新心音乐 · Album: 圣诞新心. Explore “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!”: song information and official sources.
Redeeming grace · The incarnation
Mohr wrote the poem in 1816 in Mariapfarr, in the Salzburg mountains. Two years later, on Christmas Eve 1818, Gruber composed its tune that day. They first sang it that evening at Saint Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, with Mohr accompanying on guitar and singing the upper part while Gruber sang the lower. The poem centres on quietness. Before the angels appeared in Luke 2, it was an ordinary night. The angel announced, “I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.” (Luke 2:10). Notice “all the people”: those who first heard it were unimpressive shepherds keeping watch in the fields. The song has been sung worldwide for two centuries because it is small and quiet enough to sing without a grand occasion. It is especially suitable for Christmas Eve candlelight worship.
Christmas Eve, candlelight services and Advent; teaching on Luke 2.