During our ten-month expatriation to Germany, we had opportunity to visit dozens of churches…spectacular, architectural and artistic wonders, the likes of which would leave my jaw dragging the floor, stunned by their opulent beauty and painstaking detail. Each time I entered the doors of yet another cathedral, my spirit applauded the craftsmanship and splendor of each masterpiece.
And then there was Stille Nacht Kapelle.
Simple, unassuming and perched upon a small hill in Oberndorf, Austria – 20 minutes from my Bavarian home town – a tiny chapel holds huge historical significance–
the site where arguably the most beloved Christmas carol of all time was first performed: Silent Night
Originally penned as a poem by Joseph Mohr in 1816, on Christmas eve two years later, Franz Xaver Gruber composed a melody for it. Ancient lore tells the story that because the church's organ wasn't working that night, the two performed by guitar.
I'm not sure what happened to St. Nikolaus Church, the Romanesque parish church where it was actually performed, but the Silent Night Memorial Chapel was consecrated in its place in 1937.
The Silent Night Memorial Chapel is so small, it's almost impossible to photograph it; I couldn't position myself anywhere to capture the image I wanted….
But that doesn't diminish the delight in having visited.
And though my jaw didn't drag its floor, my heart celebrated its history. Is there any other carol more recognized and revered, better known by all ages, and which has gained farther reach (now translated in over 300 languages)? I can't think of any.
On this Christmas Eve morning, with a cup of coffee by my side and memories just a' swirlin'…I'm thinking fondly of how this year has truly been one of adventure.
Is Silent Night a favorite of yours? What memories are conjured when you think a spell on our favorite songs of the season?
My daughter collects Alpine Village pieces from Department 56. She has a replica of the Stille Nacht Cathedral in her collection. Isn’t it a gift to walk through so many of those old village churches and cathedrals? Especially the ones attached to such lovely stories?
I have to admit, though, that every time I hear Silent Night, I think of one of my dad’s old annual Goodyear Christmas albums which had a song called Snoopy’s Christmas on it. I think it was a re-imagining of Snoopy and the Red Baron calling a cease-fire on Christmas Eve to sing Silent Night. Or something.
I know. Weird, right?
I love it, Nancy, all of it–that your daughter has a tiny replica of the chapel AND of your memory attached to Silent Night. That makes it even MORE multi-faceted, yes? I love knowing the stories behind music, film, novel; knowing those types of things only increases their value.
(Happy new year!)
Oh, how I love “Silent Night”! Have you ever heard Simon & Garfunkel’s “Silent Night/7 o’clock News”? Gets to me every.single.time.
Absolutely beautiful and lovely photos.