The Christmas Eve creation of ‘Silent Night’

Father Josef Mohr (1792-1848) was the pastor of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Obendorf, Austria. In 1816 he composed the six verse lyrics to “Silent Night,” which would become one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time.

Exactly why he wrote the song is unclear. However, we do know that on Christmas Eve 1818 he presented the poem to the parish organist, Franz Xavier Gruber, with the request for Gruber to compose an appropriate melody for two solo voices with choir and guitar accompaniment. The carol was first performed during Mass that Christmas Eve.

Gruber sang bass as the church choir sang the refrains of each verse. Father Mohr, a talented musician himself, played the guitar accompaniment. The tune was warmly received by those who heard it that first night.

Father Mohr died in 1848. Before his death, the composer of “Silent Night” is reported to have said that his composing of the Christmas carol was one of the “most treasured moments” of his life.

Today a memorial chapel (the Silent Night Chapel) stands at the place where this famous song was composed. It is the site of an annual remembrance of the two men who composed the song.

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