O Holy Night


"O Holy Night" is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by poet Placide Cappeau. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity's redemption.

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. 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, translated the song into English in 1855.

Lyrics

Recordings

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

Mariah Carey version

Certifications and sales

Mariah Carey version