Journey to Bethlehem - Snow covered the countryside in pristine Oberndorf, Austria, as the town approached Christmas in 1818. But a cultural crisis threatened the Christmas Eve service; the organ at the Church of St. Nicholas was broken and could not be repaired in time.
Josef Mohr, who had attended a nativity play the evening of Dec. 23, stopped on the way back to his home and looked back at the peaceful little village. Inspired by the serenity of the scene, he inked Stille Nacht upon his return.
The next day he took the poem to the church organist, Franz Gruber, and asked him to compose a simple melody to accompany the words. Since the organ was out of service. Gruber composed the music on his guitar and that evening, for Midnight Mass, Silent Night, Holy Night was performed for the first time.
Mohr didn't intent the carol to leave the village of Oberndorf, but fate had a different plan. The organ repairman heard the song, obtained a copy and spread it throughout Austria and Germany.
It was performed in the United States for the first time in 1839 by a touring group of Austrian singers. It quickly won its way into the hearts of people everywhere as one of the most favorite Christmas carols ever composed.
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