O Holy Night
O Holy Night | |
---|---|
by Adolphe Adam | |
Adolphe Adam | |
Native name | Cantique de Noël |
Genre | Classical, Christmas |
Text | Placide Cappeau |
Language | French, English |
Meter | 11.10.11.10.11.10.11.10.10 |
Performed | 1847 |
"O Holy Night" (French: "Minuit Chretiens!" or "Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) written by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877). In both the French original and the English version of the carol, as well as many other languages, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and on humanity's redemption.
History
In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the church organ had recently been renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem, even though the latter had never showed any interest in religion, and Cappeau obliged.[1] Soon afterwards that same year, Adolphe Adam composed the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey. Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, translated the song into English lyrics in 1855.[2]
Lyrics
Placide Cappeau's Cantique de Noël | Literal English translation | John Sullivan Dwight's version |
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Recordings
The song has been recorded by numerous well-known popular-music, classical-music, and religious-music singers. Some milestones include:
- 1968: Mahalia Jackson, on her album Christmas With Mahalia[3]
- 1968: Mireille Mathieu, with her father Roger Mathieu, on her Chante Noël album (re-released as a CD in 2004 with three additional songs)[4]
- 1992: Bill Pinkney, accompanied by The Original Drifters, for the Wisepack White Christmas Compilation CD[5]
- 1993: David Foster arranged and produced the song successfully for several different artists including:
- 1999: Michael Crawford, on the TV special The David Foster Christmas Album; also featured on Foster's best-selling corresponding album (No. 48 Billboard Top 200)[6] as well as Crawford's own A Christmas Album (No. 98 Billboard Top 200)[7]
- 1999: Trans-Siberian Orchestra's platinum-selling DVD The Ghosts of Christmas Eve[8]
- 2002: Josh Groban (No. 1 Billboard Adult Contemporary)[7][9]
- 2004: Celine Dion, featured on her 5× platinum album These Are Special Times[10] (voted most popular)[11]
- 2009: Andrea Bocelli for his double platinum My Christmas album[12]
- 1994: Mariah Carey's rendition, featured on her first studio holiday album Merry Christmas which sold 15 million copies worldwide, charted at No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart [13] [14]
- 1996: John Berry's version charted at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.[15]
- 1997: Martina McBride's rendering charted at No. 74 on Hot Country Songs chart (also No. 67 in 1998, No. 49 in 1999, No. 57 in 2000, and No. 41 in 2001)[16]
- 2006: Josh Gracin's charted at No. 59 on Hot Country Songs chart[17]
References
- ↑ Collins, Ace; [2001], Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, pp. 132–138.
- ↑ Nobbman, Dale V. Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. 2000. p 36. Google Books]
- ↑ http://www.musicstack.com/album/mahalia+jackson/christmas+with+mahalia
- ↑ "Mireille Mathieu – Mireille Mathieu Chante Noël (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ "CD Album – Various Artistes – White Christmas, Volume 1 – Wisepack UK". 45worlds website. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ↑ http://www.musicarchivevault.com, (subscription required)
- 1 2 "Billboard Singles Charts | Record Research MusicVault". Musicarchivevault.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ "Top Annual Winter Holiday Tour To Kick Off November 6". Trans-siberian.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ "That Josh Groban Guy". That Josh Groban Guy. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ searchable RIAA database
- ↑ Edison Research 2004 seasonal song test poll results
- ↑ "Italian tenor's album sales top five million – Thaindian News". Thaindian.com. 2009-12-30. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Hits New Hot 100 High, Reaches Top 20 for First Time". Billboard. December 21, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ↑ "Holiday Digital Song Sales-November 20, 2010". www.billboard.com.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 49. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
- ↑ Whitburn, p. 263
- ↑ Whitburn, p. 166
External links
- IMSLP Original version in several keys, and various arrangements.
- Free sheet music for voice & piano from Cantorion.org
- Sheet music for "O Holy Night" (Cantique de Noël)
- Tabs for "O Holy Night"
- Sheet music for solo piano arrangement of "O Holy Night" (Cantique de Noël)
Preceded by "Cry" by Faith Hill |
Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single by Josh Groban December 28, 2002 – January 4, 2003 |
Succeeded by "Cry" by Faith Hill |