On Christmas Eve in 1818, two men with a small guitar entered a church in Oberndorf, Austria, and prepared to sing a new Christmas carol. Times had been bad in Oberndorf, where many people worked on ...

It is one of the most beloved Christmas songs — one that has been performed in more than 300 languages and dialects. But on Christmas Eve, 1818, Silent Night was being performed for the very first ...

We all know the song, but few know its history. This coming Christmas marks the 200th anniversary of “Silent Night, Holy Night,” the classic song that today is a holiday favorite performed in more ...

Earliest surviving manuscript of “Silent Night,” in the handwriting of the Rev. Joseph Mohr. (photo: Salzburg Museum). The hills around Salzburg are alive, we hear, “alive with the sound of music.” ...

Martin Clarke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...