Franz Xaver Gruber (1787–1863)
An Austrian schoolteacher and organist, Franz Xaver Gruber composed “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”), first sung at Christmas 1818.
Franz Xaver Gruber was a schoolmaster and organist in Austria, near Salzburg. On 24 December 1818, in St Nicholas’ Church in Oberndorf, he and the priest Joseph Mohr, author of the words, first performed Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, for two solo voices, choir and guitar.
The carol spread throughout the German-speaking world and then the whole world, translated into hundreds of languages. Gruber continued his life as a church musician and died in Hallein in 1863.
The melody, in 6/8, has the simplicity of a lullaby: playing it well calls above all for a singing legato and great calm.
Piano sheet music (1)
- Silent Night (Stille Nacht) · level 2
Guitar sheet music (2)
- Stille Nacht · level 3
- Silent Night (Stille Nacht) — open D · level 2