For approximately 50 years, The concert choir at Bismarck High School has carried on the tradition of singing this piece, giving both students and the audience something to look forward to and remember for years to come.
As choir directors have passed through BHS, each has taken the song and pick up where the previous choir directors stopped. Because this has been around for many years, the way the song has performed rarely changes, to keep the quality of the performance intact.
“Personally, I think it is important to have things that stay as constants in our lives,” Bismarck High School Choir Director Brian Saylor said. “This creates some stability in the unstable world we live in.”
For the time that this arrangement has been performed at Bismarck High School, the solos have only been available to the seniors in the choir. This gives the underclassmen something to strive for and look forward to. From the perspective of the seniors in the Concert choir, it is a chance to honor tradition and be part of something that has been around for decades.
“I do believe it is something that is important to the students. I think that students look forward to performing this each year,” Saylor said.
When choosing soloists for O Holy Night, Saylor looks for individuals who are dedicated and will work hard to perform the solo to the best of their abilities. A pure voice that fits the character of the timeless piece is what is looked for when listening to auditions.
“It’s a beautiful way to feature 3 strong singers on three verses. Plus it is an absolute Christmas classic,” Saylor said.
When the choir is first introduced to the song a few months prior to the concert, they begin by learning the chorus, and adding the verses in when they are ready and feel it is strong enough. It is not just knowing the words and the parts of the song that is important. Once the students are strong in their parts, the dynamic contrast of each chorus is practiced. Saylor will also encourage students to listen to recordings of O Holy Night to get the feel of the piece.
“This has been a great year for hard work and preparation. This choir has been very dedicated to the rehearsal process,” Saylor said.
O Holy Night is a song that is known and loved by many, making this tradition feel more special. This traditional Christmas music is what the audience is familiar with, and can connect to.
“This is the type of piece most of our audience wants to hear during the Holiday season,” Saylor said. “I feel like I can sense the history and tradition every time we sing this for the concert.”
