December 2011

’Tis the season! This is the sacred time of year when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and one of the most popular songs of the season, Silent Night, is played and sung around the world.

Secular happenings abound in this season. Shopping probably tops the list, much to the dismay of many who condemn the commercialization of this holy time. For others, holiday parties, eggnog, decorations, Christmas trees, presents and a general feeling of good cheer dominate this time of year. Ever-present is the playing and singing of Christmas carols with Silent Night being the most pre-eminent of all Christmas songs.

Origins
Musicologists and music historians are in agreement that the song was conceived and composed in the early nineteenth century by two gifted men in Austria. Organist and choir master Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) wrote the music for Silent Night and his friend, a priest Friar Josef Mohr (1792-1848) wrote the words to the carol.

According to several reliable sources the story of the creation of the song goes something like this: Fr. Mohr wanted to have some special music for the midnight mass on Christmas Eve in 1818. Unfortunately the organ was broken and unplayable and both, Fr. Mohr and Franz Gruber were unable to fix it. Why the organ was broken is still a mystery but one of the early stories claims a mouse had chewed through the bellows – later this story was discounted by historians.

Mohr, an accomplished writer of sacred poetry and an excellent guitarist had written the words to Stille Nacht (Silent Night) two years before in 1816. He provided Gruber with the words and asked him to compose an arrangement for two solo voices, chorus and guitar. Mohr would play the guitar, Gruber and Mohr would be the solo voices and the church choir would sing the choral parts. Unbelievably, Gruber finished the arrangement the very same day. It was quite a feat given the short time frame in which to work.

The completed song was first performed that night, Christmas Eve December 24th 1818 at St. Nikolaus Kirche (church) in Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg, Austria. Needless to say it was extremely well received by the congregation and to this day it is considered a national treasure in Austria.

Sometime later, organ builder and repairman Karl Mauracher came to fix the broken organ. He may have either found or was given copies of Silent Night. Mauracher took copies to his village and gave them to two well known musical families of singers, much like the famous Von Trapp family. The families, Rainers and the Strassers liked the carol so much that they added the song to their Christmas repertoires. The Strassers spread the song across Northern Europe. In 1834 they sang it for King Frederick William IV of Prussia. He then ordered Silent Night to be sung every year on Christmas Eve by the cathedral choir.

Epilogue
Twenty years after Silent Night was written the Rainers brought the song to the United States singing it in German at the Alexander Hamilton Monument located outside of the Trinity Church in New York City. In 1863 Stille Nacht was translated into English. Today the words are sung in more than 300 languages around the world.

And interesting and heart warming anecdote connected with the story of Silent Night came out of World War I. The English and French forces were fighting a horrendous battle with the Germans on Flanders field. It was Christmas Eve and somehow a temporary truce was called to celebrate Christmas. The soldiers on each side sent greetings and small gifts to each other and sung carols from their own countries. Silent Night, by this time, was known all over the world. The song was sung simultaneously in French, German and English by the troops during the Christmas truce of 1914. That was truly an implausible, remarkable and once in a lifetime experience.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net
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I love Christmas. I love Christmas movies. So, needless to say, I’m in heaven when the weather changes and the movies start coming. I’m not going to “rank” them because I believe that every generation has its favorites. I love them all, so this is going to be a Christmas Movies 101, refresher course!

Let’s start with some of the oldies but goodies. One of my favorites is White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. If you haven’t sang along with your sister to “Sisters”, you haven’t had Christmas yet.  It makes you want to get up and dance, fake snow and all!  Your checklist should also include the regulars, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Holiday Inn (1942), Christmas in Connecticut (1945), Babes in Toyland (1934) and of course, Miracle on 34^th Street. If you have children or grandchildren, be sure to watch some of these with them. It’s amazing how the young ones are enthralled with the simplicity of life in a kinder, gentler era.

Enter the next generation…A Christmas Story (1983) is still priceless. We also have The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992), Home Alone (1990),  Scrooged (1988) with the awesome Bill Murray and the still delightful National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) starring Chevy Chase. The Santa Clause (1994) with Tim Allen is also worth a trip down memory lane.

So, now we’ve worked our way into this century. Is your head spinning or your pen writing? We can start with How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).  im Carrey is scary and funny and eventually charming in this all-time favorite. Kids and adults alike love The Grinch. If you’re a Will Ferrell fan, you will want to see Elf (2003) again. In 2004 we were graced with the genius of Tom Hanks in Polar Express. I still can’t believe they don’t bring this one back to the 3D theaters every year. I’ve written letters but I guess no one is listening. Polar Express on the big screen is totally amazing.

The little ones will love Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) but please, do your self a favor and rent or buy the timeless, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). A little known but absolutely marvelous little movie my thirty something kids loved is Emmett Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. This is Jim Henson at his sweetest and most brilliant. Your young ones are sure to be mesmerized.

Now I’m going schmaltzy on you.  One of my favorite contemporary films is The Holiday (2006) with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black and Kate Winslet. What can I say; it’s a feel good movie. While I’m at it, if you like the Christmassy feel good stuff watch your TV listings for the plethora of Hallmark contributions. I record literally dozens of them every year to have something to watch on a rainy night with a big bowl of popcorn!

My last recommendation is the reason for the season! You’ll want to watch The Nativity (2006), a beautifully filmed story of Jesus’ birth.

Now you have your December cut out for you…20 of my favorite, all for different reasons. Pop the corn, cuddle up and enjoy. And, oh by the way, you can always email me with your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.