History of the Carols

Merry Christmas From Bud’s History of the Carols

‘O Holy Night’ (1847) Words / music (Adam-Dwight )

Adolphe Adam, whose ballet Giselle remains a mainstay of most world-class dance companies, is equally famous for his Christmas song ‘O Holy Night,’ so universally loved and so frequently sung that many assume it to be a folksong or carol.
Having composed the melody, Adam requested some suitable lyrics from his poet friend Cappeau de Roquemaure, who based his poem on the Christmas story. So enamored was the Parisian public of its first performance in 1847, that Adam was hailed as the composer of the day, despite the fact that some clergy found his melody too passionate, too lacking in Christian humility, and for a time sought to ban its use.
Popular everywhere in France, ‘Cantique de Noel’ (its original French title) was hardly known elsewhere until about 1916, when the legendary Italian tenor Enrico Caruso made a recording that spread its fame throughout the world. English lyrics were added by the distinguished American clergyman John Sullivan Dwight.

Christmas Day in History…

1939 – Montgomery Ward stores introduced ‘Rudolph’ the 9th reindeer
1923 – 1st electrically lit Christmas tree was displayed in the White House
1884 – Layne Hall of Silver Creek, NY was born (He would become
“The oldest legally licensed driver in U.S. history” at 105 years of age)
1818 - 1st U.S. performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ premiered in Boston, Mass.
1818 – The 1st time ‘Silent Night’ was sung (Austria)
1776 – George Washington crossed the Delaware River
1492 - Columbus' ship Santa Maria docked at Dominican Republic 1223 - St. Francis of Assisi assembled 1st Nativity scene (Greccio, Italy)

Ref. BuffaloHistory Cyberhymnal TimelinesOfHistory SilverCreek.com DmarieCapsule RDM