O Holy Night Explained

Composer:	Adolphe Adam
French: Cantique de Noël O Holy Night
Native Name:	Minuit, chrétiens
Native Name Lang:	fr
Genre:	Classical, Christmas
Text:	Placide Cappeau
Language:	French, English

"O Holy Night" (original title: French: Cantique de Noël) is a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described in the first verse as 'the dear Saviour', and frequently performed as a Christmas carol. Based on a French-language poem written in 1843 by poet Placide Cappeau, 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 modern times, the song has been covered multiple times, most notably by Mariah Carey and Lauren Daigle.

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, French: "Minuit, Chrétien, c'est l'heure solennelle"|italic=no (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour).

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]

Controversy

Adolphe Adam described Cantique de Noël as "a religious Marseillaise", in reference to 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. 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.

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.

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:

• 1994: Mariah Carey, from her first studio holiday album, Merry Christmas, reached on the US Billboard Holiday 100 chart.^[8] It was re-released as a single in 1996 and 2000; a re-recorded live rendition is included on her 2010 follow-up album Merry Christmas II You. In 2023, her single was certified Platinum in the United States by RIAA for selling over 1 million units.^[9] It reached in Italy and it was certified Gold.^[10] It reached the top-twenty in Iceland, peaking at number 19.^[11]
• 1996: John Berry on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart^[12]
• 1997: Martina McBride on Hot Country Songs chart (also in 1998, in 1999, in 2000, and in 2001)
• 1998: Celine Dion on Billboards Holiday chart;^[13] in 2014, Nielsen SoundScan reported that her version had sold 240,000 copies in the US.^[14]
• 2002: Josh Groban Billboard Adult Contemporary chart^[15]
• 2006: Josh Gracin on Hot Country Songs chart
• 2010–2011: Glee cast US Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart^[16]
• 2012: Ladywell Primary School in Motherwell, Scotland, released "O Holy Night" as a digital download on November 21, 2012. The school donated 90 percent of proceeds from the song to the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of a student who had died of meningococcal septicaemia. The remaining 10 percent went to school funds.^[17] It reached on the UK Singles Chart.^[18]
• 2017–2018: Lauren Daigle US Billboard Christian adult contemporary,^[19] US Hot Christian Songs,^[20] and US Christian Airplay^[21] charts

Charts

Mariah Carey version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Mariah Carey! Chart (1994–2023)! Peak
position

France (SNEP)^[22]	42
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[23]	19
Netherlands (Single Tip)^[24]	9
South Korea International (Circle)^[25]	84
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)^[26]	70

John Berry version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by John Berry! Chart (1996)! Peak
position

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	55

Martina McBride version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Martina McBride! Chart (1997–2001)! Peak
position

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[27]	41

Celine Dion version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Celine Dion! Chart (1998)! Peak
position

US Holiday 100 (Billboard)^[28]	44

Josh Groban version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Josh Groban! Chart (2002–2011)! Peak
position

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[29]	1
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)^[30]	26

Josh Gracin version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Josh Gracin! Chart (2006)! Peak
position

US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[31]	59

Glee cast version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Glee cast! Chart (2010–2011)! Peak
position

US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)^[32]	1

Ladywell Primary School version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Ladywell Primary School! Chart (2012)! Peak
position

Lauren Daigle version

Chart performance for "O Holy Night" by Lauren Daigle! Chart (2017–2018)! Peak
position

US Hot Christian Songs (Billboard)^[33]	33
US Christian AC (Billboard)^[34]	14
US Christian Airplay (Billboard)^[35]	33

Certifications

Mariah Carey version

See also

• List of Christmas carols

External links

• • • Free sheet music for voice and piano, Cantorion.org
• Sheet music and musical details, artsongcentral.com
• , (original French version)

