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Cantique de Noël (1996) |
soprano, baritone, SSATBarB chorus, harp, strings, organ (optional brass septet) - 10'
Adolphe Adam/Stephen Montague
Commissioned by the Orchestra & Chorus of St. Johns, Smith Square London. First performance: 9 December, 1996 St. Johns, Smith Square. The Orchestra & Chorus of St. Johns, Smith Square, John Lubbock, conductor, Jeremy Jackman, chorusmaster.
Adolphe Adam (1803-56) is best known in Europe for his classical ballet, Giselle, but in North America it is Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night) that has made him a household name during the Christmas season. The song was written in Paris in the 1840s and scored for high solo voice with a simple arpeggiated piano accompani- ment. The original French text was by Mary Cappeau with a later English adaptation by J.S.Dwight and in this version a few new lines of my own were added for the coda.
Since my youth choir days in West Virginia I have enjoyed and admired Adam's straightforward, economical setting of these texts in various chamber versions and arrangements. In recent years, however, I was attracted to the idea of a version for larger forces- a more expansive concert work with soloists, chorus, orchestra, timpani and organ. As I began the project I was reminded that Hector Berlioz and Adolphe Adam were exact contemporaries, born only a few months apart in 1803. The question that soon beguiled me was how Berlioz might have treated this same material if he were were given the opportunity to arrange it. My recomposition, elaboration and orchestration of Cantique de Noël as inspired by that whimsical thought and intriguing idea.
This new version of Cantique de Noël was written in November, 1996 when I was the Associate Composer with The Orchestra of St. Johns, Smith Square, London. It was a Christmas present to the orchestra & chorus and their conductor, John Lubbock and forms the finale in a triptych of Christmas carol arrangements I composed between 1996 and 1998 which include The Carnal & The Crane and I Wonder as I Wonder.
Notes © Stephen Montague
Texts: Cantique
de Noël
Text: Mary Cappeaux
"Minuit, chrétien, c'est l'heure solennelle
Où l'home Dieu descendit jusque' à nous,
Pour effacer la tache originelle,
Et do son père arrêter le courroux,
La monde entier tressail le dèspérance
A cette nuit qui lui donne un sauveur.
Peuple à genous attends délivrance.
Noël voici le Redempteur;
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur."
"De notre fois que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'enfant.
Comme autre fois une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
Le roi des Rois naît dans une humble crêche
Puissants du jour fiers de votre grandeur
A votre orgueil c'est de là du'un Dieu prêche
Courbez vos front devant le Rédempteur."
Text: J. S Dwight
"O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of the dear Saviour'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!"
"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 came the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
Let all us mortals praise His holy name:
Christ is the Lord! oh praise His name forever!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Behold, your King!
Text: Stephen Montague
Fall on your knees!
Fall on your knees!
Fall on your knees, His power to proclaim!
He rules the earth!
He rules the sky!
Fall on your knees and worship Christ, the Lord!