THE STORY BEHIND SILENT NIGHT

Silent Night Chapel and Museum in Oberndorf, Austria Photograph by Gakuro
(Obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night)

(Obtained from http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1390998508034985960TXulFk)

Josef Mohr who wrote the words to Silent Night Served here. The Reiteralpe mountain range in the background.

(From FOCUS on the FAMILY, by Dr. James Dobson from Academy of Certified Counsellors, Specialist Diploma in Teaching and Supporting Children with Special Needs)

It was Dec 23, 1818, in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf. Father Josef Mohr had begun preparing the music for the Christmas Eve service at his church. That evening, he attended the town Christmas play, then made his way up a nearby mountain overlooking the city. There he sat, taking in the beauty of the evening darkness and the starlit sky overhead.

He reached home around midnight and sat down to pen a new song, one which could be played on the guitar, because the church organ was broken. With the freshness of the mountain evening still on his mind, he began to write. All the while, the words flowed from his pen.

The next morning he asked his organist, Franz Gruber, to put a tune to the poem, something that could be played on a guitar. A few hours later, the task was accomplished.

And so it was, on Christmas Eve, 1818, that Father Mohr sang tenor and Franz Gruber sang bass, as the tiny town of Oberndorf heard for the first time a simple new song, a song that has since touched millions of lives around the world.

They called it Stille Nacht. You and I know it as Silent Night.

The christmas song Stille Nacht, autograph by Franz Gruber,
Photographed by deBenutzerMezzofortist
(Obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night)


Lyrics
(Obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night)

Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818 Words: Josef Mohr, 1816

Translation: John Freeman Young

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Gottes Sohn! O wie lacht Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’. Jesus in deiner Geburt! Jesus in deiner Geburt! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Die der Welt Heil gebracht, Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt seh'n Jesum in Menschengestalt. Jesum in Menschengestalt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Wo sich heut alle Macht Väterlicher Liebe ergoß Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß Jesus die Völker der Welt. Jesus die Völker der Welt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Lange schon uns bedacht, Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit, In der Väter urgrauer Zeit Aller Welt Schonung verhieß. Aller Welt Schonung verhieß. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Alleluja, Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah: Jesus der Retter ist da! Jesus der Retter ist da!

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, Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia; Christ the Saviour is born Christ the Saviour 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

"Halleluiah!" is used sometimes in place of "Alleluia". "Alleluia" is the original usage.

Samples




(obtained from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p09woi5xoQo&feature=related)




(Obtained from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8UnF8TREms&NR=1)


References

• TODAY, VOICES, Tuesday december 23, 2008, Page 18
• www.certifiedcouncellors.org
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night
• http://www.asilentnightmovie.com/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p09woi5xoQo&feature=related
  
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8UnF8TREms&NR=1
• http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1390998508034985960TXulFk