Silent Night, Holy Night

[Walter Stettner]

For thos of you who are interested, here is the story of the world's most famous Christmas song - so far it is sung in over 40 languages around the world. The little village Oberndorf is not too far from my home town Vienna, that is where the songs started its way around the world.

The facts

1816 Joseph Mohr creates the text to "Silent Night!" in the form of a poem in Mariapfarr in the Lungau region where he was living at the time.

1818 In the schoolhouse of Arnsdorf, on Christmas Eve, Franz Xaver Gruber composes a melody to fit the text.

1818 "Silent Night! Holy Night!" has its world premiere on Christmas Eve in the St. Nicholas church of Oberndorf near Salzburg, performed by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr.

"Silent Night!" was heard for the first time here in 1818;
former St. Nicholas church in Oberndorf near Salzburg.
On the site of former church now stands the
Silent-Night-Memorial Chapel.

First performance - Oberndorf, 1818

"It was the 24th of December of the year 1818, when the then assistant priest Joseph Mohr at the newly established parish of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf handed over to the organist represented by Franz Gruber (who at the time was also school teacher in Arnsdorf) a poem, with the request to write a fitting melody for 2 solo voices together with choir and for accompaniment by guitar." These are the words of Franz Xaver Gruber which he wrote on December 30, 1854 in his "Authentic Account of the Origin of the Christmas Carol, 'Silent Night, Holy Night!'" Later the same day, on the 24th of December, Gruber came to the musically talented Mohr and handed over to him his composition. As Mohr liked what he saw, this song was included in the Christmas mass that evening. Mohr sang the tenor part and provided accompaniment with guitar, while Gruber sang bass. According to Gruber, the song was met with "general approval by all" in attendance (mostly shipping laborers, boat builders and their families).

In Gruber's "Authentic Account," there is no mention of the specific inspiration for creating the song. One supposition is that the church organ was no longer working, so that Mohr and Gruber therefore created a song for accompaniment by guitar. Surrounding this premiere performance of "Silent Night" many romantic stories and legends have been written adding their own anecdotal details to the known facts."

Merry Christmas to you all and your families and loved ones!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Walter Stettner on 25 December 2005 at 12:00 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Walter Stettner on 25 December 2005 at 02:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Bobby Lee]

Hmmm... I wonder what key it was in originally.

[Walter Stettner]

b0b, it was in the key of D.

Kind regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

[Rick McDuffie]

Thanks, Walter. It's a beautiful, simple song. I do not know of a song that conveys the true spirit of Christmas more completely or eloquently. When we sing it every year, I feel that the Season has truly arrived.

I knew it was old, but did not realize it was from 1818. Wow!

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Also, this song is responsible, every year, for renewing our interest in round young virgins. (just as the 23 psalm will forever help us to remember the esteemed Shirley Murphy-------"Shirley, good Mrs.
Murphy, shall follow me all the days of my life."

[Richard Bass]

Thanks for the info Walter. That simple little melody just might be the prettiest ever written.
Richard

[Bill Mayville]

Yes. It is a simple little song. But is not done in three chords.I have opened the eye of many, on this one,and many more.

Bill Mayville (steelinlasvegas@cox.net)
the newbie web site www.steelguitarlasvegas.com