Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1401939 Composed by Camille Saint-Saens. Arranged by Roar Kvam. 19th Century,Christmas,Latin,Praise and Worship,Romantic Period. 64 pages. KVAMusic Edition #985137. Published by KVAMusic Edition (A0.1401939). Charles-Camille Saint-SaeÌ?ns (9 October 1835-16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist.He was a musical prodigy and made his concert debut at the age of ten. After studying at the Paris Conservatoire he followed a conventional career as a church organist, first at Saint-Merri, Paris and, from 1858, La Madeleine, the ocial church of the French Empire. After leaving the post twenty years later, he was a successful freelance pianist and composer, in demand in Europe and the Americas. As a young man, Saint-SaeÌ?ns was enthusiastic for the most modern music of the day, particularly that of Schumann, Liszt and Wagner, although his own compositions were generally within a conventional classical tradition. He was a scholar of musical history, and remained committed to the structures worked out by earlier French composers.This brought him into conflict in his later years with composers of the impressionist and dodecaphonic schools of music; although there were neoclassical elements in his music, foreshadowing works by Stravinsky and Les Six, he was often regarded as a reactionary in the decades around the time of his death. He wrote the Oratorio de NoeÌ?l (Christmas Oratorio) at the end of the 1850s and completed it in 1860.The first performanse was at the church La Madeleine in Paris December 1869.The work is dedicated to A Madame la Vicomtesse de Grandval.The work is originally scored for five soloists, soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor and baritone, mixed choir (except no. 4 which is for SSAA), harp, organ and strings (in this edition the choir has been transcribed for a SSAA choir). Texts in the Oratorio de NoeÌ?l is drawn from the Old and New Testaments: (1. Instrumental).2. Luke 2,8-14. 3. Psalm 39,1. 4. John 11.27. 5. Psalm 117, 26-28. 6. Psalm 2,1 and Gloria Patri. 7. Psalm 109,3 and Graduale. 8. Isaiah 49,13. 9. Lamentations 2,19, Mica 4.13, Zachary 9,9, Isaiah 62,1. 10. Psalm 95,8-9, 11,13.

Alto Saxophone,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548668 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410421. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548668). O Holy Night arranged for alto sax & piano. Duration: 4:56, 44 ms. Score: 5 pg Part: 2 pg, piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from him poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

Piano,Viola - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548681 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410447. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548681). Duration: 4:56. Score 5 pg. 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

Interactive Download SKU: HX.410390 By Years & Years. This edition: Interactive Download. Pop. Piano/Vocal/Guitar (Piano Accompaniment). 10 pages. Published by Hal Leonard Europe (HX.410390).

Concert Band - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1024841 Composed by Stanley P. Hung. Contemporary,Holiday. Score and parts. 85 pages. Stanley P. Hung #4607853. Published by Stanley P. Hung (A0.1024841).     Inspire Infinite Potential is the first original composition of Stanley P. Hung. It was composed for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Concert Band 70th Anniversary in 2019. MIT Concert Band was founded by students in fall of 1948 and directed for 51 years by conductor John D. Corley. He directed the band from its inception in 1948 until his retirement last spring in 1999. Dr. Thomas E. Reynolds continued the job of music education at MITCB up to now about 20 years. He is the current music director and conducting the band together with co-conductor Collin Myers. (Reference: band.mit.edu)    Mr. Hung had participated in a few public performances of MIT Concert Band and played trombone. His footprints not only appeared at MIT in Cambridge, but also in New York (2013), Maine (2014), and Philadelphia (2019) during spring tours. To come up with an idea by our originality then take it into practice was the spirit inspired by such ingenuity group. Therefore, Stanley tried to add this spirit into the music work Inspire Infinite Potential at creation stage. Its U.S. premiere was conducted by Dr. Reynolds and performed by the MIT Concert Band in campus (2019.12.10). The second edition is mostly based on the previous version. Some of notes, chords, articulations, and rhythms have been updated.   ISMN : 979-0-800170-03-4

E-Flat Clarinet,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548683 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410473. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548683). Duration: 4:56. Score 5 pg. 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from him poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

