Our Top 5 Favorite Versions of "Silent Night"

"Silent Night" was written in 1816 by a young priest in Austria named Joseph Mohr. Mohr wrote the song's lyrics when he took a walk and he was impressed of how quiet and tranquil the winter-laden town looked.
It was Christmas Eve, 1818, when the now-famous carol was first performed as Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht. Mohr played the guitar and sang along with Franz Xaver Gruber, the choir director who had written the melody.
An organ builder and repair man working at the church took a copy of the six-verse song to his home village. There, it was picked up and spread by two families of traveling folk singers, who performed around northern Europe. In 1834, the Strasser family performed it for the King of Prussia. In 1839, the Rainer family of singers debuted the carol outside Trinity Church in New York City.
The composition evolved, and was translated into over 300 languages with many different arrangements for various voices and ensembles. It was sung in churches, in town squares, even on the battlefield during World War I, when, during a temporary truce on Christmas Eve, soldiers sang carols from home. "Silent Night," by 1914, known around the world, was sung simultaneously in French, German and English.
Over the years, the carol's mystique grew with its popularity. After the original manuscript was lost, for decades, some speculated that the music had been written by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven. In 1994, an original manuscript was found in Mohr's handwriting, with Gruber named as composer.
Today, the Franz Xaver Gruber Museum in Hallein and the Joseph Mohr School in Wagrain, Austria honor the creators of this classic carol. The Stille Nacht Gesellschaft-or Silent Night Society-hosts a virtual Silent Night museum, tracks events, and promotes the use of all six verses, which in the words of Silent Night Society president "[encourage] peace and [demand] responsibility for the globe."
1. Matthew West featuring Leanna Crawford
2. Michael W. Smith featuring Little Big Town
3. Darlene Zschech and HopeUC
4. Kim Walker-Smith
5. Chris Tomlin featuring Kristyn Getty
Tags : silent night Christmas 2023 Darlene Zschech Chris Tomlin Kim Walker-Smith Matthew West Michael W. Smith kristyn getty leanna crawford little big town
Hot Trends
-
Forrest Frank & Crowder Release New Collab “The Rock”
-
William McDowell Walks Away From Car Crash After Black Bear Encounter
-
Lady A Announces "On This Winter’s Night (Volume 2)" Featuring Special Duet with Chris Tomlin
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
-
Ross King Mourns the Loss of His Wife Staci After Courageous Battle with Cancer
-
“Give Me You” by Me’Kayla Climbs to #3 on Billboard Gospel Airplay
-
Chart Rewind: Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” Iron Cast Grip at No. 1 in August 2020
-
Josiah Queen “Mt. Zion” Album Review
-
Jamie Grace Hopes New TV Show Will Inspire Christians to Adopt Children
-
Kacey Musgraves & Katy Perry's Tour 2014, Country Star Joining PRISM U.S. Dates this Summer as Special Guest, See Dates Here
-
Bryan Kearney and Plumb Release Uplifting Trance Anthem “God Help Me”
-
Story Behind Chris Tomlin's New Song "Is He Worthy?"
-
More Details About Andrae Crouch's Death Revealed; Stars and Family Respond to the Legend's Passing
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Brandon Lake Signs with Provident Entertainment
Most Popular
-
Forrest Frank & Crowder Release New Collab “The Rock”
-
William McDowell Walks Away From Car Crash After Black Bear Encounter
-
Lady A Announces "On This Winter’s Night (Volume 2)" Featuring Special Duet with Chris Tomlin
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
-
Ross King Mourns the Loss of His Wife Staci After Courageous Battle with Cancer
-
“Give Me You” by Me’Kayla Climbs to #3 on Billboard Gospel Airplay
-
Chart Rewind: Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” Iron Cast Grip at No. 1 in August 2020
-
Josiah Queen “Mt. Zion” Album Review
-
Jamie Grace Hopes New TV Show Will Inspire Christians to Adopt Children
-
Kacey Musgraves & Katy Perry's Tour 2014, Country Star Joining PRISM U.S. Dates this Summer as Special Guest, See Dates Here
-
Bryan Kearney and Plumb Release Uplifting Trance Anthem “God Help Me”
-
Story Behind Chris Tomlin's New Song "Is He Worthy?"
-
More Details About Andrae Crouch's Death Revealed; Stars and Family Respond to the Legend's Passing
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Brandon Lake Signs with Provident Entertainment