Dwight lived and died in Boston, MA. The Harvard graduate became an ordained a minister, but ministry proved not to be his vocation. It was music. In 1852, he founded Dwight's Journal of Music, which became one of the most respected and influential periodicals in country. In 1855, he wrote English lyrics for the Christmas carol "O Holy Night,".which was originally written in French.
The origins of this beloved song began eight years earlier when the local priest in French Village asked worldly poet Placide Cappeau to write a poem for Christmas mass.
Not knowing exactly where to turn, he opened a bible to the book of Luke and put himself into the wonder of that night and imagined all the emotions and miracles he might have seen. He was so pleased with Cantique De Noel,” he asked musician friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, a Jew, to write music for it. The French village immediately embraced it. Years later, upon discovering Cappeau was a worldly man and Adams was a Jew, the church banned the song, but parishioners continued to sing it in their own homes behind closed doors.
Fast forward several decades to when John Sullivan Dwight discovered the song and fell in love with it. He published his rewritten version in his magazine and the nation quickly embraced it.
So, there you have it. Upon finishing his reading of Luke 2, Fessenden picked up his violin and played the strains of “O Holy Night,” not only marking the moment as the first broadcast of a man’s voice, but the first song ever to be played over the airwaves.
O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and e’er pining
‘Til 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
O hear the Angels voices
O night divine O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
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