Silent Night" (Germ: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
"Silent Night" is actually an Austrian hymn titled "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht." The lyrics were a poem composed by a young priest named Joseph Mohr in 1816. It was two years later when Franz Gruber wrote the melody and a guitar part so that Mohr could have the song played at Christmas mass.
Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr
![]()
"Silent Night!" was created and first performed during very difficult times. The Napoleonic wars (1792-1815), which had caused great suffering, had come to an end. With the Congress of Vienna there were new borders and a new order set for Europe. In the course of these events, the ecclesiastical Principality of Salzburg lost its status as an independent country and was forced to secularize. In 1816, its lands were divided in two with part assigned to Bavaria and the larger portion relegated to Austria. The site where "Silent Night!" was first performed - Oberndorf by Salzburg - had been a suburb and was now separated from its town center of Laufen located across the river (today part of Bavaria, Germany) when the Salzach River became the new border. For centuries transportation of salt along the river had provided the basis for the local economy. The salt trade declined during the Napoleonic wars, and then never fully recovered. This caused a depression in the local economy, with the transport companies, boat builders and laborers facing unemployment and an unsure future. It was during these troubled times that Mohr was in Oberndorf (1817-1819).
Stille Nacht Kapelle,Oberndorf bei Salzburg
![]()
Mohr's previous place of service, Mariapfarr, had suffered greatly during the withdrawal of the Bavarian occupation troops in 1816 and 1817. Mohr was witness to these events and in 1816, he wrote the words to "Silent Night!" With this in mind, the creation of the 4th verse of "Silent Night!" takes on special meaning. Its text expresses a great longing for peace and comfort.
The music was composed by a musician who was not known outside his village. There was no celebrity to sing at its world premiere. Yet its powerful message of heavenly peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, conquering the hearts of people everywhere.
It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in March 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. In Austria “Stille Nacht” is considered a national treasure. Traditionally the song may not be played publicly before Christmas Eve. The organ builder Karl Mauracher brought the popular Christmas song from Oberndorf near Salzburg to Tyrolean village of Fügen in the Zillertal valley.
Sources: www.stillenacht.at, www.icce.rug.nl, www.folkmusic.about.com, Wiki.
 |
| Telfs, Tirol, Austria |
Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr
Stille Nacht Kapelle,Oberndorf bei Salzburg
The music was composed by a musician who was not known outside his village. There was no celebrity to sing at its world premiere. Yet its powerful message of heavenly peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, conquering the hearts of people everywhere.
It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in March 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. In Austria “Stille Nacht” is considered a national treasure. Traditionally the song may not be played publicly before Christmas Eve. The organ builder Karl Mauracher brought the popular Christmas song from Oberndorf near Salzburg to Tyrolean village of Fügen in the Zillertal valley.
Sources: www.stillenacht.at, www.icce.rug.nl, www.folkmusic.about.com, Wiki.