O Holy Night...

[KenH]

"O Holy Night" (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a well-known Christmas carol. [I only discovered it a couple of years ago - I know, I need to get out more!] Originally based on a French-language poem written in 1843 that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847.
The English version (with small changes to the initial melody) is by John Sullivan Dwight.

“O Holy Night” has a controversial, albeit intriguing history. The dissensions attached to it can be connected with two distinct facts - Placide Cappeau, the poet/lyricist being an atheist, and Adolphe Adams, the composer being a Jew!

I started with a boy soprano accompanied by piano and guitar; introduced a pipe organ to augment the boy soprano - leading into a full-bodied cathedral organ with superb (IMO) reverberation typical of a cathedral setting...
This has become my carol-of-choice ~~~ just wish I had known it a long time ago!

https://app.box.com/s/lzawpt0rv1gbowweansnyvdslftxdvow

Ken H.

[JohnT]

Hi Ken. Went to see the Sunderland male voice choir( formerly Shiney Row ) last night. They did this one. Enjoyed your version. John

[Jon D]

Hi there Ken,
That was a lovely well played performance I enjoyed another pleasant listen my friend.

Jon D.

[barwonfan]

Wonderful. Congratulations. I think that it is my favorite Christmas carols too; and You did a great job of it. I agree with you that "full bodied cathedral organ reverberation" is very,very good.

[Hugh-AR]

Ken,

Really lovely. That piano and guitar went well with the boy soprano's voice. A completely different sound when you brought in the organ, and as you say, to finish with a 'cathedral organ' really finished the piece off.

Hugh