Silent Night~
In honor of the Christmas Season I always try to find
Christmas theme stories, legends, photo's and historic
happenings on this blessed day, which is celebrated in so
many ways in honor of all that have Faith, Love & Peace
in their hearts. The one SPIRIT THAT WE BELIEVE THAT IS
ALL AROUND US IN EVER COUNTRY IN THE BEAUTIFUL
EARTH. I PRAY THAT EVEN WITH THE COMING THINGS IN
THE NEWS, THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AS ONE
PEOPLE WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS TO ALL RACES
FAITHS.
Silent Night is known most places around the World and there is a wonderful history behind the most beloved Song
by Bill Egan, A Christmas Historian
anoldfashionedchristmas.com/silent_night
link to the site I found the story~
Every Christmas I have always watched the Silent Night
movie[old yet so fun; I started watching the movie with my Dad
years ago, as a teenager. And of course, Geroge C. Scott in
A Christmas Carol. Which I have put on here for you All~
As I started this post I didn't realize that I had one about a year ago, on the beloved song 'Silent Night'. However, this is a bit more detailed as through the years on my blog I get better at writing & research my subjects. I hope you enjoy the most updated version.
It all started 180 years ago for the very first time in a small village church in Oberndorf, Austria---'Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht'.
In that small church in Oberndorf, Austria the folks had a Midnight Mass In St. Nicholas Church. They were all listening to the assistant pastor of the Church and the choir voices of director ---Franz Xaver Gruber of the Music. The Choir was also accompanied by Fr. Mohr's guitar.
So on that very Christmas Eve, a song was born that would beloved in the hearts of people all over the world, from that small church 180years ago. Silent Night is now translated into hundreds to thousands of different languages across the world so that everyone can enjoy the Spirit of Christmas with the song. Now sung by untold millions/billions every December from the smallest of chapels in the Andes to Grand Cathedrals in Antwerp & Rome for just a few. The song was
originally in German the first six stanzas of Silent Night written by Joseph Mohr in 1816. In history sadly know one really knows what inspired Joseph Mohr to pen down his poetic version of the birth of Christ. Sadly the world's fortunate was left behind when Joseph Mohr was transferred to Oberndorf the following year in 1817. It happened on December 24, 1818. When Joseph Mohr journeyed to the home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber who lived in an apartment over the schoolhouse in nearby Arnsdorf.
Joseph Mohr showed his friend his poem, asked him to add a melody to the song so that is could by sung at Midnight Mass.
To this day, it is unknown why Joseph Mohr reason for wanting
a new carol song. There were many speculations in the day, some say it could have been the organ didn't work, others thought the assistant pastor Joseph Mohr merely wanted a new song for Christmas Mass. So later that evening, both Joseph & Franz stood in front of the main altar of the Church and sang the new song they wrote together 'Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!' for the first time. Its seems that during that time there was a master organ builder Karl Mauracher. While doing some work in the Ziller Valley when travelling through Oberndorf he obtained a copy of the composition of the song 'Silent Night' ~ Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!' & took it home with him. From day travelling through Oberndorf, the simple Christmas song began a journey around the world as the ' Tyrolean Folk Song.'
Two traveling families of the folk singers from the Ziller Valley that was similar to the Trapp Family Singers of the 'Sound of Music' fame incorporated the song into their repertoire. It was said that the Strassers sang the song in a concert in Leipzig in December of 1832.
Who would guess a little song in a small town by an associate pastor would turn into a beloved song for years to come!
In the year of 1839, The Rainers performed 'Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! ' for the first time in America, outside of the Trinity Church in New York City. Silent Night by now had become the favorite Christmas Carol of the Artistically Appreciative King Frederick William lV of Prussia, who used to have the Cathedral Choir sing it for him during the Christmas season each year.
Sadly by the time the song 'Silent Night' had become so famous throughout Europe, Joseph Mohr who had written the song died. Leaving the song without the true truth of who the composer was.
It seems that in Berlin authorities stated Franz Gruber was the composer ---the melody had been assumed to be the works of Haydon, Mozart or Beethoven at various times and these thoughts
persisted even into the twentieth century sadly for Joseph Mohr who had originally written the song.
However, there is GOOD NEWS THE CONTROVERSY
WAS FINALLY PUT TO REST FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN A LONG-LOST ARRANGEMENT OF 'STILLE NACHT' IN THE HANDWRITING OF JOSEPH MOHR WAS AUTHENTICATED. IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE ARRANGEMENT, JOSEPH MOHR WROTE
---'MELODIE Von Fr. Xav. Gruber."
I hope that you all enjoy the story
of the Song 'Silent Night'
Your Friend Always Wendy
Well, this well be my last post for the evening. I hope that