Piano Solo - Digital Download SKU: A0.818323 Arranged by Stephen R. Dalrymple (Dalrymple Designs). Christian,Sacred. Score. 14 pages. Stephen R Dalrymple #6011219. Published by Stephen R Dalrymple (A0.818323). Piano solo arrangement of 2 hymns, Wounded for Me and My Savior's Love by Stephen R Dalrymple. William Gilbert Jones Ovens (1870-1945) conducted seaside missions in Northern Ireland for over 30 years. Following World War I, Owens saw a wounded veteran limping past him on the street and he thought He was wounded for me. Gladys Dobson Roberts, a missionary in India, wrote 4 additional verses (Dying for me, Risen for me, Living for me, Coming for me.)   Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856 -1932) taught himself to play the family’s reed organ, growing up on a farm in Iowa. He was teaching singing school by age 16. He served as music director in Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco for 2 years beginning in 1890. In 1912 he began working with Homer Rodeheaver’s publishing company. He edited 43 song books, 7 men’s chorus books, 19 anthem collections and 23 cantatas. He wrote the lyrics for 63 hymns and the tunes for 218 hymns.   I used to like to tease the pastor of the Nazarene Church we were attending at that time whenever he chose this song. Responding to the lyrics I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, I would remind him that Jesus wasn’t a Nazarene; He is THE Nazarene.Suitable for preludes, offertories, concerts, personal meditation. Includes 2 versions 1) piano score letter size 2) piano score -  small page format for performing from 10.1 inch tablet (Tell your computer which pages you want to print. There are programs online that will allow you to split pdf files so that you can choose the correct part of the pdf for your tablet.)

Baritone Horn TC,Euphonium,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.552827 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410423. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.552827). O Holy Night arranged for Baritone Horn & Piano. Duration: 4:56 Score: 5 pg, 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com

Concert Band - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1475451 By Paul McCartney. By Paul McCartney. Arranged by John Ivor Holland. 20th Century,Christmas,Film/TV,Holiday. 32 pages. John Ivor Holland #1053002. Published by John Ivor Holland (A0.1475451). Wonderful Christmastime is a Christmas song by Paul McCartney, recorded during the sessions for his solo album McCartney II (1980). It was released in November 1979 following Wings' final album and was McCartney's first solo single in over eight years. Wonderful Christmastime has charted within the top 10 in the UK and across Europe as well as the top 20 in Canada. This simple holiday tune has been covered throughout the years by numerous artists and this arrangement can be performed by a minimum of five instruments plus percussion.

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.719730 Composed by Various. Arranged by Curtis Hanson. Sacred. Octavo. 10 pages. Curtis Hanson #4572983. Published by Curtis Hanson (A0.719730). As years come and go, one increasingly recalls memories of earlier times. One of the most vivid and cherished memories I have while growing up is of Sunday mornings, going to church, sitting in the same pew each week with my grandmother, hearing and singing the beautiful hymns of our faith, and then returning home to the aroma of beef slowly roasting in the oven. My father directed the church choir, my mother and older brothers sang in the choir, so the wonderful music of our faith was instilled in me from an early age. This medley, and others in the series, are arrangements of many of my favorite hymns from those early years, many of which have been lost in more recent editions. For this series, I have elected to use the older texts as that is the way they were first written and the way I first learned them. There is a reverence and beauty in the language enriching the vocal/choral tone which, I believe, is lost in contemporary, conversational, or politically correct syntax. I shudder to think of the day when a penitential phrase such as Hear thou my prayer, O Lord is rendered as Hey, God-dude, listen up - I'm talkin' atcha! I have also opted not to include the many wonderful hymns and carols which are associated with the major festivals of Christmas and Easter as those are commonly found in other collections. A caveat: I have no delusions, and I offer no pretenses, that these settings are great art. They are simply expressions of faith which I hope may bring a small measure of joy to other church musicians. The general concept of each medley is to present the hymn, often in its original chorale form, and then vary its harmony or texture. The hymns in this set include He Leadeth Me, Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, and O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.

