"There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them." Luke 2:8-9
|
Words: Josef Mohr, circa 1816-1818. Stanzas 1 & 3 translated from German to English by John Freeman Young, 1863; translator of stanzas 2 & 4: anonymous.
Music: "Stille Nacht," Franz Xaver Gruber, circa 1820
|
This hymn's history is the source of some disagreement. The traditional story is that Mohr (1792-1848) and Gruber (1787-1863) wrote it in Oberndorf, Austria, on Christmas Eve when they discovered the church organ was broken (different versions say it rusted out, or mice chewed through vital parts). However, recent evidence indicates this may be only folklore. An old manuscript has reportedly been discovered that shows Franz Gruber wrote the score 2-4 years after Mohr wrote the lyrics. Whatever the truth, this Christmas carol has been a favorite of Christians worldwide for almost 200 years.