'O Come All Ye Faithful' is one of the most supreme Christmas carols, which was originally written in Latin and called 'Adeste Fideles'. Today this song is generally attributed to the Englishman, John Francis Wade, in 1751, but the origins and meaning of 'Adeste Fideles' have historically been surrounded in controversy.
John Francis Wade is thought about the most likely composer, since the earliest manuscript still in existence shows the tune and lyrics written by him. This was published in 'Evening Offices of the Church' in France in 1760, although it is also claimed 'Adeste Fideles' may have been produced by Wade as early as 1743. Wade was a Catholic layman who fled from England to France, fearing religious persecution. Wade earned a living by copying and selling plain chant (think Gregorian chant) music at a major Catholic college in France.
Irish Names And Meanings
Before Wade was established as the probable author of 'Adestes Fideles', the song had been attributed to a collection of people. (You could say that a sign of a great song is when many population try to claim credit for it!) At times the text has been attributed to St Bonaventure, an Italian Bishop, or to King John Iv of Portugal, as early as the 13th century. Many believed the 'Adeste Fideles' lyrics were instead written by an order of monks - whether the Cistercian, German, Portugese, or Spanish. Originally, the song only contained four Latin verses, but more were added later by the French clergyman, Etienne Jean Francois Borderies, in the 18th century.
As for the origins of the 'O Come All Ye Faithful' melody, there were many proposed composers until Wade's manuscript was discovered. John Reading, an English composer, was thought to have written the tune with his son in the 17th century. At one time, it was purported that the supreme German composer, Handel, wrote the music. A Portugese musician by the name of Marcos Antonio da Fonseca was also credited with the music, until it was discovered that he couldn't possibly be the originator because he wasn't born until after the first manuscript was published!
The English version, 'O Come All Ye Faithful', that is most generally sung today, didn't appear until 1852, and was translated by Frederick Oakeley and William Thomas Brooke. This beloved Christmas carol has been translated into numerous languages, and has circulated the globe. A infer for the carol's contested and unclear origins, is possibly that it became beloved very early on and was familiar in many dissimilar countries.
Then, as if the disputed origins weren't enough, the meaning of 'Adeste Fideles' has also been disputed. The head of music at Durham University, Professor Bennet Zon has suggested that the song may not even be about Christmas. Professor Zon has found mountainous evidence that this so called 'Christmas carol' may as a matter of fact have a underground political meaning, related to the Jacobite movement in England.
The Jacobites were a political group dedicated to returning the Catholic Kings by the name of Stuart, to the thrones of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Zon has proposed that 'Adeste Fideles' refers to the 'faithful' Jacobites, and is about manufacture Prince Charles Edward Stuart the King of England. The Latin phrase "Regem Angelorum" is a pun on Angelorum (Angels) and Anglorum (English). So this 'Christmas' song, could also be translated as "Come and glance him, born the King of the English".
Whatever your beliefs are, one thing we can all agree on is that 'Adeste Fideles' or 'O Come All Ye Faithful' has as a matter of fact left its mark on history (even if the marks are a bit smudgy!). It's a beautiful, majestic song that has stood the test of time, and is still beloved today. So when you sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' this Christmas, take a moment to think the keen history behind this superior song.
Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) - A inquire of Origins
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