Can you sing Oh Holy Night without changing key?

27-11-2021 11:58pm #1

I sing in the shower only, and my voice varies from sh1te when the asthma strikes to resonant. I’ve attended music teachers who have verified I at least have an ear, though I see it stuck on to my head in the mirror.

Each Christmas I live to hear “Oh Holy Night” and try to karaoke it alongside. Sometimes my vocals have sadly required me to change key, this year I noticed I can go through the lot in one key, and even the cat doesn’t raise a whisker.

Anyone else struggled with this epic Christmas choone, or had the cat left the building already?

Day Lewin · 29-11-2021 3:09pm

Yes! I can. Although not a high singer.

I too live for hearing it -- so that I can put in the low harmony on the chorus.

The only time I've ever been breathalysed was when I was driving along one Christmas evening, singing Oh Holy Night and trying to put in the harmony at the same time - it's actually impossible, but I hear it in my head.

Apparently it could also be heard outside the car...windows were a bit open -- a large Guard waved me down and handed me a little blowpipe, with some grim-faced instructions. I gave them a cheery greeting in return, gotta spread the seasonal goodwill!

Verdict: Nil alcohol. Max eccentric!

TRS30 · 29-11-2021 3:15pm

If no key is an acceptable key, then yes!

Ash.J.Williams · 29-11-2021 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058220122/can-you-sing-oh-holy-night-without-changing-key

Will you try Vienna by ultravox next and let me know how it goes ?

CrowdedHouse · 29-11-2021 3:56pm

On a side note I came across a version by Eagles of Death Metal....on seeing I thought this isn't going to end well...it's actually quite a pleasant version 😊

29-11-2021 9:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118240022#Comment_118240022

Vienna needs that beat, doesn’t it!

29-11-2021 9:34pm

I think Ronan Collins still does a different version of Oh Holy Night each day coming up to Christmas itself, but it is becoming a little #unwoke and this tradition will surely become a thing of the past.

Loughc · 29-11-2021 10:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118241894#Comment_118241894

Why would that he unwoke?

30-11-2021 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118242152#Comment_118242152

Religious content. Look at Late Late Toy Show, almost no nod to Christmas, studiously avoiding any Christmas themed song.

L1011 · 30-11-2021 1:32pm

Ronan Collins show follows a direct Christian call to prayer... so this isn't going to happen.

Loughc · 30-11-2021 3:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118244561#Comment_118244561

The toy show had last Christmas playing in the intro. The themed toy show era is a way to shoe horn product placement and earn money. Not a religious thing.

Even Apple Music are heavily pushing a covers album with O Holy Night on it and Americans are much more “woke” than us Irish folk.

Deja Boo · 04-12-2021 7:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058220122/can-you-sing-oh-holy-night-without-changing-key

Well done on stretching your range, @[Deleted User]. Do you suppose the breath control it takes to sustain a song may help the asthma, in the long run?

I don''t seem (as a soprano) to have a problem with Oh Holy Night (I just checked, lol), but one Christmas hymn that tests my range is Angels We Have Heard on High - those GLORIA'S span the distance (high to low in 3 bars) - it's a bit too quick for my vocal chords to transition to the low notes smoothly, without practice.

12-12-2021 4:58pm

Gloria is vocal gymnastics in the extreme. Ronan Collins now has a different Oh Holy Night on every day and interesting to see how it’s tackled by the different artists.

Can you sing Oh Holy Night without changing key?

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