Stille nacht, heilige nacht
One of my favorite movies about Christmas is the one that has been shown on the Hallmark channel several times. It tells of the story about a mother, her little son and a bleak Christmas in their little cabin in Germany during World War 2. It's called "Silent Night" and none of the cast except Linda Hamilton are familiar to me, but the movie remains unforgettable.
Silent Night, however, is better known as a traditional Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz X. Gruber. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original.
It is believed that the carol has been translated into over 300 languages around the world, and it is one of the most popular carols of all time. It is often sung without musical accompaniment. It is given special significance in the Lutheran Church.
The carol was first performed in the Nicola-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria on December 25, 1818. Mohr had composed the words much earlier, in 1816, but on Christmas Eve brought them to Gruber and asked him to compose a guitar accompaniment for them. The reason for this is unclear — perhaps Mohr simply wanted a new carol for the Midnight Mass, but tradition has it that the organ at the Nicola-Kirche was not working that night (a popular version of the story claims that mice had eaten out the bellows).
If you'd like to read the rest, it's at Wikipedia
The photo above is from MercatorNet, which features an extensive and entertaining article on Christmas carols, Hark, the age-old carols sing.
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Think you can sing this classic Christmas carol in German?
Original German lyrics:
- 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,
- Hirten erst kundgemacht
- Durch der Engel Hallelujah,
- Tönt es laut von fern und nah,
- Christ, der Retter ist da,
- Christ, der Retter ist da!
- Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
- Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
- Lieb aus Deinem göttlichen Mund,
- Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund,
- Christ, in Deiner Geburt,
- Christ, in Deiner Geburt!
- English lyrics:
- 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 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.
posted by sunnyday at 1:24 PM
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