Soprano voice and string quartet - difficult - Digital Download SKU: S9.Q3058 By Robert Schumann, op. 107. Composed by Aribert Reimann and Robert Schumann. Arranged by Aribert Reimann. This edition: score and parts. Downloadable, Score and parts. Duration 10 minutes. Schott Music - Digital #Q3058. Published by Schott Music - Digital (S9.Q3058). In these lieder, Robert Schumann seems to mirror his life full of crises. The composition coincides with the first signs of his illness. The picture of the drowning Ophelia evoked in the first chant conjures up the image of his suicide attempt three years later. Aribert Reimann’s transcription seems to be opposed to Schumann’s endeavours to make stronger use of ‘the development of the accompanying instrument, the piano’. On the other hand, the complete integration of the vocal part in the musical setting of the string quartet confirms Schumann’s assessment that the singing voice alone cannot ‘express everything; apart from the expression of the whole, even subtle nuances of the poem shall become apparent’. These transcriptions show Reimann’s sense of timbre and his many years of experience as a lied accompanist.

Concert Band - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1431754 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Brian Harris. Christmas,Holiday,Instructional,Sacred,Traditional. 34 pages. HMS Music #1012229. Published by HMS Music (A0.1431754). _______________________JOURNEY OF THE MAGI is a tasteful, restrained, and plaintive arrangement of We Three Kings in A-A-B form. Simple harmonization, limited ranges, and basic rhythms ensure success and enjoyment for both the musicians and the audience.The work creates a musical picture of a slow-moving camel caravan crossing a desert. This is a work you will continue to use for years to come. And with the license to copy all the parts you ever need, you can let the students keep their parts as souvenirs and just print new ones the next time!LEVEL: Appropriate for 2nd-/3rd-year players or advanced beginners. (BcP-YB) PROGRAMMING:Winter/Christmas concertModerately slow tempo provides nice contrast with faster works. FEATURES:Melody distributed through all wind parts.Simple but effective percussion parts.Programmatic nature of the work allows students to begin learning expressiveness. CHALLENGES:Dynamics (long crescendo and decrescendo challenges young players to support the tone and intonation)Legato playingBalanceSolos (Two solos, each consisting of 2 quarter-notes, are optionally doubled with other instruments)Multi-percussion playing KEY and RANGES: C minor and E-flat majorStandard 1st-year ranges: Flute to B-flat above staff; Clarinets remain below break; Trumpet to third-space C; Horn from 2nd-line G to low G; Trombone to B-flat on top of staff; Tuba to C below staff. Clarinet is divided into separate 1st and 2nd parts; all others (except percussion) are undivided. MINIMUM INSTRUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS: Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Bass Line*, and 3 Percussion (easy rhythms)  *At least one of the following: Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Horn, Trombone, Baritone, or Tuba PERCUSSION: Utilizes three separate multi-percussion set-ups:Percussion 1 = Bells, Finger Cymbals, Tom-tomPercussion 2 = Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal 1, Bass DrumPercussion 3 = Triangle, Suspended Cymbal 2, Bass Drum (can share same bass drum with Perc. 2). These percussion parts are simple, using only quarter-, half-, and dotted-half notes (slow eighth-notes in the Tambourine), and provide the rhythmic ostinato upon which the work progresses. The parts can easily be divided to provide playing opportunities for up to 8 percussionists. Or use three sets of finger cymbals (sounds even better) and accommodate up to 10 players!- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -COMPOSER/ARRANGER: Now retired, Brian Harris holds the Ph.D. in Music Education from the Florida State University and was a public school and college band director for over 30 years. ___________________________Click here to view other Winter / Christmas Concert works from Bandroom.com Publications:Joy to the King (for beginners; super easy)Jingle Those Bells! (for beginners; super easy with flexible advanced parts)HouseTop March (easy; for advanced beginners or 2nd-year players)Ukrainian Bell Carol (for advanced beginners or 2nd-year players)Tidings of Joy (for advanced beginners or 2nd-year players)Journey of the Magi (for 2nd- or 3rd-year players)Also, please consider Latin Lullaby for your Spring Concert (for beginners)______________________

