O Come Emmanuel: A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas - Softcover

“If, like me, you have always been confused by the imagery of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’ you will find this book both compelling and illuminating. Gordon Giles has selected a kaleidoscopic mixture of musical settings of scripture, hymns and carols, from Gibbons to Taizé, Plainchant to Kendrick, via Bach, Berlioz, Vaughan Williams, Menotti and many others. He writes with engaging insight and perception, providing us with material for reflection, prayer and meditation.” —John Scott, Organist and Director of Music, St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City
  “If you've ever wondered about the origins of a favorite Christmas carol, you'll enjoy this book, subtitled A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas. Like most devotionals, the book offers daily readings and meditations. It goes from the beginning of December to the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6. The centerpiece of each day's reading, however, is an exploration of the history and spiritual significance of a beloved piece of Christmas music.” —Mary A. Jacobs, Dallas Morning News

“O Come Emmanuel: A Musical Tour of Daily Readings for Advent and Christmas by Gordon Giles is a handy spiritual book for the holidays. This pretty paperback of 165 pages contains song lyrics and poems, a reading and a prayer for each day from Dec. 1 to Jan. 6. It's bound to add to the reader's appreciation for the holy days, and you can keep it and read it with the family every year, finding something new each Christmas season.” —Record-Courier