Back to: The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols
Franz Gruber and his guitar (1787-1863)
“Silent Night” is one of the most beloved Christmas Carols, the one that has seen the most recordings. If “O Come All Ye Faithful” opens a service, “Silent Night” is toward the end. For many services, it is the highlight, with parishioners holding candles while singing the hymn. It functions as a recapitulation of the main characters and themes of the service – the baby Jesus, the Shepherds, the angels as the Heavenly host, and the products of his birth – grace, glory, blessings, and ultimately salvation. It is no wonder that it enjoys wide appeal.
Unlike “O Come All Ye Faithful” the authors of the hymn and the words are known but there has been some confusion along the way. Few hymns can be traced back to a specific event – in this case, a Christmas Eve service in a German town in 1818.
Trivia
This hymn’s debut was not on a keyboard but a guitar. Was it because the organ was not functioning or did the author intend it that way? It is not exactly clear to this day.