Choral Choir (SATB) - Digital Download SKU: A0.774757 By Keith Urban. By Keith Urban. Arranged by Sandra Milliken. Country. Octavo. 16 pages. Sandra Milliken #5324923. Published by Sandra Milliken (A0.774757). God's Been Good to Me is a song by New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter Keith Urban. Keith was born in New Zealand in 1967 and later moved, with his parents, to live in Queensland, Australia. There he took guitar lessons and entered local talent competitions. In 1983 he was a contestant on the Australian TV talent show New Faces. A few years later, he began making inroads into the Australian country music scene.In 1990, Urban signed with record label EMI in Australia and released his first self-titled album. Then in 1992 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in the hope of furthering his career and seven years later released a self-titled American debut album. A single from this album, Your Everything, made him the first male Australian performer to reach the Top 10 on the US country charts. Several more successful albums followed.Whilst living in Nashville, Keith often used cocaine, but after reaching a low point in 1998, he became determined to stop using the drug. In January 2005 Keith met Australian actress Nicole Kidman. They began dating six months later and married in 2006.God's Been Good to Me is a reflection of the dark times that Keith encountered in Nashville and his thankfulness that those times were now behind him.This arrangement is available for SATB and SSA choirs as well as for High and Low solo voices. All versions feature piano, violin and guitar accompaniment.

Concert Band - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1024838 Composed by Stanley P. Hung. Contemporary,Holiday. Score and parts. 57 pages. Stanley P. Hung #4607751. Published by Stanley P. Hung (A0.1024838).     Inspire Infinite Potential is the first original composition of Stanley P. Hung. It was composed for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Concert Band 70th Anniversary in 2019. MIT Concert Band was founded by students in fall of 1948 and directed for 51 years by conductor John D. Corley. He directed the band from its inception in 1948 until his retirement last spring in 1999. Dr. Thomas E. Reynolds continued the job of music education at MITCB up to now about 20 years. He is the current music director and conducting the band together with co-conductor Collin Myers. (Reference: band.mit.edu)    Mr. Hung had participated in a few public performances of MIT Concert Band and played trombone. His footprints not only appeared at MIT in Cambridge, but also in New York (2013), Maine (2014), and Philadelphia (2019) during spring tours. To come up with an idea by our originality then take it into practice was the spirit inspired by such ingenuity group. Therefore, Stanley tried to add this spirit into the music work Inspire Infinite Potential at creation stage. Its U.S. premiere was conducted by Dr. Reynolds and performed by the MIT Concert Band in campus (2019.12.10). The second edition is mostly based on the previous version. Some of notes, chords, articulations, and rhythms have been updated.   ISMN : 979-0-800170-03-4

Piano,Tenor Saxophone - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548677 Composed by Adam. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 10 pages. Jmsgu3 #3410441. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548677). Duration: 4:56. Score 5 pg. 44 ms. Solo part: 2 pg. Piano part: 3 pg.Cantique de Noël The French composer Adolphe Adam was already famous as a composer of many successful ballets and operas. Then, in the 1840’s he wrote his most famous work - O Holy Night. The original song title was Minuit Chretiens or Cantique de Noël.  Placide Cappeau provided the original song lyrics. The song was first performed in Roquemaure by the opera singer Emily Laurey at midnight mass in 1847. It became very popular among the French, much the way that Silent Night was famous elsewhere. In the 1850’s John S. Dwight, a Unitarian minister and music teacher translated the song into English.   Adolphe Adam In his younger years, Adam studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He also played the timpani in the Conservatoire orchestra. Adam used his savings and borrowed money to open a new opera house - the fourth opera house in Paris in 1847. Unfortunately, the Revolution of 1848 forced him to close. He taught composition at the Paris Conservatoire from 1849 until his death in 1856. Placide Cappeau The poet Cappeau was an advocate of the French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire.  Voltaire was renowned for criticizing the Catholic church, religious intolerance, and dogma in general. Consequently, Cappeau made the Redeemer figure in his song a kind of reformer of injustices, in particular, the problem of original sin. To begin with, people recognized Cappeau’s theology as eccentric, probably even doubtful. Theology In the earlier form of Minuit, the Christ figure descends to intervene with His Father’s plan to punish mankind.  Traditional doctrine pronounces that Christ came from love, not to intervene. This version also declares that Christ appeared to expunge the original sin of Adam. Cappeau removed this part from his poem years later, because he just didn’t believe it.  He preferred to portray Christ as the reformer of disparity and unfairness. Before long, the writer/politician Alphonse de Lamartine referred to the Minuit as the the Marseillaise of religion. Most French churchmen agreed with this idea but certainly did not consider it a tribute.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com