Adolphe Adam was born in Paris to Louis Adam (1758-1848), who was also a composer, as well a professor at the Paris Conservatoire. His mother was the daughter of a physician. As a child, Adolphe Adam preferred to improvise music on his own rather than study music seriously. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1821, where he studied organ and harmonium under the celebrated opera composer François-Adrien Boïeldieu. Adam also played the triangle in the orchestra of the Conservatoire; however, he did not win the Grand Prix de Rome and his father did not encourage him to pursue a music as a career.
By the age of 20, he was writing songs for Paris vaudeville houses and playing in the orchestra at the Gymnasie Dramatique, where he later became chorus master. Like many other French composers, he made a living largely by playing the organ. In 1825, he helped Boïeldieu prepare parts for La dame blanche and made a piano reduction of the score. He was able to travel through Europe with the money he made, and he met Eugène Scribe, with whom he later collaborates, in Geneva. By 1830, he had completed twenty-eight works for the theatre.
Adam is probably best remembered for the ballet Giselle (1841). He wrote several other ballets and 39 operas, including Le postillon de Lonjumeau (1836) and Si j'étais roi (1852).
After quarreling with the director of the Opéra, Adam invested his money and borrowed heavily to open a third opera house in Paris: the Théâtre National. It opened in 1847, but closed because of the Revolution of 1848, leaving Adam with massive debts. His efforts to extricate himself from these debts include a brief turn to journalism. From 1849 to his death in Paris, he taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire.
His Christmas carol "Cantique de Noël", often known by its English title "O Holy Night", has become an international favourite and may have been the first music broadcast on radio [1].
Adolphe Adam is buried there in the Cimetière de Montmartre (Montmartre Cemetery).
O Holy Night
Adolphe Adam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder beams a new and glorious morn
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
The first verse of "O Holy Night" describes the night of Jesus Christ's birth. The stars shine brighter than usual, as if they too are celebrating the event. The world had been in a state of sin and despair before Christ's arrival. The lyrics "Long lay the world in sin and error pining / Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth" suggest that it was only through the arrival of Jesus that humanity recognized their purpose and worth. The line "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices" shows that, with the arrival of Jesus, people found hope and joy after a long period of darkness. Adolphe Adam describes the morning of Jesus's birth as "new and glorious," which highlights the significance of the coming of the son of God.
The second verse encourages listeners to get on their knees and listen to the angelic voices. The lines "Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices / Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born" emphasize the humility needed to witness the wonder of Jesus's birth. "Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born" is repeated twice to show the deep reverence with which the moment should be viewed. The second incarnation of "Fall on your knees" is a directorial command from the songwriter, compelling the listener to pay attention to the marvel taking place.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It's a sacred night where the stars are shining brightly
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
This is the night when our beloved savior was born
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
The world was waiting for a long time suffering from sin and errors
Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth
Until the savior appeared, the soul didn't realize its true worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
The tired world became joyful by a thrill of hope from the arrival of the savior
For yonder beams a new and glorious morn
A new and magnificent morning is coming near
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Kneel and listen to the glorious angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
This is the holy night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
Rejoice on this holy night because Christ was born
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Listen to the angel voices and kneel down
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
Celebrate this heavenly night when Christ was born
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bblillian
Oh, 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 appeared 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
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! Oh, praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Christ is the Lord! Oh, praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
@fantasticjava8112
rse 1]
O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears 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, O Holy night, O night divine!
[Verse 2]
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 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 weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
[Verse 3]
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!
@johnhewlett6792
Utterly exquisite After the mayhem in the shops whilst the mad buy trolley loads of food they will never eat this lifts my heart to the heavens. I look forward to the nine lessons on
Christmas Eve. Who needs trolley loads of shopping.
@pjagough
The high points for me are at 1.04 "Fall on your knees" and at 3.05 "Christ is the Lord". Simply sublime.
@Happy_HIbiscus
🌺🌺🌺🌺
@isaacliu896
Best rendition of this carol! Slow tempo is fantastic
@richardbetton-foster3899
My favourite Christmas hymn beautifully performed
@sarahwalder6632
My favourite Christmas piece so beautiful and moving. Used to sing this each year when part of a church choir some years ago, so uplifting and joyful. Never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
@bblillian
Oh, 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 appeared 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
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! Oh, praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh, night divine
Oh, night when Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
Christ is the Lord! Oh, praise His Name forever
His power and glory evermore proclaim
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born
@lalruatfela331
Beyond beautiful...
@enricopascucci4802
So beautiful and uplifting.
@fantasticjava8112
rse 1]
O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears 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, O Holy night, O night divine!
[Verse 2]
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 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 weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
[Verse 3]
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!