Organ and lead sheet arrangements of the French Christmas song “O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël)“.

The church organ in Roquemaure in the south of France was renovated in 1843. To celebrate the event, the parish priest persuaded the poet Placide Cappeau to write a Christmas poem. Later that year, Adolphe Adam composed the music. The song “Cantique de Noël (Minuit, Chrétiens) premiered in Roquemaure in 1847, sung by the opera singer Emily Laurey.

In French-language churches, this piece is commonly used at the start of Midnight Mass.

Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight wrote the English version in 1855. This version became popular in the USA, particularly in the north.

“O Holy Night” is one of my most favourite Christmas songs of all, especially the version sung by Tevin Campbell. This organ arrangement is one that I perform most years at the annual Theatre Organ Society (WA) festive afternoon in December.

O Holy Night Music Arrangements

The melody for “O Holy Night” is easiest to sing in the key of A major. As such, I wrote the lead sheets and an organ arrangement in this key.

There is an alternate organ arrangement for solo performance, with the same accompaniment, but in an easier to play key of F major.

There are 3 verses in this song. All 3 verses of lyrics are provided with the collections.

The original French verses for “Cantique de Noël” are provided, along with their literal English translations.
The newer English verses are provided in full on a separate lyric sheet and on a two page lead sheet.

To conserve space, a single page lead sheet has just the first verse of the lyrics, as does the organ arrangements.

O Holy Night Sheet Music Collections

Fake Book Collection: a 6 page PDF in A4 format
Includes a cover page, English lyric sheet, French lyric sheet, single page lead sheet and two page lead sheet.
Organ Collection: a 12 page PDF in A4 format
Includes a cover page, English lyric sheet, French lyric sheet, single page lead sheet, two page lead sheet, 3 page organ arrangement in A major (best for accompanying singing) and 3 page organ arrangement in F major (best for solo performance)