One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time is "O Holy Night". It has some interesting history that I want to share with you this Christmas. The beginning story of this song takes place in France. Not only did it become one of the most popular Christmas songs ever, but it also marked a technological revolution for music. In 1847 a parish priest requested a poet in his parish by the name of Cappeau to pen a poem for Christmas Mass. This poet was not a very regular church attender. In fact the poet was a little surprised by the request. But, he used Luke as a guide and created the poem. He was so moved by his own poem that he decided it needed to be set to music. He enlisted a classically trained musician of the Paris Conservatoire by the name of Adolphe and "Cantique de Noel" was created. It was used three weeks later in a Christmas Mass and was wholeheartedly accepted and used throughout the churches in France.
However, after being wholeheartedly accepted into the church, Cappeau left the church and became a part of the socialist movement. When it became known that Adolphe, the musician, was a Jew "Cantique de Noel" was banned by the church in France. Even though the official church tried to bury the Christmas song, the people continued to sing it.
John Sullivan Dwight, a graduate of Harvard College and Divinity School, later found the song and translated it into English. He published it as "O Holy Night". Then in 1906 Reginald Fesseden, a 33-year-old professor in Pittsburg, using a new type of generator, spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history broadcast over the airwaves the Christmas Story from the gospel of Luke. It created quite a sensation on ships and in offices. People were rushing to their wireless units to catch this Christmas eve miracle. After he finished the recitation of the Christmas Story, he picked up his violin and played "O Holy Night," beginning a new medium for music that would take it around the world.
This great song of worship - requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would leave the church for the socialist movement, set to soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to America by someone who wanted to highlight the sinful nature of slavery as well as the birth of Christ - has become one of the most popular Christmas anthems of all times. May all of you and yours have a blessed Christmas on this Holy Night. mjm
