Blog Caroling is the challenge posed by Footnote Maven aka LindaRae Palmer
who invites us to write a blog post on our favourite Christmas carol.
Post a note to the comments on her article or link it on Facebook
directing us to your Blog.
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My all-time favourite carol is "Silent Night"
sung in a simple unadorned arrangement, with a guitar
or harp accompaniment. It has a beautiful harmony and is very moving sung
softly, especially in its original German, which brings back fond memories of holidays in
Bavaria and Austria.
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
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
Alles sclaft. einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar
Holden Knabe in lockigten Haar
Schlafe in himmlische Ruh
Schlafe in himmlische Ruh
It
was 24th December 1818 in a small Austrian village of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, just
hours before Christmas mass, when pastor Joseph Mohr's musical plans for
the evening service were in ruins, since the organ of his church (St.
Nicholas Kirche) had broken down. In a moment of inspiration, he found
a Christmas poem he had written two years earlier and asked his
friend Franz Gruber, the church organist, to set it to music for the
choir and congregation to sing.
Franz Gruber's composed that night the first version of the world renowned Christmas carol “Stille Nacht”, sung to a guitar.
Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Thanks for sharing the history of "Silent Night," Sue. I love the lyrics of this carol but (probably because I can't sing those high notes), not so much the tune. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.
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