Silent Night, Holy Night...

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The Most Popular Christmas Song Of All Times: "Silent Night, Holy Night"

Videos and history of the ultimate Christmas carol: "Silent Night, Holy Night", originally titled in German: "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht". Who created this wonderful song? What was the original version of "Silent Night"? How many different versions exist, in how many languages? What are the most beautiful recordings of "Silent Night, Holy Night"? Listen to Christmas music. Find Christmas music downloads and much more - on this page.

Silent Night, Holy Night - The Beginning 

Do you know the origin of this wonderful song?

Sweet childhood memories of a peaceful evening with my parents and my two sisters, real candles on a real tree, a nice heap of exciting presents, and a late-night trip to the Midnight Mass - all this and more connects me with this beautiful tune - "Silent Night, Holy Night". But how did it all begin?

It was in 1816's Mariapfarr, a small Austrian village, when Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics on a piece of paper. Two years later, Franz Gruber composed the melody.

As the story goes, Mohr was the curate of the St. Nicholas church, in Oberndorf, Austria. Their organ had broken down right before Christmas, so he visited his friend Gruber, a school teacher and church organist in nearby Arnsdorf, and asked for a guitar arrangement for his "poem".

Franz Gruber finished the music just in time for the holidays. Backed by the church choir, both men performed "Silent Night, Holy Night", for the first time in history, on Christmas Eve of 1818, at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf , Austria.



Silent-Night-chapel
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Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (German)

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf' in himmlischer Ruh! (repeat)

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ in deiner Geburt! (repeat)

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Alleluja,
Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah:
Christ der Retter ist da! (repeat

The Original Version Of "Silent Night, Holy Night" 

Sung by the Innsbrucker Kapell Knaben

This is the original melody as written by Franz Xaver Gruber. It was slightly different from the later version known to this day.
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The Truly Original Version Of "Silent Night" - The Composer's "Cut" 

As written and arranged by Franz Xaver Gruber, almost 200 years ago...

Gruber: Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!/Hornmesse D-dur/Hochzeitsmesse D-dur/Heiligste Nacht

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Franz Xaver Gruber's versions of Silent Night as he had meant it to be performed, plus a number of his other compositions. An amazing piece of music history!

Release Date: 06/09/1993

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Silent Night Around The World 

A song creates peace...

Karl Mauracher, a church organ builder from Zillertal, came to St. Nicholas to work on their organ. He took the song back to his hometown, from where two singing families adopted it into their programs. These traveling performers ensured that by the turn of the century "Silent Night" was known on all continents.

Amazingly, even during both World Wars, soldiers of all nationalities ceased their fighting for a few hours on Christmas Eve and sang "Silent Night, Holy Night" in their native languages.

Translated in 300 languages and dialects, recorded by over 300 artist - "Silent Night" is the most successful Christmas carol of all times.

Silent Night, Holy Night (English)

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. (repeat)

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born. (repeat)

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. (repeat)

Enya's Beautiful Irish Version Of Silent Night, Holy Night 

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Enya's Irish-Gaelic Version

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Cách 'na suan dís araon,
Dís is dílse 'faire le spéis
Naoín beag gnaoigheal ceananntais caomh
Críost, 'na chodhladh go séimh.
Críost, 'na chodhladh go séimh.

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Aoirí ar dtús chuala 'n scéal;
Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch.
Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcéin
Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin
Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin

Enya's Angelic Voice For Christmas 

A divine match!

Oiche Chiun (Silent Night) [Maxi Single]

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Release Date: 10/24/1995

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Noche de Paz (Spanish)

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor
Sólo velan en la oscuridad
Los pastores que en el campo están;
Y la estrella de Belén
Y la estrella de Belén

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor;
sobre el santo niño Jesús
Una estrella esparce su luz,
Brilla sobre el Rey
Brilla sobre el Rey.

Noche de Paz 

"Silent Night" in Spanish, by a wonderful church choir in Argetina

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A Very Special Latin Christmas 

DVD with songs and text in Spanish

A Very Special Latin Christmas: Noche de Paz

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Release Date: 11/21/2006

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Precious, Precious! Silent Night With 53 Angels From Japan... 

