O Holy Night

This page includes a lyric video, a brief history, sheet music, and other resources for the Christmas carol “O Holy Night.” Enjoy!

Enjoy this You Tube video with lyrics for “O Holy Night”:

History of “O Holy Night”:

Placide Cappeau was a wine merchant in France who loved literature and wrote poetry in his spare time. In 1843, a local priest asked Cappeau to write a Christmas song to celebrate the upcoming restoration of the church organ. When a singer (who was temporarily residing in the town) heard about the song, she asked her friend Adolphe Adam to compose the music for it. Adam was a well-known composer most famous for his 1841 ballet Giselle. For various reasons, the song was not performed until 1847, and it was an immediate success. Apparently, the song’s author, Cappeau, held some questionable theological views, and when he learned of the song’s growing popularity, he wanted to change the words to better represent his beliefs. But the song had already “escaped” him and was sweeping across France.

John Sullivan Dwight, a descendant of the famous American preacher, Jonathan Edwards, is credited with introducing the song “O Holy Night” to America. In 1852, Dwight founded a journal, Dwight’s Journal of Music, which became one of the most influential musical publications of the 19^th century. Around 1858, while seeking songs for his journal, Dwight found and translated “Minuit Chrétiens” to “O Holy Night.” As in France, the song was an immediate and lasting success. In 1906, it was the first Christmas carol to be broadcast on the radio.

For more intriguing history on “O Holy Night” (and 19 other classic Christmas songs), you can purchase our Christmas Songs eBook (only $2.99; use code “celebrate20” for 20% off).

You can also download our free, complimentary Sheet Music for “O Holy Night.”

For additional resources (like original sheet music), visit Hymns and Carols of Christmas or Net Hymnal.

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