The Story Behind "O Holy Night"

O Holy Night has become one of the most treasured carols of all for Christmas Eve.  The music for O Holy Night was written by Adolph Charles Adam, a 19th Century composer known for his ballet music.  Believe it or not, when he wrote O Holy Night, the music was frowned on by the church authorities.  One French bishop even went so far as to denounce it for its "lack of musical taste and total absence of the spirit of religion."  Adam's friend was the first to supply a text for the melody, and it become the most popular of all Christmas solos.

It seems that every year since PraiseCharts began, we have added at least one new version of O Holy Night. Here is a list of the most popular arrangements. Browse through them all to find the perfect one for your Christmas Eve worship service.

O Holy Night

Chris Tomlin (Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship)

Keys: A, Ab, B, Bb, C, D, G

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O Holy Night (Love Shines Bright)

Paul Baloche (Christmas Worship 2)

Keys: A, Ab, B, Bb, C, G

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O Holy Night

Kim Walker-Smith (When Christmas Comes)

Keys: F, G

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O Holy Night

Hillsong Worship (Born Is The King)

Keys: Bb, C

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O Holy Night

Traditional Carol, PraiseCharts (Traditional Carols Collection)

Keys: A, C

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O Holy Night (Another Hallelujah)

Lincoln Brewster (Joy To The World)

Keys: E, Eb

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O Holy Night

MercyMe (The Christmas Sessions)

Keys: C, Db

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O Holy Night

David Crowder (Oh For Joy)

Keys: B, Bb

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O Holy Night

Kerrie Roberts (The Essential Christmas Collection)

Keys: Ab, G

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O Holy Night

Phil Wickham (Songs For Christmas)

Keys: A, B, Bb

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O Holy Night

Traditional Carol (Christmas Carols For Acoustic Worship)

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O Holy Night

North Point Worship (Let There Be Light)

Keys: B, Bb

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O Holy Night (O Night Divine)

Rend Collective (Campfire Christmas)

Keys: A, Bb

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O Holy Night

PraiseCharts Band, Arr. Daniel Galbraith (PraiseCarols (Vol. 1))

Keys: Ab, Bb

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O Holy Night

Hillsong Worship (Jesus Christmas Worship Down Under)

Keys: A, Bb

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O Holy Night

Ryan Stuart, North Point Worship (North Point Christmas)

Keys: Db, D

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O Holy Night (Hear The Gospel Story)

Sovereign Grace (Prepare Him Room: Celebrating The Birth Of Jesus In Song)

Keys: C

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O Holy Night

Sidewalk Prophets (Merry Christmas To You)

Keys: C, D, Db

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O Holy Night

Chris August (The Christmas EP)

Keys: C, D

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O Holy Night

NCC Worship (Thrill Of Hope)

Keys: C

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O Holy Night

Austin Stone Worship, Aaron Ivey (A Day Of Glory (Songs For Christmas))

Keys: A, C

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O Holy Night

Jason Gray (Christmas Stories: Repeat The Sounding Joy)

Keys: Bb, C

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O Holy Night

Don Chapman (Worship)

Keys: C

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O Holy Night (Instrumental)

(Master's Brass Ensemble Series - A Season For Brass)

Keys: C

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O Holy Night

Brad & Rebekah (Gift Of Grace)

Keys: B

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O Holy Night (Instrumental)

David Arivett (Jazzed In Church)

Keys: C

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O Holy Night (Instrumental)

Jeff Anderson (AK's Little Big Band Series)

Keys: A

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More from this series ...

• The Story Behind "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
• The Story Behind "Joy To The World"
• The Story Behind "O Holy Night"
• The Story Behind "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
• The Story Behind "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
• The Story Behind "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"
• The Story Behind "Silent Night"