“O Holy Night”: The 1847 French Sacred Song About the Birth of Jesus
“O Holy Night” is a sacred song about the night of Jesus Christ’s birth, who is described in the first verse as “the dear Saviour.” “O Holy Night” is frequently performed as a Christmas carol. “O Holy Night” is based on the French-language poem Minuit, “chrétiens,” written in 1847 by poet Placide Cappeau, and it was set to music by composer Adolphe Adam. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is by John Sullivan Dwight. In recent times, the song has been covered by many popular performers.
“O Holy Night” Explanation
“O Holy Night” is derived from the poem Minuit, “chrétiens,” written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau. He was a wine commissionaire and a part-time poet. The origin of the poem was that the stained glass had been renovated at a church he frequently attended, and this led parish priest Maurice Gilles to ask Cappeau if he would write a new song to be sung at that year’s Christmas Midnight Mass.
Cappeau was friends with singer Emily Laurey, and Laurey had connections with the famous opera composer Adolphe Adam, who had written his most famous work, ‘Giselle,” just a few years before. Cappeau wrote Minuit, chrétiens on December 3, 1847, during a six-hour stagecoach ride.
Cappeau’s understanding of Christian theology was derived from Jesuit educators. The words are based on the Nativity of Jesus, specifically from the Gospel of Luke, and were inspired by the hypothesis of being a witness to the moment.
Cappeau was proud of his work and requested Adolphe Adam set the poem to music during the same trip. Adam’s exact beliefs regarding Christianity are not known, although it is known that he was raised in a non-Christian environment, and he would frequently play the organ in churches.
The most popular English rendition was translated by American music critic and minister John Sullivan Dwight in 1855. He departed from his vocation to pursue a career in music and teaching. Dwight was influenced by the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
“Cantique de Noël” was first sung at the Midnight Mass of 1847. “Within a generation or so,” according to Christmas carol historian William Studwell, “Cantique de Noël” has been translated into many languages and received many renditions. One of the earliest publications was an organ arrangement published in 1855.
William Studwell stated in his book “The Christmas Carol Reader” that “O Holy Night” is “the most popular carol in France and belongs in the upper echelon of carols on an international basis.” “O Holy Night” is a common tradition in French and Canadian culture to have a solo performance at Midnight Mass.
In recent history, the song has been covered in a variety of Christmas album collections, across a range of genres and song styles. Popular covers of the song include renditions by Michael Crawford, Mariah Carey, NSYNC, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Weezer, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Ella Fitzgerald, Carrie Underwood, and Andrea Bocelli. In a 2010 survey conducted by Zogby International, “O Holy Night” was ranked as the most popular Christmas song, ahead of “White Christmas” and “The Christmas Song.”
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Because “O Holy Night” has been performed by many artists, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is very Christmasy, we will delve into them a bit. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O’Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team.
The band gained in popularity when they began touring in 1999 after completing their second album, The Christmas Attic, the previous year. In 2007, The Washington Post referred to them as “an arena-rock juggernaut” and described their music as “Pink Floyd meets Yes and the Who at Radio City Music Hall.” TSO has sold more than ten million concert tickets and over ten million albums.
Conclusion
“O Holy Night” is just one of those songs that appeals to most people. Interestingly, the song originated in France in the mid-19th century from a poem. It is also interesting that the original song was written by someone who is not Catholic, given that the song is now often sung at midnight Mass.
