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Topic: "O Holy Night" time signature?  (Read 17764 times)

Offline quantum

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"O Holy Night" time signature?
on: December 02, 2006, 10:46:12 PM
From looking at several arrangements of this Christmas carol, plus listening to countless recordings I have observed two general takes on the time.  One is 6/8 the other is in 4/4. 

Anyone know what the composer originally intended as the time signature?

What do you play it in?
Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

Offline falcon1

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #1 on: December 03, 2006, 02:21:19 PM
The original version is in 4/4 and I play it in that signature if I have good enough choir or singer to sing it on Christmas eve. :)

Offline donjuan

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #2 on: December 05, 2006, 01:16:41 AM
I think 6/8 sounds right.

Offline marialice

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #3 on: December 05, 2006, 11:04:50 AM
There are also 3/4 versions.

Offline falcon1

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #4 on: December 05, 2006, 12:13:54 PM
Yes, there are many versions - but to my best knowledge the original is 4/4 . :)

Offline nolan

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #5 on: December 05, 2006, 03:27:41 PM
I have seen versions in 12/8, but the original is in 4/4.

Offline quantum

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Re: "O Holy Night" time signature?
Reply #6 on: December 06, 2006, 01:20:43 AM
Thanks for the replies.  It's kind of hard to track down something like this for a well known and much played tune. 

Found some info on it:
https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/o_holy_night.htm


Anyone have an copy of the music, as close as possible to what Adolphe-Charles Adam wrote? 

BTW that link above has a copy from an old hymnal, and it's in 4/4 with accompaniment in triplets. 
Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach
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