Music Monday: “Oh Holy Night” by Adolphe Adam
My Apologies for the “radio silence” these past few weeks; I haven’t been coping well with the loss of my wheelchair and felt little like writing. I know faithful readers are out there counting on me for some sense of hope, but I will be honest and say it isn’t always easy. As humans, we tend to wallow in our circumstances instead of looking up…
There is still little word on my wheelchair being repaired. The latest is the parts were approved by Medicaid and have been ordered. I hoped I would have my wheelchair up and running by Christmas to get some freedom back, but that doesn’t seem plausible.
Still…
Anything is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)
I have been busy completing the challenge on Goodreads in my time away. Most of them were Christmas-related, but Karen Kingsbury recently wrote one (Forgiving Paris.) It dealt with the theme of forgiveness. The part that struck me and continues to is how God remained faithful to the main character even when she felt like she was a lost cause-supernaturally protecting her from things when she didn’t even know. Despite her mistakes, God was and is still a work in her life.
And in mine.
And in yours too!
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that…
Anyway, you probably came here expecting a “Music Monday” post, and I intend to give you one. Inspired by a French poem entitled ‘Minuit, chrétiens’ (Midnight, Christians), the song got printed under ‘Cantique de Noël.’
Known for his ability to write poetry, the church commissioned Placide Cappeau to pen something for Christmas Mass to commemorate a new organ; since he had no religious background, he relied on the Gospel of Luke to give him a glimpse into the Christmas story. Cappeau imagined what it must have been like for shepherds to see an angel in the flesh but to realize the reality of an age-old prophecy had been fulfilled. Moved by the final project, he enlisted the help of a friend Adolphe Adam, feeling it would be even better if put to music.
Despite working on several operas and ballets, Adam is best known for this song. Widely accepted, the song became popular in many Catholic churches until they discovered that Adams was a Jew and Cappeau left the church to become a member of the Socialist party.
To listen to Celine Dion’s version of the Carol, it can be found here:
https://youtu.be/Y1oLk54R5Xg
Postscript: I will try my hardest and post something on Christmas Eve, but if I don’t get the opportunity. Have a Merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy spending time with your loved ones; I have big plans for next year