Silent Night

11. Silent Night
Words: Joseph Mohr/Music: Franz Gruber/Translation: John Freeman Young
The organ broke down in the parish of St. Nicholas-in-Oberndorf, Germany, at Christmas time. On
December 24, the assistant priest, Mohr, brought the text to Gruber, the acting organist, who set it to
a simple tune to be played on guitar. The two men performed it as a duet, accompanied by a chorus
of girls' voices. My daughter, Laura, sings with me bere and guitar played by my oldest son Ryan, is
the only backing-the same elements as the first performance in 1818.