Newspapers / The New Bern Mirror … / Dec. 25, 1959, edition 1 / Page 14
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Page 2—Section Two THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C. Friday, December 25, 1959 2 Men Gave 'Silent Night' To the World The words of that famous carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” will ring this Christmas in many dif ferent corners of the earth. In the mountain town of Oberndorf, Aus tria, however, they will probably ring clearer and more distinctly. For it was here, some 141 years ago, that the carol was sung for the first time. A CHRISTMAS CAROL we send your way to greet you on this day. FULLER'S MUSIC HOUSE The background story of this famous song begins on a sad note, for that night of December 23, 1818, Father Joseph Mohr, the parish priest, and his friend Franz Xavier Gruber, schoolmaster and church organist, had made a de pressing discovery: that mice had eaten away the bellows of the church organ, and there would be no music for Christmas services. Storm Lifts As the two men were making their way through the . wind and snow-swept streets of the village, it is said, the storm suddenly lifted and suddenly all was serene. Fa ther Mohr looked up to the snowy peaks and clear skies and mutter ed to himself, “Silent Night, Holy Night. All is calm, all is bright.” Immediately Gruber repeated the words, and both men were struck with the same idea—the beginning of a Christmas carol. The two hurried on to the school master’s house and there, for the rest of the night, worked diligently on a melody and suitable verses. Remembering that there would be no organ music, they kept the mel ody simple, one that could be played easily on a guitar. Holiday Music There was music that Christmas in Oberndorf, after all, for Father Mohr and Franz Gruter led the villagers in the first public sing ing of what has become perhaps the best-loved of all Christmas Carols. The organ that wouldn’t play also figured in the popularization of the Oberndorf carol. The song became traditional in the Obern dorf region, but in the year 1830, when an organ builder came to fix Gift-Giving 'Must' For Big Business Christmas business gifts amount to really big business when it comes to executives of large com panies, a survey reveals. It has been estimated th&.t about $2 bil lion a year is spent on Christmas presents alone by industries for customers, suppliers and others on whose good will businessmen de pend. And 50 per cent of the execu tives don’t like the idea although they continue the practice because they feel they must. Typical com ments concerning the practice: “Anyone who doesn’t give is out in left field.” And, “It’s a shakedown, and wo know it. But we’re help less. We’re suckers if we do and saps if we don’t.” Many companies believe that a no-receiving policy isn’t wise or won’t work and permit employees to accept gifts of limited values. They offer the rule of thumb at tributed to former President Tru man: “If you can eat it up, smoke it up, or drink it up in one day, it’s all right.” ers “discovered” the song and in the ensuing years it has become a part of our Christmas heritage. Father Mohr never lived to see the greatness the song would achieve. He died in 1848 and his parishoners had to pay for the burial of the poor, but dedicated priest. Gruber, the schoolmaster, lived 15 years longer, but also died poor and obscure, perhaps—per haps not—aware that the world would always be thankful for “Si lent Night, Holy Night”. the organ he heard the song, me morized it, and carried it across the mountains—and to the world. One year after the organ build er memorized the song and car ried it with him from town to town and village to village, the carol was included in presentation of a musical festival in Leipzig, Germany. Great orchestras and great sing- VERY MERRY CHRISMS May the gifts of happiness grow for you — and give you las'ting pleasure! Moore's Barbecue Phone ME 7-2276 1216 Broad Street Our ChristmasV^es Like the star that guided the shepherds and wise men, may the love and glittering light of the Season make this Christmas your happiest! Albert J. Ballard, Jr., Marketer Sinclair Refining Co.
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Dec. 25, 1959, edition 1
14
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