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O Holy Night

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeO Holy Night (disambiguation).
"O Night Divine" redirects here. For the Trace Bundy album, seeO Night Divine (album).

Cantique de Noël
O Holy Night
byAdolphe 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

"O Holy Night"(original title:Cantique de Noël) is asacred songabout the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described as 'the dear Saviour' in the original, and frequently performed as aChristmas carol.Originally based on a French-language poem written in 1843 by poetPlacide Cappeau,it was set to music by composerAdolphe Adamin 1847. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is byJohn Sullivan Dwight.

In modern times, the song has been covered multiple times, most notably byMariah CareyandLauren Daigle.

History[edit]

InRoquemaure,France, at the end of 1843, the town's church organ had recently been renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest persuaded poetPlacide 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 Adamcomposed the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey.[2]

Unitarian minister, music critic, and editor ofDwight'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 withabolitionists.[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 theMidnight Mass.[5]

Lyrics[edit]

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour'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[edit]

Adolphe Adam described O Holy Night as "a religiousMarseillaise",the 1792 song that became the national anthem of France, around the time of theFrench Revolution of 1848.[6]As early as 1864, theRevue de Musique Sacrée,a publication focused on Catholic liturgical music, noted thatMinuit Chrétienswas 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 1930Vincent d'Indypublished an article that praisedRichard Wagnerand claimed that Jewish composers, including Adam, were only motivated by financial interest.[6]

Catholic Church ban[edit]

On September 22, 1936, theCatholic Church in Canadabanned "O Holy Night" from being performed in churches, along with other songs including wedding marches,the Canadian national anthem,and many versions ofAve Maria,including those by composers such asFranz Schubert,Charles Gounod,Pietro Mascagni,andJules 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 ofGregorian chantand Gregorian music.[7]

On record charts[edit]

This is adynamic listand may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byadding missing itemswithreliable sources.

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

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Mariah Carey version[edit]

Certifications for "O Holy Night" by Mariah Carey
Region Certification Certified 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abCollins, Ace (2001).Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas.Grand Rapids: Zondervan. pp. 132–138.ISBN9780310873877.
  2. ^Gray, Helen T. (December 23, 2000)."Musical memories".The Spokesman-Review.pp. E4.RetrievedDecember 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.Archivedfrom the original on May 22, 2021.RetrievedMay 22,2021.
  5. ^Bronze, Jean-Yves (December 6, 2003)."The Minuit, Chrétiens in Québec".La Scena Musicale.9(4).Archivedfrom the original on January 26, 2021.RetrievedMay 22,2021.
  6. ^abcIvry, Benjamin (November 19, 2020)."A brief history of 'O Holy Night,' the rousing Christmas hymn that garnered mixed reviews".America.RetrievedDecember 19,2023.
  7. ^ab"Canadian Prelate Bans Music in Catholic Churches".The Day.September 22, 1936. p. 3.RetrievedDecember 19,2023.
  8. ^"Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2021.RetrievedMay 21,2020.
  9. ^"Mariah Carey 'O Holy Night'".RIAA.com.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2016.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
  10. ^"Certificazioni - FIMI".Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 3,2022.
  11. ^"Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994)"(PDF).Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 13, 2019.RetrievedMarch 14,2018.
  12. ^Whitburn, Joel(2008).Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008.Record Research. p. 49.ISBN978-0-89820-177-2.
  13. ^Whitburn 2008,p. 263.
  14. ^"Chart History: Celine Dion – Holiday 100".Billboard.com.Archived fromthe originalon November 2, 2020.RetrievedNovember 2,2020.
  15. ^""All I Want For Christmas": Which Song Renditions Top the Tree? ".Nielsen.com.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2021.RetrievedMay 19,2021.
  16. ^"Chart History: Josh Groban – Adult Contemporary".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2022.RetrievedMay 19,2021.
  17. ^Whitburn 2008,p. 166.
  18. ^"GleeCast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales) ".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2021.RetrievedNovember 7,2020.
  19. ^"Tribute to schoolboy is chart hit".Heraldscotland.com.November 24, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on August 25, 2021.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
  20. ^"'O Holy Night' – Ladywell Primary School ".Officialcharts.com.Archivedfrom the original on May 21, 2021.RetrievedAugust 25,2021.
  21. ^"Lauren Daigle – Christian AC History".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2022.RetrievedJune 12,2021.
  22. ^"Chart History: Lauren Daigle – Hot Christian Songs".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedJune 12,2021.
  23. ^"Chart History: Lauren Daigle – Christian Airplay".Billboard.com.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedJune 12,2021.
  24. ^"Top Singles (Week 52, 2023)"(in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.RetrievedJanuary 2,2024.
  25. ^"Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994)"(PDF).Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 13, 2019.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  28. ^"South Korean International Singles (Week 51, 2012)".Circle Chart.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  29. ^"Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.RetrievedMay 21,2020.
  30. ^Whitburn 2008,p. 49.
  31. ^"Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  32. ^"Celine Dion Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  33. ^"Josh Groban Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  34. ^"Josh Groban Chart History (Holiday 100)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  35. ^"Josh Gracin Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  36. ^"Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  37. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  38. ^"Lauren Brant Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  39. ^"Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian AC)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  40. ^"Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian Airplay)".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  41. ^"Canadian single certifications – Mariah Carey – O Holy Night".Music Canada.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  42. ^"Italian single certifications – Mariah Carey – O Holy Night"(in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.RetrievedDecember 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.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.

External links[edit]

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