Evening star., 1937-12-19
Famous Carols Origin
Had Brilliant Setting
"Silent Night" Produced Under Inspiration
of Christmas Season by Austrian
Priest and Musical Companion.

| thereby leaving the weaver's loom for
ever. He was SO advanced that it
took him less than two years to get
his teachers degree.
He Immediately received a position
as instructor and organist to Arnsdorf,
and while there accepted the duties
of organist in the church of the close
by village of Oberndorf. This was the
church where Franz met Father Mohr.
Thus the friendship was born. Both
men having keen love for music and
being gifted with fine voices, they
often sang duets.
Many legends and stories seem al
most to hide the real story of the old
carols origin. Even though the true
story may not have quite so much OF
an emotional appeal, it has something
in its simplicity which is very closely
allied with the simplicity and direct
beauty and appeal of the song itself.
OF ONE thing we are all sure, that
is, 1t was originally written in
the German language, by Austrians in
Austria. 1t was the day before Christ
mas in 1918 when a man Of Oberndorf,
shipowner named Maier, and his
good wife gave pre-Christmas party,
to which they invited the young priest
as guest of honr.
They had hired some wandering
minstrels to give presentation of
the Christmas story as recorded in
the Bible. This was favorite way
of entertaining at that time Young
Mohr was so touched by the thought
fulness of the Maier couple and the
simplicity Of the festival play that
instead Of going directly home after
the party he climbed the "Totenberg"
Mountain of the Dead, which over
looked the town Of Oberndorf, and
there in the silent night spent some
time in meditation. Salzburg and the
| towns of Oberndorf and Laufen lie
in the valley between beautifully wood
ed and grassy hills, the foothills Of
the beautiful Tyrolean Alps.
The silence Of the night, the bril-
liant display of stars in the clear win
ter sky, the town asleep below him,
| thrilled his soul and fired his imagina-
ton. Something seemed to formu-
late itself in his mind. He quickly
descended and went to his parish
home, and, sitting down, he wrote the
words of "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht."
After he had it written, he rushed to
his friend, Franz Gruber, and re-
quested that he write fitting melody
for two voices, with choir and guitar
accompaniment. The latter was
thrilled with the poem and was glad
to comply with the request. Very late
that same eyening he brought the fin
iShed composition to his friend.
WHEN inquiries about the hymn
were made of Elsie Loschinger,
Mr.. Gruber's last surviving daughter,
she related that the organ went on a
strike just at the time Of the mid
night Christmas service, so when the
young priest and organist wanted to
sing the hymn it. had to be done to
the accompaniment of guitar played
by Father Mohr. At that time the
guitar was in disrepute and considered
an instrument of the devil and play
ing it in church astonished and
shocked the good peasant folk.
Father Mohr played the guitar beau
tifully and when he lifted his fine tenor
voice in song with that of his friends
rich full bass, the people were thrilled
and overcome with joy at the beauty
Of the new hymn. They forgave the
guitar playing and listened entranced
for the first time to the song that was
destined to become the Christian
world Christmas song. From then
on the guitar had a new place in the
world of music.
Inspirationally written, composed
and performed on one day, Sunday,
December "a. 1918, from two plain
men of the people, it was gift to the
people and heritage to all for all
time.
May the real joy of Silent Night,
Holy Night" and its message Of the
Christchild born to teach men to give
and serve and love, abide with you
and live in your hearts forever. Merry
Christmas!
Copyright. 1879