The sound quality is a bit poor, but you don't want to miss this performance!

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Japanese Lyrics

Kiyoshi kono yoru hoshi wa hikari
sukui nomiko wa mabune no naka ni
nemuri tamo-o. itoyasuku.

Kiyoshi kono yoru mitsuge ukeshi
makibitotachi wa miko no mimae ni
nukazukinu, kashikomite.

Kiyoshi kono yoru miko no emi ni,
megumi no miyo no ashita no hikari
kagayakeri, hogarakani.

Andrea Bocelli Sings "Sacred Arias" 

My favorite tenor...

Sacred Arias [Special Edition with Bonus DVD]

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Andrea Bocelli always gives me "goose bumps", teary eyes, you know - I'm "melting" when I hear this voice!

Release Date: 10/14/2003

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Hawaiian Lyrics

Po la`i e, po kamaha`o,
Maluhia, malamalama
Ka makuahine aloha e
Me ke keiki hemolele e
Moe me ka maluhia lani
Moe me ka maluhia lani
Po la`i e, po kamaha`o,
Oni na kahu hipa e
I ko ka lani nani no
Mele na `anela haleluia.
Hanau `ia Kristo ka haku.
Hanau `ia Kristo ka haku.

Po la`i e, po kamaha`o,
Keiki hiwahiwa aloha e,
Ka lama la`i mai luna mai
Me ka lokomaika`i makamae.
Iesu i kou hanau `ana.
Iesu i kou hanau `ana.

Sinead O'Connor "Silent Night" 

I love this version!

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French Lyrics

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Tout s'endort au dehors,
Le saint couple seul veille
Sur l'enfant qui someille.
Au ciel l'astre reluit

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Quel bonheur dans les coeurs,
Quand les bergers entendent
Les saints anges qui chantent:
Il est né, le sauveur

Douce nuit, sainte nuit,
Jetez-vous à genoux.
Bergers, c'est le Méssie,
Jésus, né de Marie,
Dieu, fait homme pour nous

Bianco Natal (Italian)

Bianco Natal,
Santo Natal!
Tutti qua
dormin già,
sol Maria veglia ancor,
un piccino si stringe al cor.
Dormi Gesù bambino
Dormi bimbo divin.

Bianco Natal,
Santo Natal!
Ai pastor
in gran cor
cantan gli angeli: Alleluia,
da Maria è nato il Signor
Cristo il Salvatore,
Cristo il Redentor.

Bianco Natal,
Santo Natal!
Portator
dell' Amor
Dio è nato al freddo e al gel,
per noi scese dall' alto del ciel.
Gloria al nostro Signore
Gloria al nostro Signor.

Celtic Woman Christmas Celebration 

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration (with Christmas Ornament)

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Release Date: 10/03/2006

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A Nostalgic Contrast - Andy Williams 

I think he's doing a beautiful job!

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More Nostalgic "Silent Nights" 

The Christmas Album: Vienna Boys Choir

Release Date: 12/02/2003

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Silent Night, Holy Night

Release Date: 10/10/1995

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This Christmas, Aretha

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Christmas Gold: Great Christmas Songs: Oh Come All Ye Faithful, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Here Comes Santa Claus, Jingle Bells, O Tannenbaum, Away in a Manger, Oh Holy Night, Auld Lang Syne (Cd)

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Tenor's Christmas

Release Date: 03/26/2002

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So Many Versions To Choose From! 

How do you enjoy this classic tune?

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Silent Night In Many Different Languages - Even Chinese! 

