Joan Baez Cantique de Noël O Holy Night French & English subtitles
It was in 1966 we heard Joan singing the glorious nineteeth century carol O Holy Night in French. It took me a while to realize the French version was the original, and only recently did I understand the lyrics and learn of its origin. It was Joan’s first record performed without guitar but with organ and orchestra. Joan sings a thrilling, pure high soprano.
Written in 1843 as a poem by a French wine merchant with no interest in religion, Placide Cappeau, upon request to celebrate the renovation of the church organ, then set to music by Adolphe Adam. Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight wrote the English translation O Holy Night, a Christmas eve favorite for classical as well as popular artists.
