Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Lore--Day 5


My front yard

The words to "Stille Nacht!" were written by Joseph Mohr  in 1816 and the tune was composed by Franz Gruber.  They first performed it together at Midnight Mass on December 31, 1818.   The first English translation, "Stilly Night, Holy Night" was made in 1858 for the choir of St. Mark's Church in Brighton, England..  The English translation most popular in the United States is the John Freeman Young (1820-1885) version.  Silent Night has been translated into 230 languages.

Silent Night

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, Hallelujah,
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.

4 comments:

  1. Rod's German is fading but he can still sing this in German .... as he did when he was a child. Likewise, I can still sing many French Christmas carols. Very nostalgic time of year.

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  2. You will have to tell him that you need to video him singing it in German so that I can post it on here! ;)

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  3. I just have to say how immensely I'm enjoying these Christmas posts. It makes me want to go caroling, if only it would snow!

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  4. Hi Joanna,
    I am glad that you are enjoying these posts. I am having great fun writing them. We used to always do a program called "Holiday Traditions" at the living history park where I used to work so I have lots of research and information that I love to share.

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