Silent Night
The
origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was
written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in
1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ
at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille
Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was
composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for
a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent
Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!
Silent Night, in addition to being the most popular Christmas carol around the world, is also the song that stopped a war. On Christmas Eve during World War I, German soldiers in the trenches held up Christmas trees lit with candles and a few of the soldiers began singing Silent Night. Soon others along the German line joined in and then the British soldiers recognizing the melody joined them in the singing of this beautiful song. Soldiers from both sides left the trenches and met in the middle and some of them even exchanged gifts. An undeclared truce began and there was no more fighting for the remainder of the night. There was "Peace on Earth" for that one night in history.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