Silent Night in Chongqing, China (With Lyrics in Many Languages)

On Thursday evening 2008-12-18, a New Year Party program was organised in the Multifunctional Program Hall of Chongqing Normal University by Municipal government of chongqing,china.The program was organised specially for Foreign Teachers and International Students in chongqing,china. There were students from more than 10 different countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, Nepal, Iraq, some African countries, etc representing more than 30 Universities of Chongqing in that program. Silent Night (In different languages) was also one of the program performed there. The full version of all these videos can be downloaded from or can be seen online in www.tudou.com or you can go there through this URL or link: http://www.tudou.com/home/_34304327 Silent Night (Christmas Carol) English (International) 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) 2 Indonesian (Indonesia) Malaam kudus, sunyi senyap dunia terlelap juru slamat manusia Telah datang ke dunia (Kristus anak daud) 2 Nepali (Nepal) Shaantmaye raat, shaantmaye raat yeshu Christ kripaanaath biswakaa sarvshrestha taaranhaar liye gothaimaa saat avataar (Bethlehem saharmaa) 2 Swahili (Kenya/ Tanzania) Usiku mkuu, mtakatifu wachunga wahofu waliogopa kuwaona malaika walipoimba (Kristo amezaliwa) 2 Telugu (India) Shuddha ratri, saddhanam ga nandaru nidra povan suddha dampathull melkonanga pari suddhudau baala kundaa (divya nidra pommaa) 2 Chinese (China) Ping an ye, sheng shan ye wan an zhong, guang hua she zhao zhe shen mu ye zhao zhe shen ying, duo shao ci xiang ye duo shao tian zhen (jing xiang tian ci an mian) 2 Da Jia Xin Nian Hao

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The King Of Bethlehem... 

Serenaded by the "King of Rock 'n Roll"!

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Generation X-Mas! 

Let's hear it from the hip crowd

Merry Christmas

Release Date: 11/01/1994

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My Kind of Christmas

Release Date: 07/01/2004

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8 Days of Christmas

Release Date: 10/30/2001

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Mary Did You Know?: 17 Inspirational Christmas Songs From Today's Top Country Artists

Release Date: 10/09/2007

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Let It Be Christmas

Release Date: 11/05/2002

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What Is The True Meaning Of Christmas? 

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EverythingMouse wrote...

I remember singing this carol in German when I was in a choir as a child. It is still one of my favorite carols.

ReplyPosted December 22, 2008

dannystaple wrote...

Silent night is one of my favourite songs for Christmas - it made my first choice on my lens about Christmas songs. Thanks Chefkeem- is there a Chinese version?

ReplyPosted December 21, 2008

lou16 wrote...

One of my favorite Christmas Carols, when I was in middle school we actually learnt the first verse in German........can't remember why now!

ReplyPosted December 07, 2008

PastorKay wrote...

Have you heard it in Hawaiian? Just beautiful.

ReplyPosted December 06, 2008

Gordon_Hamilton wrote...

Fantastic, stunningly presented lens on one of my very favourite Christmas songs. Brilliant. Merry Christmas!

ReplyPosted December 05, 2008

aj2008 wrote...

We used tio sing Stille Nacht as part of our German lessons at school. Now lensrolled to both my Christmas lenses.

ReplyPosted December 02, 2008

debnet wrote...

That's one of my all time favourite Christmas Carols. I remember singing it in German at school...no idea why though, maybe the teacher thought it was a good idea at the time! Lensrolled to Christmas Crackers. 5 ***** for you :)

ReplyPosted November 23, 2008

mbrownauthor wrote...

I love this song, and I love this Lens. Great job!

ReplyPosted November 22, 2008

dc64 wrote...

Once again Chef Keem, you've wowed me. I don't know how you do it, but keep it up! I really like how you've put the words up in several different languages. This song is beautiful no matter what.

ReplyPosted November 20, 2008

Susan52 wrote...

I love this lens, beautifully done with my favorite traditional Christmas carol. Early Christmas blessings from one SquidAngel to another!

ReplyPosted November 19, 2008

 
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Christmas On Squidoo - Celebrate These Wonderful Lenses! 

Single Versions Of "Silent NIght"... 

Listen and...maybe...buy, if you like them!

These tunes are so soothing to the soul...

In the end - a little more about me... 

Lensmaster chefkeem, aka Achim Thiemermann, has been a member since January 29 2008, has rated 2,532 lenses, favorited 1,936, and has created 121 lenses from scratch. Achim Thiemermann donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and Operation Helmet. This member's top-ranked page is "Best Tres Leches Coconut Macaroons". See all my lenses

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