Cantique de Noël
O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam
Adolphe Adam
Native nameMinuit, chrétiens
GenreClassical, Christmas
TextPlacide Cappeau
LanguageFrench, English
Composed1847 (1847)
Recording
Performed by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band
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"O Holy Night" (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described as ‘the dear Saviour’ in the original, and frequently performed as a Christmas carol. Originally based on a French-language poem written in 1843 by poet Placide Cappeau, it was set to music by composer Adolphe Adam in 1847. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is by John Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity's redemption.

History

In Roquemaure, France, at the end of 1843, the town's church organ had recently been renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest persuaded poet Placide Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem.[1] Cappeau's original poem began with the line, "Minuit, Chrétien, c'est l'heure solennelle" (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour).

Soon afterwards, in that same year, Adolphe Adam composed the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey.[2]

Unitarian minister, music critic, and editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, John Sullivan Dwight, adapted the song into English in 1855.[3] This version became popular in the United States, especially in the North, where the third verse (including "Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name all oppression shall cease") resonated with abolitionists.[1]

The wide vocal range of the song makes it one of the more difficult Christmas songs for a singer to execute properly.[4] In French-language churches, it is commonly used at the beginning of the Midnight Mass.[5]

Lyric

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

Controversy

Adolphe Adam described O Holy Night as "a religious Marseillaise", the 1792 song that became the national anthem of France, around the time of the French Revolution of 1848.[6] As early as 1864, the Revue de Musique Sacrée, a publication focused on Catholic liturgical music, noted that Minuit Chrétiens was sung in the streets, in bars, and at other social gatherings, and that the song had become "debased and degenerated". While not banned, the song was rarely included in the hymnals in France, despite its growing international popularity.[6] Official French publications of Catholic music described Cappeau as a socialist and a drunk, and a falsehood about Adam being Jewish circulated; in 1930 Vincent d'Indy published an article that praised Richard Wagner and claimed that Jewish composers, including Adam, were only motivated by financial interest.[6]

Catholic Church ban

On September 22, 1936, the Catholic Church in Canada banned "O Holy Night" from being performed in churches, along with other songs including wedding marches, the Canadian national anthem, and many versions of Ave Maria, including those by composers such as Franz Schubert, Charles Gounod, Pietro Mascagni, and Jules Massenet.[7] Per the secretary of the archbishop, the reason for the ban of these songs was the desire for the promotion and exclusive use of Gregorian chant and Gregorian music.[7]

On record charts

The song has been recorded by numerous pop, classical, and religious singers. Several renditions by popular artists have appeared on record charts:

Charts

Certifications

Mariah Carey version

Certifications for "O Holy Night" by Mariah Carey
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Gold 40,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[42] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Collins, Ace (2001). Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. pp. 132–138. ISBN 9780310873877.
  2. ↑ Gray, Helen T. (December 23, 2000). "Musical memories". The Spokesman-Review. pp. E4. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ Nobbman, Dale V. Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. 2000. p. 36. Google Books
  4. ↑ Forget, Dominique (December 24, 2017). "Minuit, chrétiens et l'aigu fatidique". Québec Science. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  5. ↑ Bronze, Jean-Yves (December 6, 2003). "The Minuit, Chrétiens in Québec". La Scena Musicale. 9 (4). Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Ivry, Benjamin (November 19, 2020). "A brief history of 'O Holy Night,' the rousing Christmas hymn that garnered mixed reviews". America. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Canadian Prelate Bans Music in Catholic Churches". The Day. September 22, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Mariah Carey 'O Holy Night'". RIAA.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Certificazioni - FIMI". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  13. ↑ Whitburn 2008, p. 263.
  14. ↑ "Chart History: Celine Dion – Holiday 100". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  15. ↑ ""All I Want For Christmas": Which Song Renditions Top the Tree?". Nielsen.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Chart History: Josh Groban – Adult Contemporary". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  17. ↑ Whitburn 2008, p. 166.
  18. ↑ "Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Tribute to schoolboy is chart hit". Heraldscotland.com. November 24, 2012. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ "'O Holy Night' – Ladywell Primary School". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Lauren Daigle – Christian AC History". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Chart History: Lauren Daigle – Hot Christian Songs". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Chart History: Lauren Daigle – Christian Airplay". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 52, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Mariah Carey – O Holy Night". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Dutch Single Tip 30/12/2023" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  28. ↑ "South Korean International Singles (Week 51, 2012)". Circle Chart. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  30. ↑ Whitburn 2008, p. 49.
  31. ↑ "Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Celine Dion Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Josh Groban Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Josh Groban Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Josh Gracin Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Lauren Brant Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian AC)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Mariah Carey – O Holy Night". Music Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Mariah Carey – O Holy Night" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2023. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "O Holy Night" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  43. ↑ "American single certifications – Mariah Carey – O Holy Night". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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