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Silent night

Representative Text

1 Still the night, holy the night!
Sleeps the world; hid from sight,
Mary and Joseph in stable bare
watch o'er the child belovèd and fair,
sleeping in heavenly rest,
sleeping in heavenly rest.

2 Still the night, holy the night!
Shepherds first saw the light,
heard resounding clear and long,
far and near, the angel-song,
'Christ the Redeemer is here!'
'Christ the Redeemer is here!'

3 Still the night, holy the night!
Son of God, O how bright
love is smiling from thy face!
Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
Saviour, since thou art born!
Saviour, since thou art born!

Original German text:
1 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab im lockigten Harr,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

2 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht!
Durch der Engel Halleluja
tönet es laut von fern und nah:
Christ der Retter ist da!
Christ der Retter ist da!

3 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
da uns schlägt die rettende Stund,
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Source: Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #309

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Author: Joseph Mohr

Joseph Mohr was born into a humble family–his mother was a seamstress and his father, an army musketeer. A choirboy in Salzburg Cathedral as a youth, Mohr studied at Salzburg University and was ordained in the Roman Catholic Church in 1815. Mohr was a priest in various churches near Salzburg, including St. Nicholas Church. He spent his later years in Hintersee and Wagrein. Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Translator: Stopford A. Brooke

Brooke, Stopford Augustus, M.A., was born at Letterkenny, Donegal, Nov. 14, 1832, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating B.A. 1856; M.A. 1858. He carried off the Downes prize and the Vice-Chancellor's prize for English verse. On taking Holy Orders he was successively Curate of St. Matthew's, Marylebone, 1857-59; of Kensington, 1860-63; Chaplain to the British Embassy at Berlin, 1863-65; Minister of St. James's Chapel, York Street, London, 1866-75; and of Bedford Chapel, 1876. He was also appointed Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen, in 1872. In 1865 he published the Life and Letters of the late F. W. Robertson; in 1874, Theology in the English Poets; in 1876, Primer of English Literature, &c. On seceding from the Church of Engla… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: Still the night, holy the night
Title: Silent night
German Title: Stille nacht, heilige nacht
Author: Joseph Mohr
Translator: Stopford A. Brooke
Meter: Irregular
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
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Tune

STILLE NACHT

Although he composed nearly one hundred works, Franz Gruber is remembered for only one–the tune of "Silent Night," composed on Christmas Eve, 1818. He scored the tune for tenor and bass soli (sung by Mohr and Gruber on that night) with the final phrase to be repeated in harmony (sung by the villag…

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Timeline

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Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)
TextPage Scan

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #309

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #309
TextPage Scan

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #309

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #309

Singing the Faith #217

Singing the Faith #217
Text

The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #335

The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #335
Include 3 pre-1979 instances
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