→Notable versions: not notable - Fixed 2004 |
→Notable versions: not notable |
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**2004: [[Celine Dion]]'s rendering was voted most popular<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/cole.s-christmas-song-tops-poll, Edison Research 2004 seasonal song test poll results]</ref> and featured on her 5× platinum album ''[[These Are Special Times]]''<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH, searchable RIAA database]</ref> |
**2004: [[Celine Dion]]'s rendering was voted most popular<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/cole.s-christmas-song-tops-poll, Edison Research 2004 seasonal song test poll results]</ref> and featured on her 5× platinum album ''[[These Are Special Times]]''<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH, searchable RIAA database]</ref> |
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**2009: [[Andrea Bocelli]] for his double platinum ''[[My Christmas]]'' album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/italian-tenors-album-sales-top-five-million_100296578.html |title=Italian tenor’s album sales top five million - Thaindian News |publisher=Thaindian.com |date=2009-12-30 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref> |
**2009: [[Andrea Bocelli]] for his double platinum ''[[My Christmas]]'' album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/italian-tenors-album-sales-top-five-million_100296578.html |title=Italian tenor’s album sales top five million - Thaindian News |publisher=Thaindian.com |date=2009-12-30 |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref> |
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**2010: [[Jackie Evancho]] for her [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[O Holy Night (Jackie Evancho album)|O Holy Night]]'' |
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*1996: [[John Berry (singer)|John Berry]] charted at No. 55 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]]<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc |year=2008|page=49|isbn=0-89820-177-2}}</ref> |
*1996: [[John Berry (singer)|John Berry]] charted at No. 55 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]]<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc |year=2008|page=49|isbn=0-89820-177-2}}</ref> |
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*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)<ref>Whitburn, p. 263</ref> |
*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)<ref>Whitburn, p. 263</ref> |
Revision as of 18:59, 16 October 2017
O Holy Night | |
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by Adolphe Adam | |
Native name | Cantique de Noël |
Genre | Classical, Christmas |
Text | Placide Cappeau |
Language | French, English |
Performed | 1847 |
"O Holy Night" (French: Cantique de Noël) is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877).
In Roquemaure at the end of the year 1843, the church organ was recently renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked Cappeau, native from this town, to write a Christmas poem, even though the latter never showed an interest in religion, and Cappeau obliged.[1]
Soon after, Adam wrote the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey.
Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight,[2] editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, created a singing edition based on Cappeau's French text in 1855. In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol, as well as many other languages, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity's redemption.
Lyrics
Placide Cappeau's Cantique de Noël | Literal English translation |
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John Sullivan Dwight's version | Unattributed version |
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Notable versions
The song has also been recorded by many notable singers including Anita Bryant, Mariah Carey, Cher, Perry Como, Bing Crosby (for his 1962 album I Wish You a Merry Christmas), Céline Dion, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, The Lettermen, Jessica Simpson, Donna Summer, Andy Williams, David Phelps and Florence Ballard of The Supremes.
- 1906: On December 24, Reginald Fessenden, a Canadian inventor, broadcast the first AM radio program, which started with a phonograph record of Handel's aria "Ombra mai fu" followed by Fessenden playing "O Holy Night" on the violin and singing the final verse (as such, the carol was the second piece of music to be broadcast on radio)[3][4]
- 1916: Enrico Caruso recorded a version in which is still in print today
- 1968: Mireille Mathieu sang the song with her father Roger Mathieu on her Chante Noël album (It was re-released as a CD in 2004 with three additional songs)[5]
- 1993: David Foster arranged and produced the song successfully for several different artists including:
- 1999: Michael Crawford, whose rendering in the TV special The David Foster Christmas Album was 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's rendering was voted most popular[10] and featured on her 5× platinum album These Are Special Times[11]
- 2009: Andrea Bocelli for his double platinum My Christmas album[12]
- 1996: John Berry charted at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs[13]
- 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)[14]
- 2006: Josh Gracin's at No. 59 on Hot Country Songs chart[15]
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
- ^ Collins, Ace, [2001], Stories Behind the Best-loved Songs of Christmas, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan,p.137-138
- ^ "Builder of Tomorrows: First Broadcast extract". earlyradiohistory.us. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Mireille Mathieu - Mireille Mathieu Chante Noël (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ^ http://www.musicarchivevault.com, (subscription required)
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Edison Research 2004 seasonal song test poll results
- ^ searchable RIAA database
- ^ "Italian tenor's album sales top five million - Thaindian News". Thaindian.com. 2009-12-30. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ^ 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)