December

On December 24th 1818, the curate of a parish in Obendorf, Salzburg, Austria, Father Joseph Mohr, gave a poem to a friend of his, Franz Xaver Gruber. Gruber was the choir master and also the organist in Joseph Mohr’s church, the Church of St. Nikolaus . He asked Mr. Gruber if he would write music for his poem, that he might write it for two male voices and guitar accompaniment. The church’s organ was broken and the curate desperately wanted music to be a part of their Christmas service. (On a side note, Mohr had written the poem two years earlier, but didn’t ask for Gruber’s help until the day before he wanted it to be performed. So typical.) Mr. Gruber wrote the melody to a song which has become the most beloved of all Christmas carols, Stille Nacht; in English, Silent Night. Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Sleep in Heavenly Peace.