One of the Christmas season's most revered songs is commemorated on its 200th anniversary
If there’s one song that captures the true spirit of Christmas, it must be « Silent Night. » The song’s message of peace has been sung in more than 300 languages. Everyone from Elvis to Nat King Cole to Stevie Nicks has joined « Silent Night »‘s chorus, with few renditions as popular as Bing Crosby’s:
« It’s a lullaby, and it’s not just a lullaby for the baby Jesus, but really for all of us, » said Bruce Forbes, professor emeritus of religious studies at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
« The Christmas song especially relates to average common people because of the very character of the song. It’s easy to learn, it’s in a good, singable range, and it expresses I think the feelings of the people, » Forbes said.
The year was 1816, right after the Napoleonic Wars, when a poem of simple verse was written in German. « Stille Nacht! Heilig-eh Nacht! » or « Silent Night, Holy Night » was the masterwork of Joseph Mohr, an assistant priest in the small Austrian village of Mariapfarr.
