"We interrupt our regularly scheduled Christmas blog to bring to you breaking news! Tuesday's Musical Notes has determined to make a change of direction in its Christmas blogging...we'll bring you more as news becomes available...but for now we return you to your regularly scheduled Christmas blog in its entirety with limited commercial interruptions..."
What do you get when you take a french poem, set it to music, then arrange it in English and have one of the 20th Century's best voices record it? You get a song that makes Christmas wishes come true! "O Holy Night" has been covered by a multitude of artists, but the only musician to ever take it to a #1 slot in the most popular charts is Josh Groban. His rendition of "O Holy Night" peaked at the top spot of the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart as a non-album single in 2002 (later released on the aforementioned 2017 Deluxe Version of Noel). The Glee cast also had a #1 hit with the song on the Billboard Holiday Digital Song Sales Chart in 2010/2011, but who knew that such a chart even existed...so let's go with Josh, shall we?
"O Holy Night" by Josh Groban from the 2017 Deluxe Edition of Noel
The parish priest invited a celebrated local poet, Placide Cappaeu (pic above), to commemorate the day of music returning to the church. Since it was in honor of the worship through music's return, the church further commissioned French composer and musical critic, Adolphe Adam (yes, that's him to the right) to set the lyric to notes. The debut of the song was played on the church organ and sung by opera singer Emily Laurey. (sorry no pic available)
In 1855 John Sullivan Dwight, the editor of Dwight's Journal of Music and a Unitarian minister, wrote the English version thus allowing for the version that is known by folks around here. (You guessed it...)
It truly is amazing that many of the songs that we sing during the Christmas season were written such a long time ago. Many of them well over 100 years or more. Today's feature song is such a musical interlude. It was written in celebration of a church organ being refurbished. The year was 1843. (That's 178 years for those keeping track!) Can you imagine celebrating a musical instrument being serviced? But we must stay in context and remember the times. They didn't have radio or YouTube.com. They couldn't download a poem to their phone or listen to music any time of the day by slapping in their AirPods. And the churches of the time were fortunate to have any source of instrumental music at all. And the churches of the time were fortunate to have any source of instrumental music at all. Those churches that did have an instrument AND someone who could play it counted themselves truly blessed. (If you play a musical instrument or have had any training in singing, you really should seek a local church to share that gift with. They could use you!!!) Oh, how the times have changed... (You really should go find some GOOD organ music and listen to it...your world might just be rocked!!!) This particular church was located in Roquemaure, France.
"We apologize for breaking in on your Christmas blog, but we have this word coming into us from our reporter on the scene as Tuesday's Musical Notes makes its announcement concerning the remainder of the year. John, are you there?"
"I'm here Mike, and boy oh boy do we have a breaking story for you! Tuesday's Musical Notes, the blog that we all love and adore, is making a change in its format! That's right...wait...we have the Musical Notes spokesperson coming to the mic, let's listen in..."
"In 2021, "Minuit, chrétiens" or "O Holy Night" as it is known in many cultures has become the inaugural song for a new tradition here at Tuesday's Musical Notes. Beginning today, each Tuesday before Christmas we will dispense with our usual fantastic extrapolation of a secular standard and focus on those great Sacred Christmas Carols that we sing every year. It is our impression that maybe, just maybe, we don't know the complete history or the context by which these cherished classics were written. For if we did, we might sing them differently. We will continue to elaborate on these special songs with the Biblical exposition that you love and expect as we take a look at examining what the song means to us today. So thank you for helping us start a new Christmas tradition as we celebrate the season together. This new tradition will continue to be followed up by our annual countdown edition on the last Tuesday of the year, where we list the most read Tuesday's Musical Notes of the year. Thank you! We will not be taking questions at this time..."
"There you have it, folks! Changes begin today at our favorite blog! Sacred Christmas carols every Tuesday before Christmas followed the next week by the annual countdown of the most read Tuesday's Musical Notes. What a great idea! While we weren't told specifically, we suspect that the venerated blog will return to its continued exploration of the book of Daniel after the first of the year. We will certainly inform our viewers if there are any further changes that are made known to us. But for now, we'll throw it back to your reading of Tuesday's Musical Notes!"
Can you imagine the scene? Bethlehem was packed with folks in town to participate in the census. There would have been a great deal of hustle and bustle as the descendants of David all jockeyed for the limited resources of the tiny Judean town. As you read the narrative of Luke 2, try to ponder what the scenes would have looked like. Not a very silent night possible as the town burgeoned with the increase in its population stretching accommodations and other assets.
The shepherds, who were probably those engaged in keeping the sacrificial lambs for the temple in Jerusalem, didn't have a very silent night either as first one angel with the glory of the Lord, and then a multitude of angels showed up announcing that the long-awaited Messiah was born. The often-read-about and prophesied Messiah was here. The prophecy was coming true right before their eyes. Notice that despite what other Christmas carols may convey, the angels spoke and praised, but the Bible never in this instance records them singing. (v.13) Chances are these shepherds were hanging out on the hillsides between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It wouldn't have taken them long to find Jesus despite the tumult that was surrounding Him in Bethlehem.
Angels praised, shepherds hurried and found, Folks were amazed, Mary pondered and in each of these, God was honored and glorified. It truly was a Holy Night, a night divine. The stars were probably shining brightly as the shepherds definitely fell to their knees and worshiped and the world was provided the opportunity for redemption at that moment, a most holy moment, a moment when a world that was in sin and error pining for rescue, was provided THE means of escape.
So friend, it probably wasn't a very silent night. But Holy? Oh my goodness! The events of that night continue to have repercussions to this day. The Gospel of Jesus continues to transform, and restore lives every day as this Holy Night is told about, sung about, and written about. This Holy Night is why Christmas is celebrated and commemorated all over the world. This Holy Night brings about the potential for the restoration of the relationship with God that was broken in a perfect garden.
This Holy Night means that we can be in God's presence after the existence that we understand ceases. If...borrowing again from Josh Groban...we just "Believe".
Today can be the day that a new and glorious morn breaks for you. Today can be the day you can throw off the weariness of this world and rejoice. Today can be the day when you understand the thrill of hope that comes with a restored relationship with God through Jesus. Today can be the day that all within you praises His Holy Name. Christ is the Lord. Let ever, ever praise we...oh night divine! Oh, night when Christ was born!!!
Not sure about all of this? Do you have questions about why this is such a Holy Night? Email me at rawacr@gmail.com and I'll help you find a local friend who can show you exactly what Christmas means and why this Holy Night can change everything for you!
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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