Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night)

This song was a Christmastime classic while I lived in the United States. You would hear it everywhere on the radio, during school performances, concerts, and church events. Somehow it must have slipped past us, because until now it was not part of our quartet’s Christmas repertoire.

The last time I heard this piece live was during a choir performance in an old church in Bad Kreuznach. Their delivery inspired me so much that I immediately made a note on the concert’s program to arrange O Holy Night for our quartet along with some initial ideas. This was back in 2019, when live audience concerts still took place. I’ve finally gotten around to it, I only wish that we could have had the chance to play it this season either as part of a concert or at least “just for us” …

The cantique’s structure is fairly easy, but it is still impossible to miss its almost theatrical nature. The theme is familiar, maybe even the entire melody, but the exact title oftentimes escapes us.

The piece was arranged at a 12/8 measure to allow for a special flow. For the most part, Cantique de Noël is quiet, but increases in volume at specific points and at its peak only to fade out on a soft note towards the end. To achieve this magical feeling definitely play the notes at their full value, especially those leading the melody or supporting it. The less “gaps” are left, the better it sounds. During the arrangement process I realized just how much I genuinely like this song. I hope that anyone playing this will enjoy it as much as I have.

Undine Engel, Dec. 2020