Stille Nacht (Silent Night) > teacher's general notes
christmas song (1818) by Franz Xaver Gruber
german verses (1816) by Joseph Mohr
- description
- Christmas song in german (translated in over 300 languages). Original in D major, rhythm 6/8, for voices and accompaniment (guitar).
- The original key, or others frequently used are not always suitable for the voices of young children. Make sure you choose the key they can sing in.
- data
- The STUDENT INTRODUCTION (SILENT NIGHT SPECIAL) contains several heterochronisms, to avoid confusing the children with too many details.
- http://www.stillenacht.at/en/origin_song.asp has all the details,
- but here are the main points the teacher needs to know:
- Lyrics written in 1816 by the austrian priest Joseph Mohr, while he was in Mariapfarr in Lungau (see MAP-LOCATIONS) not Oberndorf (page 4). This is two years before the composition of the carol.
- Composed by the austrian school-master and organist Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863, 76 a.v.) in 1818 (aet.suae 31) in the schoolhouse of Arnsdorf, not Oberndorf. (page 6).
- First performance in St Nicholas church (ger: Kirche St. Nicola) of Oberndorf, a town north of Salzburg. The church does not exist today. Gruber and Mohr sang with guitar accompaniment. Why it was not performed with organ accompaniment is not known (probably, something was wrong with it).
- The first autograph by Gruber is lost, but there are many autographed copies of later years (autograph VII page 7) .
- Our information comes mainly from Gruber's 'Authentic Account of the Origin of the Christmas Carol' (written on the 20th of December, 1854).
- historical background
- The Napoleonic wars (1792-1815, invasion of Russia in 1812, battle of Waterloo in 1815) ended and the Congress of Vienna has set new borders for Europe.
- 'Oberndorf by Salzburg' was now separated from its town center of Laufen (today part of Bavaria, Germany) located across the river Salzach which became the new border.
- The lyrics of the song may very well reflect the need for peace during these difficult times.
- background
- There are many romantic legends and anecdotes surrounding the creation of the song.
- One (which I was told when I was little), was that the snow has trapped everyone in the church, and Gruber composed the song to cheer them up.
- ↑
- TEACHING THE SONG: GENERAL NOTES
- See notes on how to teach lyrics, especially in foreign languages.
- If you decide to teach the german lyrics, make sure the student understands the words approximately.
- If you decide to teach it in the student's language, make sure he understands that the original language was german.
- Here are the lyrics and glossary at MATERIAL#lyrics.
- View and listen: Decide which performances you think are best suited for your student.
- Guide them through page 9, and check the MATERIAL#audiovisual.
- See MATERIAL for STILLE NACHT and for piano teachers, NOTES FOR PIANO BEGINNERS.
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katerina sarri, athens, 23 DEC 2007.