Silent night, holy night

The year was 1818. The night was cold in the old church.  The poor church mouse was hungry and he wanted something to eat and the bellows of the old organ gave him a delicious meal.

He had always lived in the old church. When his town friends came to visit him, he shared with them his meagre larder, the organ bellows.

Then suddenly the church door opened and he and his friends scampered into his hole and watched. He relaxed. He knew this good man Josef Mohr who preached to the people. With him was the school master. The two men were talking, and then one sat down at the old organ.

“Oh dear” lamented the mouse as he remembered the organ bellow meals he had been sharing with his friends. Sure enough the old organ was silent, no sound at all.

“Let’s take a look” said the pastor creeping around the organ. “Oh dear, the bellows have been eaten right through.”

“Yes” said the school master, “even the mice are hungry and now there will be no music for Christmas Eve Service.” The mice watched the two sad faced men with their faces buried in their hands.

Music? He remembered the queer instrument that stood behind the door. Once he had run by it had fallen with the 'plink' sound. He moved quickly and with a push it dropped to the ground with as sound that attracted the two gentlemen.

“What’s that?

“A guitar”

“A guitar here?

“Yes, it’s a musical instrument.”

“If we can write a simple hymn tune that could be accompanied by a guitar, it would be the answer.”

The two men stayed up late writing a hymn for Christmas. They even had some bread late at night and the mice enjoyed the crumbs that dropped on the floor. Delicious! The church mice huddled in the hole and smelled the fragrance of the pine boughs and burning candles.

Soon people arrived - the people of Oberndorf, Austria. Men, women, children sat in the old church waiting for the service to begin.

The resident poor church mouse felt his whiskers twitch and a little tear splashed down his long nose. He had no intention to cause these humans grief. He pricked his ears and heard the preacher’s voice.

“Our organ will not play. But we have written a new Christmas hymn. I will teach you the words. Now listen carefully.” There was a hush and a clear voice sang accompanied by a guitar.

“Silent night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright….” When he had finished the congregation all joined in. It was the most beautiful song and music the poor church mouse had ever heard.

Franz Gruber the organist from the neighbouring village of Arnsdorf composed the lovely tune with the aid of his guitar. The tune is wedded to Josef Mohr’s lyrics. Because the church organ was out of order at the time, this beautiful carol was used for the first time.