"O Holy Night"

Scored for Chorus and Full Orchestra;  Duration is 5 minutes

Information About "O Holy Night"

Duration & Difficulty Level
Featured Carol
Description
Quotes & Reviews
Instrumentation

Duration & Difficulty Level DURATION:  ca. 5 minutes

DIFFICULTY LEVEL FOR CHORUS:  Moderately Difficult — recommended for professional choirs or high-quality community choirs 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL FOR ORCHESTRA:  Difficult — recommended only for professional symphony or pops orchestras

Carol Featured in the Arrangement

"O Holy Night"
(Words & Melody by Adolphe Adam, 1847)

(Note: This is an original work based on a carol whose words and melody are in the public domain.  This work is copyright by Peter Bloesch, and all rights are reserved, including the right to perform, record, or broadcast the piece.)

Description of "O Holy Night"

Inherent in the original carol are two competing yet complementary emotional qualities:  On the one hand, there are tranquil sections that convey a sense of intimate reverence, but on the other hand, the carol has moments of extroverted grandeur.

This new arrangement plays up both of these extremes, and in the process creates a vivid musical contrast between the mystical introspection and the extroverted excitement of the original carol.  This juxtaposition of emotions makes for much dramatic variety within this relatively short piece.

In the end, however, the mystical introspection wins:  The extended orchestral ending melts away into a gentle pianissimo, evoking the tranquility of a peaceful nighttime sky.

Quotes and Reviews of "O Holy Night"

Dr. Randal A. McChesney, choral conductor:

"Peter Bloesch's penchant for the unexpected in works such as the choral/orchestral 'O Holy Night' and 'A Garland of Carols' startles audiences into rapt attention with their texture and beauty.  Performances of these works with the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale and Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra earned warm and enthusiastic audience reception.  

"Having conducted a number of Peter's works, I can attest to the fact that his choral writing is consistently outstanding and a delight to sing.  Accessible and artistic, the work of Peter Bloesch deserves attention and frequent performance."

— Dr. Randal A. McChesney
Executive Director, Richards Institute of Education and Research; Past President, Choristers Guild Board of Directors; former Director, Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale

Joe Harnell, Hollywood composer and arranger:

"Peter, I'm anxious to endorse how much I admire your pops music — it's an absolute delight!  I just love the imagination that you've put into these sparkling, charming pieces.  I was deeply moved by your sensitive arrangement of 'O Holy Night' - it's got to be one of the best arrangements of this carol out there."

— Joe Harnell
Film Composer and Lecturer; Arranger for many celebrated singers, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Beverly Sills

The Cedar Rapids Gazette:

"The 120-voice Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale and the CRSO opened the second half of the concert with a bravura performance of 'O Holy Night,' as arranged by Peter Bloesch.  The Iowan is no stranger to CRSO patrons, who vigorously applauded a performance of his arrangement of 'Fantasia on Two Christmas Carols' at the 1997 Holiday Pops concert."

— The Cedar Rapids Gazette, excerpt from review by George C. Ford, reprinted with permission.  © The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Click here for more quotes and reviews of my Holiday Pops music.

Instrumentation for "O Holy Night"

3 Flutes (3rd doubles on Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 1 English Horn, 3 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons, 1 Contrabassoon, 4 Horns, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones (2 tenors and 1 bass), 1 Tuba

4 Percussionists: 1 timpanist (4 timps) ; 3 percussionists on the following instruments: Glockenspiel, Chimes, Vibraphone, Piatti, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Mark Tree, Bell Tree

1 Harp

1 Electronic Keyboard with the following sounds: acoustic piano, celeste

Strings

SATB Chorus