December 12, 2012

O Holy Night

This one. No other Christmas hymn can quite compare in my mind. The passion, the spirit, the poetic verses. The music! It has been so hard for me to find a version of this song that I really like. Mostly because I have such high standards of what this song needs to sound like. Personally, I don't think that it should be sung solo. You need more than one voice! You need a chorus of ANGELS singing this song.

Or maybe the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Below is a favorite recording of mine. When I hear this song performed, I make my judgment of it once the line "Fall on your knees" has been sung. That is such a powerful moment, and you have to do it justice. I think this recording succeeds. It's not PERFECT, but I feel like I have yet to find my perfect version of this song. And I have listened to it a lot.



I couldn't pick just one version of this song to share, so here is my second: Celtic Woman. This is from a performance in Ireland. It doesn't have the big choir effect, but it is just as powerful. It is soft and clear and angelic.



This song is such an expression of love and rejoicing for the birth of the Savior. 

O holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
Of the dear Savior'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
Oh hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine

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, let ever ever praise Thee
Noël, Noël
Oh night, Oh night divine
Noël, Noël
Oh night, Oh night divine
Noël, Noël
Oh, oh night, oh night divine

2 comments:

  1. Love "O, Holy Night" and that version, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir did an earlier version that, to me, is THE song. This version has a darker sound to it than most, while the other is brighter.

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    1. Lynn, if you ever stumble upon that version, send me a link! I would love to hear it.

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