And we could all do with that right now, that Oberndorf heavenly peace where the nacht is silentest.
Because although Father Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber’s classic carol looks to Bethlehem there is precious little quiet there this December.
Stille Nacht’s origins may be little known to the millions who sing its English translation but it started out life in Austria.
In the border town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg which had been carved out of the peace terms of the Napoleonic Wars.
With the Austro-Hungarian Empire getting Oberndorf and Bavaria being left with separated twin Laufen.
Guitar man

Father Mohr and organist and teacher Franz had other challenges though on their mind in the Christmas of 1818.
With the flooded Salzach valley damaging Franz’s organ at the worst possible time.

Which is why the most authentic renditions of our favourite hymn sees a guitarist accompany the singing.
Now Oberndorf’s place in the modern Christmas story has gone somewhat under the radar.
And in musical terms it must be hard to get heard when you’re just 12kms along the road from Mozart and the Von Trapps’ Salzburg.
Stille the best

Of course, Oberndorf has its day at 5pm every December 24 when they recreate that Stille Nacht in front of the Gruber-Mohr monument.
Since 1937 the good people of the border town have been marking it at the Silent Night Chapel.
On the site of the former St. Nicholas’ Church, a casualty of the Salzach river.
We can attribute Stille Nacht’s universal appeal to a family of travelling folk singers, the Rainers who took the carol with them to New York.
Ja carol

Now Stille Nacht, or Silent Night will be belted out across the world as it has been for 200 years, again this month.
Oberndorf though is the best place to hear the carol.
And what’s better than that… well, only getting other people to hear your version.
In the Silent Night Museum (€4.50 admission) which is next to the chapel.
Karaoke dokey

The old parsonage where Joseph Mohr lived.
And where visitors can enjoy the karaoke station.
Where you can experiment with various musical and linguistic versions of the song.
And put your own mark on the classic as happened when Father Mohr’s ‘Holy infant with curly hair’ (Holder Knab’ im lockigten Haar) was anglicised.
Into the more prosaic ‘so gentle and mild.
Ja, Oberndorf peace where the nacht is silentest
















Yodel eh? In Austria




Eine Kleine Sadie Music
The Dragon, Constsnce and Bandanaman in Venice










I skied some of those mountains… yeah, right!
I’ll be in one of those huts
And that’ll be the beer then
And the locals are real friendly




