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I wish you a “Silent Night”
By Lauren | December 25, 2009
Legend has it that the beautiful Christmas carol “Silent Night” was born out of adversity. Rev. Joseph Mohr, who wrote the lyrics to “Silent Night,” was the priest of a poor church in Oberdorf, Austria. One Christmas Eve, he discovered that the church’s failing organ wouldn’t work, perhaps because mice had chewed through the bellows. There would be no music for the Christmas service unless something was done, and quickly. Mohr reportedly took a poem he had written to his friend Franz Guber, begging him to write a melody to accompany the words. Gruber obliged, and “Silent Night” was performed by Mohr and Gruber for the first time that Christmas Eve night, quietly accompanied by Gruber’s guitar.
Or so the story goes …
The truth about “Silent Night,” or at least what the historians can prove, is a lot less romantic. We know that Mohr wrote the lyrics first and that Gruber added the tune two years later. (Mohr later said that composing “Silent Night” was one of the most treasured moments of his life.) We also know that both of the authors were born into poverty and suffered considerable hardships during their lives. Still, they were able to create one of the most beautiful carols ever written, an international favorite for almost two centuries.
2009 has been a rough year, with too many people out of work, money and hope. My wish for the world this Christmas would be for everyone who has suffered through hardship these past twelve months to be inspired to go beyond their pain and fear and create something as lovely as “Silent Night.” Even the worst circumstances can give birth to beautiful things.
Merry Christmas.
Topics: Business Ethics, ethics |
December 25th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
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December 25th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
This is a beautiful post. Thank you; it brightened my Christmas.