Silent Night
Year: 1816
Written By: Josef Mohr
Silent Night lives in the hearts of millions of people around
the world at Christmas time. It was a song that upon its release
touched many people's lives and is still doing so today. Silent
Night is sung in many chapels, churches and even on the radio and
TV during the much-celebrated Christmas season.
The song was first written in German and called Stille Nacht by
Josef Mohr. He then took it to a schoolteacher named Franz Guber to
set the words to music. It is not known for sure when the song was
actually written but there are rumors that a handwritten diary was
found that belonged to Josef Mohr in 1995. He had written that the
song was written in 1816 and that it was put to music in 1818.
The first singing of Silent Night was at St. Nicholas church in
oberndorf, Austria on Christmas 1818. That first singing filled the
hearts and eyes of many. There are many rumors as to the
inspiration for the song but nothing concrete has ever been
found.
Silent Night is the story of the birth of the little Christ child
and has been translated into over 44 different languages over the
years. In the Christmas truce of 1914, the song was sung by the
German, French and English troops because it was the only Christmas
carol that they all knew.
Over 300 different artists have recorded silent Night now and
every one of them puts their heart and soul into the song. Some of
the more popular artist to give their rendition of the beloved
carol is Stevie Nix, Bing Cosby, and Boyz to Men. There are many
instrumental versions of the song out there also including one by
Mannheim Steamroller. The song even prompted the King of Rock and
Roll Elvis Presley to include on one of his Christmas albums.
While the song hasn't received the media, acclaim that songs like
Rudolph and Frosty have it is still a wonderful song in its on
right and is even sung without music upon occasion. The song also
came to the live screen in 1988 in a documentary called Silent
Mouse that told the story of Silent Night from a mouse's point of
view.
Churches continue to sing the song after all of these years and
artist continues to put it on their Christmas albums. In recent
years, Brad Paisley and Annie Lennox have recorded it just to name
a few.
Lyrics
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 Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour 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 "
Silent Night Christmas Videos (Click to Play)
Rate Different Artist Versions of Silent Night
| Artist Name | Current Rating | Your Rating | Preview |
|---|
| Alan Jackson | | | |
| Aly and Aj | | | |
| Amy Grant | | | |
| Andrea Bocelli | | | |
| Anne Murray | | | |
| Annie Lennox | | | |
| Babyface | | | |
| Bing Crosby | | | |
| Boney M | | | |
| Brenda Lee | | | |
| Brian Mcknight | | | |
| Bright Eyes | | | |
| Burl Ives | | | |
| Carpenters | | | |
| Casting Crowns | | | |
| Celtic Woman | | | |
| Charlotte Church | | | |
| Chicago | | | |
| Christina Aguilera | | | |
| Clay Aiken | | | |
| Cliff Richard | | | |
| Connie Talbot | | | |
| David Archuleta | | | |
| Dean Martin | | | |
| Destiny's Child | | | |
| Doris Day | | | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | | | |
| Frank Sinatra | | | |
| Garth Brooks | | | |
| George Strait | | | |
| Harry Connick Jr | | | |
| Jack Jones | | | |
| Jackie Evancho | | | |
| Jessica Simpson | | | |
| Jewel | | | |
| Jim Reeves | | | |
| Jimi Hendrix | | | |
| Johnny Cash | | | |
| Josh Groban | | | |
| Judy Garland | | | |
| Kenny Chesney | | | |
| Kenny G | | | |
| Kenny Rogers | | | |
| Louis Armstrong | | | |
| Low | | | |
| Mahalia Jackson | | | |
| Mariah Carey | | | |
| Martina Mcbride | | | |
| Michael Bolton | | | |
| Michael W Smith | | | |
| Nana Mouskouri | | | |
| Nat King Cole | | | |
| Natalie Cole | | | |
| Neil Diamond | | | |
| Oak Ridge Boys | | | |
| Patti Labelle | | | |
| Pavarotti | | | |
| Perry Como | | | |
| Phil Spector | | | |
| Phil Wickham | | | |
| Randy Travis | | | |
| Rat Pack | | | |
| Ray Charles | | | |
| Ray Conniff | | | |
| Ray Stevens | | | |
| Reba Mcentire | | | |
| Relient K | | | |
| Roger Whittaker | | | |
| Rosemary Clooney | | | |
| Sarah Mclachlan | | | |
| Selah | | | |
| Statler Brothers | | | |
| Sufjan Stevens | | | |
| Sugarland | | | |
| Susan Boyle | | | |
| The Ronettes | | | |
| The Temptations | | | |
| The Ventures | | | |
| Third Day | | | |
| Toby Keith | | | |
| Vanessa Williams | | | |
| Wayne Newton | | | |
| Weezer | | | |
| Whitney Houston | | | |
| Willie Nelson | | | |
| Andy Williams | | | |
| Jim Nabors | | | |
| John Denver | | | |
| Johnny Mathis | | | |
| Julie Andrews | | | |
| Manhattan Transfer | | | |
| Faith Hill | | | |
| Nana Mouskouri | | | |
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