 The person said we'd meet her about 11. I have to see her Impressive isn't it like a phosphorescent waterbuck? Oh much prettier. I suppose they are having a ball too. Oh, isn't it thrilling? Christmas Eve in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and oh Gee the CBS radio workshop dedicated to man's imagination the theater of the mind Today all is bright a simple story of a simple song Which from long lost beginnings through the help of a persistent king and a melodious bird trained by a truan school boy Developed into the world's most beloved expression of the spirit of Christmas the feast of men and women of goodwill and especially of children Takes me back that huh. I mean I beg your pardon I said it takes me back that walls right away. I'm afraid. Oh, yeah Yes, I'm a playing it right. Oh In what way not enough spirit. That's the viennese thought of it. They are playing it in English waltz. I suppose gentlemen Ladies gentlemen, this is you know is Christmassy Eve of this our greatest of holidays. We will play a melody, which I am sure you all know Way boys. Sorry mr. Conductor. I did not mean to be heard. Well, sir. I don't see why oh My maestro ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize the voice immediately Allow me to introduce ladies and gentlemen the noted the famous conductor of some of the greatest orchestras in the world Maestro Reinhardt Maestro is Austrian I know by birth that is and since this worldwide favorite of all Christmas carols was written in Austria I can't think of anything more fitting that the maestro himself should take over the baton It will be an honor sir something all of us will remember well if you insist your ladies and gentlemen There's a good time you have been mr. Woodson sir. Thank you. Yes, I Will have to ask your indulgence ladies and gentlemen mr. Woodson But this song you see has meant a great deal to me ever since I was a child So long ago That was in a place called Haline in Austria near Salzburg The composer of this melody Franz Gruber was his name Still lived there when I was a boy and I went to school with his grandson Felix He later became a conductor in Vienna Well, he also is now a dead It is really a very simple song It was first written for just one guitar and two voices clear young voices and the melody was somewhat different from the one we play today It is only a peasant song after all a song without pretension What feeling it has came from the hearts of two simple men two friends Imbued with devotion to their fellow beings a love of life Humility in the face of its mysteries and a deep sense of reverence I See you boy. Why not tell us the whole story my reliable British friend, of course well This was in let me see. Yes in 1818 just a short while after the Napoleonic Wars There were two men who met several times a week in a small village near Salzburg called Obandorf The local priest father use of more and the school teacher The two used to sing and play the guitar together and the school teacher always helped the priest out on Sundays by playing the organ in the village church Christmas of course was the most festive season of the year and no one for miles around ever missed the Christmas Eve midnight mass in Obandorf But on the day before Christmas 1818 There was an unexpected disaster Father Globes I Jesus Christ, maybe it's kind of man What is the matter front the organ father? I had called the children in for practice, but the organ won't play. I can't get a sound out of your sure of course I'm sure There's a midnight mass couldn't have happened at a worse time the organ man is not due until February your March But what will we do for music at the mass we can't disappoint all those people? They will have to think France Please go back to the church now. I will be with you soon. It's no use France. Yes father. I can't make it work. It is all right France. I have had an idea Here's a little poem I have written You think you could put this to music Stille Nacht Heiligenacht But we have no organ father. Well, we still have our guitar. Ah, you mean we'll use the guitar and two voices perhaps Maybe all we can count on you and me. Oh, yes, let me see Alice Schleif Einzemwacht We don't have to do the singing father. There are two girls in the choir with the sweetest voices And within a day France Groover had indeed said father Moore's little poem to a simple yet beautiful melody This is what the people of Obandorf and the nearby mountain farms heard that Christmas a Melody so touching and so easily grass that all the other children in the church quickly joined in That is how silent night was born But there's more to it. First of all, they are the mice the mice Yes, the mice and then there's a bird in the story too. Well the mouse part is simple When the snows began to melt in the valley of the Zalzach where Obandorf lies the organ man as father Moore called him arrived in the village Organ building and repairing were highly specialized trades in those days and many of the man's guilt in them came from villages along the Tziller River in the Austrian Tirol Mr. Marachan nothing serious. I hope nothing serious father It's just that you don't seem to feed your mice very well They ate out a whole section of the bellows the size of a silver Tala and then built a nest inside I cleaned out the mice and put the patch on the hole You want to try it out? Oh, mr. Gruber here plays the organ for me France, of course father. I'll try our new Christmas And Say that's a nice song. I never heard it before That's great. Mind if I take it wish me. I'll write it out for you. Oh, I couldn't read it Me I carry them up here in my head Well Maura her the organ man did carry the new song in his head and when he returned to his native Tziller Valley He taught it to all the children there Later the young stressors two brothers and their two sisters became especially fond of the song from heaven