Notes and References

1. Book: Collins, Ace. Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Zondervan. 2001. 9780310873877. Grand Rapids. 132–138.
2. News: Gray . Helen T. . 23 December 2000 . Musical memories . E4 . . 19 December 2023.
3. Nobbman, Dale V. Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. 2000. p. 36. Google Books
4. Forget . Dominique . Minuit, chrétiens et l'aigu fatidique . Québec Science . 24 December 2017 . 22 May 2021 . May 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522144105/https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/societe/minuit-chretiens-et-laigu-fatidique/ . live .
5. Bronze . Jean-Yves . The Minuit, Chrétiens in Québec . La Scena Musicale . December 6, 2003 . 9 . 4 . May 22, 2021 . January 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126150001/http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm9-4/Minuit_en.htm . live .
6. News: Ivry . Benjamin . 2020-11-19 . A brief history of 'O Holy Night,' the rousing Christmas hymn that garnered mixed reviews . en . . 2023-12-19.
7. News: 22 September 1936 . Canadian Prelate Bans Music in Catholic Churches . 3 . . 19 December 2023.
8. News: Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100). Billboard.com. May 21, 2020. December 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207135518/https://www.billboard.com/artist/mariah-carey/chart-history/hsx/. live.
9. Web site: Mariah Carey 'O Holy Night'. RIAA.com. August 25, 2021. June 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624070657/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Mariah+Carey#search_section. live.
10. Web site: Certificazioni - FIMI . Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . January 3, 2022 . February 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190204231332/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/certificazioni/certificazioni.kl#/certifications . live .
11. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. March 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190313005558/http://timarit.is/files/12177974.pdf#navpanes=1&view=FitH. March 13, 2019. dead.
12. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn. Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research. 2008. 49. 978-0-89820-177-2.
13. Web site: Chart History: Celine DionHoliday 100 . . November 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201102052518/https://www.billboard.com/music/celine-dion/chart-history/HSX . November 2, 2020 . en.
14. Web site: "All I Want For Christmas": Which Song Renditions Top the Tree?. 2021-05-19. Nielsen.com. en-US. May 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519030640/https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2014/all-i-want-for-christmas-which-song-renditions-top-the-tree/. live.
15. Web site: Chart History: Josh GrobanAdult Contemporary. Billboard.com. May 19, 2021. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108163935/https://www.billboard.com/artist/josh-groban/chart-history/hsx/. live.
16. Web site: Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales) . . November 7, 2020 . December 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211203083818/https://www.billboard.com/artist/glee-cast/chart-history/xdt/ . live .
17. Web site: Tribute to schoolboy is chart hit. Heraldscotland.com. November 24, 2012. August 25, 2021. August 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825151853/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13082286.tribute-schoolboy-chart-hit/. live.
18. Web site: 'O Holy Night'Ladywell Primary School. Officialcharts.com. August 25, 2021. May 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210521231247/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/o-holy-night/. live.
19. Web site: Lauren Daigle – Christian AC History . . June 12, 2021 . January 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220108164006/https://www.billboard.com/artist/lauren-daigle/chart-history/ica/ . live .
20. Web site: Chart History: Lauren DaigleHot Christian Songs . . June 12, 2021 . November 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118040422/https://www.billboard.com/artist/lauren-daigle/chart-history/ico/ . live .
21. Web site: Chart History: Lauren DaigleChristian Airplay . . June 12, 2021 . November 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117222344/https://www.billboard.com/artist/lauren-daigle/chart-history/cri/ . live .
22. Web site: Top Singles (Week 52, 2023). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. January 2, 2024.
23. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (22.12.1994 – 27.12.1994). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. March 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190313005558/http://timarit.is/files/12177974.pdf#navpanes=1&view=FitH. March 13, 2019. dead.
24. Web site: Dutch Single Tip 30/12/2023. MegaCharts. nl. December 30, 2023.
25. Web site: South Korean International Singles (Week 51, 2012). Circle Chart. December 30, 2023.
26. Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100). Billboard. May 21, 2020.
27. Martina McBride Chart History (Hot Country Songs). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
28. Celine Dion Chart History (Holiday 100). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
29. Josh Groban Chart History (Adult Contemporary). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
30. Josh Groban Chart History (Holiday 100). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
31. Josh Gracin Chart History (Hot Country Songs). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
32. Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
33. Lauren Brant Chart History (Hot Christian Songs). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
34. Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian AC). Billboard. December 30, 2023.
35. Lauren Brant Chart History (Christian Airplay). Billboard. December 30, 2023.