Disclaimer: This song is not my own.
One of my favorite Christmas songs to sing is O Holy Night. I have performed it many times, and I love hitting the high note. <3
This morning, we visited our middle son’s ward, where he surprised me by singing this song as a solo.
I immediately started to bawl. He was nervous, but he did great. I know he had a hard time looking at me even though he knew I was crying; he knew most of all how much I loved this song and how proud I am of him. I was mouthing the words with him.
I want to share the history of this song from Wikipedia.
“O Holy Night” (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song, 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]
| Cantique de Noël O Holy Night | |
|---|---|
| by Adolphe Adam |
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 when Christ was born!
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! O praise his name forever!
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]
References
- ^ Jump up to:a b Collins, Ace (2001). Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. pp. 132–138. ISBN 9780310873877.
- ^ Gray, Helen T. (December 23, 2000). “Musical memories”. The Spokesman-Review. pp. E4. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Nobbman, Dale V. Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. 2000. p. 36. Google Books
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c 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.
- ^ Jump up to:a b “Canadian Prelate Bans Music in Catholic Churches”. The Day. September 22, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
Click on the link Placide Cappeau to learn about the poet and Adolphe Adam to learn about the composer.
I want to leave my testimony that the words of this song are true. They are about our Lord and Savior being born and what a most important day that is. I am thankful to God for the talent of singing that he has given to my son and myself, that we can use that talent to sing praises unto Him.
May this and every Christmas season find you well so that you might know these words’ truthfulness.
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