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ADAMS – Choral Song ‘O Holy Night’ – FOUR CELLOS

Other Identification:
“O Holy Night” (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a well-known sacred song for Christmas performance. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843, with the first line “Minuit, Chrétien, c’est l’heure solennelle” (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847. Adolphe-Charles Adam (1803-1856), born in Paris, France, is best known for his ballet Giselle (1841) and many other operatic and theatrical works.

The wide vocal range of the song makes it one of the more difficult Christmas songs to execute properly. In French-language churches, it is commonly used at the beginning of the Midnight Mass.

The English version (with small changes to the initial melody) is by John Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity’s redemption. He adapted the song into English in 1855. This version became very popular in the United States, especially in the North, where the third verse (including “Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease”) resonated with abolitionists.

It has been well recorded in history; just three mentions are:
1971: Tommy Drennan and the Monarchs
1994: Mariah Carey
1998: Celine Dion

Movements or sections:
David Johnstone has transposed the four voices for cello ensemble into G Major. This ensemble can be a solo quartet or (much) larger cello group or orchestra. He has also added many indications (bowings, dynamics etc.) that well help the rehearsal time.

Instrumentation:
QUARTET OF FOUR CELLOS
Arranged by David Johnstone
The piece may also be performed by larger cello ensembles

2 PDFs:
1] – General Score
2] – All individual parts

Approximate difficulty:
It may be classed as ‘medium’ level – true that the first two parts are often in tenor clef and the first part uses a little left-hand thumb position, but these are placed comfortably for the musicians!

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Johnstone Music has been performed by orchestras and conservatories worldwide, earning international recognition in cello repertoire.

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