O Holy Night

"O Holy Night" originates from Placide Cappeau's 1847 poem Minuit, chrétiens. After stained glass in the parish church of Roquemaure was restored, the local priest Maurice Gilles asked Cappeau to write a new text for the upcoming Christmas Midnight Mass. Cappeau, who had connections to singer Emily Laurey, was introduced to composer Adolphe Adam, then known for works such as Giselle. Cappeau wrote the poem on 3 December 1847 during a stagecoach journey from Mâcon to Dijon. Adam completed the musical setting within days. Cappeau referred to the finished work as "Cantique de Noël". The most familiar English adaptation was written in 1855 by American critic and minister John Sullivan Dwight. Another English version, "O Night Divine", was produced in the late 19th century by American musician Hart Pease Danks, and both adaptations circulated widely. Lyrics == History ==

"Cantique de Noël" was first performed at Midnight Mass in 1847 in Roquemaure. According to Christmas carol historian William Studwell, the piece was translated into numerous languages and widely adapted "within a generation or so". One of the earliest known publications was an organ arrangement issued around 1855. a comparison that caused unease among some observers. According to America magazine, several church leaders criticised the song for what they viewed as its militant tone and questionable theology. They objected in particular to the line "Et de son Père arrêter le courroux" ("to cease the wrath of his Father"), believing it portrayed God as angry and vengeful in contrast to Jesus. As a result, the song was excluded from Catholic hymnals. Much of the criticism, however, focused on the song's creators. Catholic music critics attacked Cappeau for his political views and personal reputation, and his later break with Christianity drew further disapproval. Forbes' secretary stated that the ban aimed to promote the exclusive use of Gregorian chant and Gregorian music. In France, criticism of the song persisted after World War II. Composer Auguste Sérieyx condemned those who performed it on organ or in choirs, as well as the priests who "tolerate or encourage them". By 1956 the song had been "expunged from many dioceses due to the emphatic aspect of its lyrics as much as the music itself, and the contrast they provide with the holiday liturgy", according to the Paris publication Le Dictionnaire du Foyer Catholique. Since its creation, the song has been associated with various accounts of symbolic or spiritual use. One legend claims that French troops sang it on Christmas Eve in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, prompting a temporary ceasefire during trench warfare. In 2004 a Catholic priest reportedly sang the song to a dying American Marine in Fallujah, Iraq. == Modern usage ==

William Studwell wrote in 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". In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the carol became a staple of Christmas recordings across a wide range of genres. It appears on numerous holiday albums, with notable renditions by Michael Crawford, Mariah Carey, NSYNC, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Weezer, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Ella Fitzgerald, Carrie Underwood, and Andrea Bocelli. A 2010 survey by Zogby International ranked "O Holy Night" as the most popular Christmas song in the United States, ahead of "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Song". On record charts The carol has been recorded by many pop, classical, and religious artists, and several versions have appeared on music charts: • 1994: Mariah Carey's version, from her album Merry Christmas, reached number 70 on the US Billboard Holiday 100 chart. It was re-released as a single in 1996 and 2000, and a live re-recording appears on her 2010 album Merry Christmas II You. In 2023 it was certified platinum by the RIAA. • 1996: John Berry reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. • 1996: Trans-Siberian Orchestra recorded a medley with "O Come, All Ye Faithful" for Christmas Eve and Other Stories. In 2021 it peaked at number three on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, and in 2023 it reached number two on Christian Digital Song Sales, number 11 on Rock Digital Song Sales, and number 23 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. • 1997: Martina McBride reached number 74 on the Hot Country Songs chart, later reappearing at number 67 (1998), number 49 (1999), number 57 (2000), and number 41 (2001). • 1998: Celine Dion reached number 44 on the Billboard Holiday chart. In 2014, Nielsen SoundScan reported US sales of 240,000 copies. • 2002: Josh Groban reached number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. • 2006: Josh Gracin reached number 59 on the Hot Country Songs chart. • 2010: The Glee cast reached number one on the US Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales chart. • 2012: Ladywell Primary School in Motherwell released a digital version on 21 November 2012, donating 90% of proceeds to the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of a student who died of meningococcal septicaemia. It reached number 39 on the UK singles chart. • 2017: Lauren Daigle reached number 14 on the US Billboard Christian adult contemporary chart, number 33 on Hot Christian Songs, and number 33 on Christian Airplay. Charts Mariah Carey version John Berry version Martina McBride version Celine Dion version Josh Groban version Josh Gracin version Glee cast version Ladywell Primary School version Lauren Daigle version Trans-Siberian Orchestra version Ravyn Lenae version Certifications Mariah Carey version Celine Dion version == See also ==