In thinking of a Christmas article for this week, I wasn't sure exactly where to go. I could do the what I want for Christmas list or favorite Christmas movie. But I figured I'd take a different route: I decided to do my favorite Christmas Carol. If you read the title, you will know the title: but the verse may be a bit different
Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Or commonly in English
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!
How can a piece from the 1800s bring joy to the holidays to me? It honestly has become one of my favorites. I look forward to it every year. Some versions are droll. But there are always the solemn versions I enjoy the most.
My first memory was in the Trinity Church Christmas Pagaent. At the end of the program, it was always tradition the children sang the first verse of silent night on their own. Of course we were all shy to do it but we sang it anyways. It was my earliest recognition of the song.
One of my favorite renditions is from a movie Joyeaux Noel. I mentioned this in an article I previously wrote but the film takes place during the WWI Christmas Armistace. In the middle of the film, tenor Nicholas Sprink sings Stille Nacht to his german soldiers. Minutes later, scottish bagpipers join him. It is the most powerful scene in the film and makes me smile everytime
I also sing it every year in some form with a choir. This year in the Marist Singers, my director told us "you'll have your moment of enlightenment in the concert". Sure enough, it was this song. Singing the tenor part with my new family was good enough. It was when the lights were cut when the magic happened. Candles were distributed and lit and the place was filled with song. It was a magical moment indeed. It was there I found my enlightenment.
