Silent Night - D Major

Silent Night, Holy Night - Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!

The beautiful Christmas carol Silent Night is one of the best-loved carols in the world.

The author of the original lyrics (in German) was Joseph Mohr (1792-1848), a Catholic priest.

The composer of the music, Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863), was an Austrian primary school teacher, church organist and composer of the 19th century.

Mohr and Gruber first performed Silent Night on December 24, 1818, at Christmas Mass in St. Nicholas Church in Austria, with guitar accompaniment, and with the St. Nicholas choir repeating the last two lines of each verse.

This score is an arrangement of Silent Night for voice and piano.

It is set in the key of D Major.

The vocal range is D4 to G5 (C4 = middle C).

This score includes the complete lyrics in English (3 verses).

The English translation was realized by Bishop John Freeman Young (1820-1885).

Please note that in order to accommodate all vocal ranges, Silent Night is offered in six different tonalities :

• D Major (vocal range : D4 to G5)
• C Major (vocal range : C4 to F5)
• B flat Major (vocal range : Bb3 to Eb5)
• A flat Major (vocal range : Ab3 to Db5)
• G Major (vocal range : G3 to C5)
• F Major (vocal range : F3 to Bb4)

Please note that Silent Night is also available in a set of variations for voice and piano.

Duration : 03:10

Source : Franz Xaver Gruber, Miscellaneous Songs & Carols.