The words to this timeless classic were written by Father Joseph Mohr, a priest in the town of Obernorf, in the Austrian Alps. Father Mohr’s organist, Franz Grueber, wrote the music.
It is said that Mohr and Grueber aspired to write the ‘perfect’ Christmas song, and they seem to have hit the mark. They wrote this sublime carol for a Christmas Eve mass in 1818 and performed it to the accompaniment of Grueber’s guitar.
I wish I could go back to that time and place and listen to that very first performance.
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 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.
Words: Joseph Mohr.
Music: Franz Grueber, 1818.
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