the Choir, as its name suggests, was officially composed of boy choristers only, this particular recording features a special guest chorister in Elizabeth Burrowes, sister of Boys Air Choir members Connor, Patrick, Edward, and Jonathan Burrowes. Though three of her brothers were choristers at St Paul's Cathedral and a fourth at New College, Oxford, Elizabeth became a chorister at Salisbury Cathedral due to the lack of opportunities for girl trebles in London's cathedrals. The featured soloists are, respectively, William Bulteel (St Paul's Cathedral), Benedict Copping, Elizabeth Burrowes (Salisbury Cathedral), Henry Neill, and Thomas Crow (Winchester Cathedral). [ Text ] O come, O come, Emmanuel! 
Redeem thy captive Israel 
That into exile drear is gone, 
Far from the face of God's dear Son. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 
Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Branch of Jesse! draw 
The quarry from the lion's claw;
 From the dread caverns of the grave,
 From nether hell, thy people save. O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright! 
Pour on our souls thy healing light; 
Dispel the long night's lingering gloom,
 And pierce the shadows of the tomb. O Come, thou Lord of David's Key! 
The royal door fling wide and free;
 Safeguard for us the heavenward road, 
And bar the way to death's abode. O come, O come, Adonai, 
Who in thy glorious majesty 
From that high mountain clothed in awe, 
Gavest thy folk the elder Law. [ Recording available on the disk 'Boys Gregorian' (Victor Entertainment Japan, 2002). ]