Other songs: Nov 29 30 Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

December 23

"Silent Night, Holy Night" is a staple hymn for candlelight services. Originally written for guitar, this hymn was introduced at the Christmas Eve service of the Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria in 1818.

This piece is performed by Matt Wagers on banjo. Matt has been playing the banjo for less than a year. While the other banjo players who contributed to Hark! this year all play clawhammer-style, Matt plays three-finger or Scruggs-style. Matt and Greg were roommates in high school at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.

Downloads: mp3 ogg

Silent Night, Holy Night

Performed by Matt Wagers on banjo

Words: Joseph Mohr, 1818; trans. John Freeman Young, 1863.
Music: STILLE NACHT, Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818.

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,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing: "Alleluia;
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born."

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,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,

Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

Sources and more information