Minuit Chrétien (O Holy Night)

Minuit Chrétien (O Holy Night) / Demis Roussos

Artemios "Demis" Ventouris-Roussos (/ˈruːsoʊs/; 15 June 1946 – 25 January 2015)

was a Greek singer and performer who had international hit songs like "Forever and Ever"

as a solo performer in the 1970s after having been a member of Aphrodite's Child,

a progressive rock group that also included Vangelis.

 

 

"O Holy Night" (French: "Minuit Chretiens!" or "Cantique de Noël")

is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847

to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by a wine merchant and poet,

Placide Cappeau (1808–1877) , who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem.

 

In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol,

as well as many other languages,  the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity's redemption.

 

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

오 거룩한 밤이여
별들은 찬란히 빛나고
우리의 사랑하올 구세주께서 나신 밤이라네.
구세주께서 오실 때까지 이 세상은
오랜동안 잘못과 죄악속에 놓여 있었고
이제 영혼들은 그 가치를 깨달았네..

 

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night divine!
O night divine!

 

희망에 찬 기쁨이여, 지쳐있던 온 세상이 기뻐하네.
저곳에서 새롭고 영광스런 아침이 밝아오네
무릎을 꿇고 천사들의 소리를 들으라..
오 거룩한 밤,그리스도께서 탄생하신 밤이여
오 거룩한 밤이여

 

 

The world famous, Demis Roussos, sings the beautiful "Minuit Chrétien" ("Cantique de Noël") or as it's called in English "O Holy Night".

O Holy Night" ("Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847

to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by Placide Cappeau (1808--1877), a wine merchant and poet,

who had been asked by a parish priest to write a Christmas poem.

Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music,

created a singing edition based on Cappeau's French text in 1855.

In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol,

the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of mankind's redemption.

"O la Nuit Sainte" ("Cantique de Noël") est un Chant de Noël célèbre composé par Adolphe Adam en 1847

au poème français "Minuit, chrétiens" (le Minuit, les Chrétiens) par Placide Cappeau (1808--1877),

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"O Holy Night" (French: "Minuit Chretiens!" or "Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847

to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians) by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877).

 

In both the French original and in the two familiar English versions of the carol, as well as many other languages,

the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity's redemption.

 

In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the church organ had recently been renovated.

To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem,

even though the latter never showed any interest in religion, and Cappeau obliged.

Soon afterwards, Adam wrote 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, created a singing edition based on Cappeau's French text in 1855.

 

Lyrics

Placide Cappeau's Cantique de NoëlLiteral English translation

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nousPour effacer la tache originelleEt de Son Père arrêter le courroux.Le monde entier tressaille d'espéranceEn cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!De notre foi que la lumière ardenteNous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,Comme autrefois une étoile brillanteY conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance,C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt.Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!

Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour,When God as man descended unto usTo erase the stain of original sinAnd to end the wrath of His Father.The entire world thrills with hopeOn this night that gives it a Saviour.People, kneel down, await your deliverance.Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!May the ardent light of our FaithGuide us all to the cradle of the infant,As in ancient times a brilliant starGuided the Oriental kings there.The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,It is to your pride that God preaches.Bow your heads before the Redeemer!Bow your heads before the Redeemer!The Redeemer has broken every bond:The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.He sees a brother where there was only a slave,Love unites those that iron had chained.Who will tell Him of our gratitude,For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.People, stand up! Sing of your deliverance,Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!

John Sullivan Dwight's versionUnattributed version

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.Long lay the world in sin and error pining,Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was born;O night divine, O night, O night Divine.Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,Here come the wise men from the Orient land.The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;In all our trials born to be our friend.He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!Truly He taught us to love one another;His law is love and His gospel is peace.Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;And in His name all oppression shall cease.Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,Let all within us praise His holy name.Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,His power and glory evermore proclaim.His power and glory evermore proclaim.

O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging,Watch o'er the eve of our dear Saviour's birth.Long lay the world in sin and error, longingFor His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth.A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!O night divine, the night when Christ was born;O night, O holy night, O night divine!Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored.O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard.The Son of God lay thus within lowly manger;In all our trials born to be our Lord.He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!Truly He taught us to love one another,His law is love and His gospel is peace.Long live His truth, and may it last forever,For in His name all discordant noise shall cease.Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us,With all our hearts we praise His holy name.Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,His power and glory evermore proclaim!His power and glory evermore proclaim!(The second and third choruses areoften replaced with a refrain of the first).(The second verse is often omitted in most publicrenderings.)(Also the final chorus, His power and glory,evermore proclaim!, is often changed to French-English mix: Noël, Noël, O Night, O Night Divine.)

O Holy Night
O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging,
Watch o'er the Eve of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error, longing
For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was Born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard.
The Son of God lay thus w'thin lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our Lord.
He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Long live His truth, and may it last forever,
For in His name all discordant noise shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!