O Holy Night

"O Holy Night" (also known as "Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by poet Placide Cappeau (1808–1877). The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity's redemption.

For other uses, see O Holy Night (disambiguation).
"O Night Divine" redirects here. For the Trace Bundy album, see O Night Divine (album).
O Holy Night
by Adolphe Adam
Adolphe Adam
Native nameMinuit, chrétiens
GenreClassical, Christmas
TextPlacide Cappeau
LanguageFrench, English
Meter11.10.11.10.11.10.11.10.10
Composed1847 (1847)

History

In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the 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] Soon afterwards that same year, Adolphe Adam composed the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey.

Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, wrote the English version in 1855.[2] This version became popular in the United States, especially in the North, where the third verse resonated with abolitionists, including Dwight himself.[1]

Recordings

The song has been recorded by numerous well-known popular-music, classical-music, and religious-music singers. Some notable versions include:

Glee cast version
Chart (2010–11) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[11] 21
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] 1

Mariah Carey version
Chart (2010-2020) Peak
position
Italy (FIMI)[13] 77
South Korea International (Gaon)[14]
Live from WPC in South Central Los Angeles		 95
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[15] 70

Mariah Carey version
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Collins, Ace (2001). Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. pp. 132–138. ISBN 9780310873877.
  2. Nobbman, Dale V. Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. 2000. p. 36. Google Books]
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  4. Whitburn 2008, p. 263.
  5. "Chart History - Celine Dion - Holiday 100". Billboard.com. MRC. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. "Billboard Singles Charts | Record Research MusicVault". Musicarchivevault.com. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  7. "That Josh Groban Guy". thatjoshgrobanguy.com. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  8. Whitburn 2008, p. 166.
  9. "Tribute to schoolboy is chart hit". The Herald (Glasgow)
  10. "O Holy Night", Ladywell Primary School, officialcharts.com
  11. "Glee Cast Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  12. "Glee Cast Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  13. "Classifiche" (in Italian). Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  14. "2010년 48주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  16. "American album certifications – Mariah Carey – Holy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 22, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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