As they called it and they worked out a four-part singing arrangement for the two-voice melody All mr. Stressor was a glove maker And when his children were old enough He sent them each year to the many big trade fairs of Europe to sell his output But the children often felt lonely, of course and homesick and they used to relieve their feelings by singing all the songs that reminded them of home And so one day in Leipzig the capital of the kingdom of Saxony a dignified elderly gentleman Don't be alarmed children. My name is Paulin. I am Well, in fact, I am the director general of music of this kingdom of Saxony. Yes, sir. I Like I like your singing especially that that last one you sang The song from heaven we call it that the people in our valley. Oh and where might that be in T roll We are Austrians. Oh, oh a to early in folk song. Well Children I want to ask whether you would be interested in singing for me at the concert This was only 15 years after Franz Gruber and father more had written their little hymn of the version But my rocker the organ builder had never traveled to ask who had written the song and so when the Oberndorf carol Had a great success in Leipzig and then swept through Europe. It was as an orphan Another 20 years later Kring King Frederick Wilhelm IV of Prussia heard a melody during Christmas Eve services in the Berlin cathedral He called for the Royal Concertmaster Your Majesty Eric you are the Concertmaster of the kingdom of Prussia What is the origin of that hymn that lovely melody that was played tonight during our services? I'm sorry to say that I do not know your Majesty The melody if I might say so suggests an Austrian origin Hyden perhaps well, then it's off to Austria you go I want to know who wrote that song and I don't want to see you again until you found out. Yes, your Majesty Well, the Prussians are a determined people and the Royal Prussian Concertmaster soon was on his way to Austria To Vienna first of course. It was then the musical capital of the world Just honest sir I have been music librarian here at the Imperial archives for many years and I can assure you I've never heard nor read that melody and I can further add that Joseph Haydn did not compose it nor did a great Mozart Of course, it is just possible that Joseph Haydn's brother Michael wrote it Now that I come to think of it. There are certain similarities a phrase. Yes. Yes, but where can I find out for certain? Most of Michael's works have been lost unfortunately However, he was organ master at St. Peter's Abbey in Salzburg for a good many years. You might inquire there Unvent the Prussian Concertmaster Ludwig Eck But in the length and breadth of Austria he could find no trace of the song or of anyone who might have composed it The Berlin concert season was coming up and so one day concertmaster Ludwig Eck Miserable over his failure reluctantly took a coach back to Berlin He stopped at the Inn and Bavaria on his first night after leaving Austria and Composed a letter to the publishers of the official Prussian hymn book And would therefore suggest In the next edition of your hymnal you list Silent Night Holy Night as probably by Michael Haydn Brother of the celebrated Joseph By next morning though Ludwig Eck had recovered sufficiently from his disappointments to stop by in the dining room of the Inn for a hearty breakfast Now then after the soup a few eggs perhaps and some of that wonderful bacon of yours then yes a half chicken and in a stein of beer Of course That's bird sir that bird my song he has my song Oh, I am sorry, sir, but I am not responsible. He was singing when I got him. Yes. Yes, man Yes, but but where did you get I'll travel a little here so never mind that where did he get a man came from Salzburg sir? He did say that he had bought the bird from someone at the St. Peter's St. Peter's in Salzburg So it was Michael Haydn after all tell my coachman. We are not going on to Berlin We're going back to Salzburg St. Peter's Abbey The the the the abbot I am emissary of his majesty the king of Prussia Now, please please tell your abbot that I must see him Ludwig Eck was cordially received by the abbot and invited to stay and examine Michael Haydn's remaining manuscripts He poured over yellowing scores for a week and found nothing And so Ludwig Eck went home to Berlin There was one person though who had overheard the concert master story of the singing finch Ambrosius Prensteiner who had himself studied at the Abbey school and was now choir inspector of the Salzburg district He had developed an idea Let's see now the first two windows. That would be the fifth class No, probably not that old Next to the fourth. I don't think so, but let's try it anyway. I hope I can still whistle No, that's no good Well, let's try the third class It's your bird is back. I'm singing both ends. You taught that Christmas, aren't you? No, we'll listen for yourself. It couldn't be any other bird in that naughty, but how could I have come back? Don't ask me. Let's look What's your name boy Felix Gruber sir and you have been capturing birds and teaching them to sing and then selling them Well only a few times there never mind now I myself tried to earn a few gross in that way when I studied in that same room Not that that is any excuse. No, sir. I have something more important now Did you ever teach one of your birds a song that goes like this? Yes, sir. Well, where did you learn that melody? From my father, sir. He's a musician. He made it up. He made it up Yes, sir At home. We always sing it at Christmas and where is home? May I ask in Haline sir? My father is quiet master. Come on boy jump down from the window. I'll catch you We're going to Haline you boys You may tell the master that Felix Gruber has been excused for the rest of the day Just to the right down the street sir that White House. I hope your father is at home Oh, he's always home except Fridays and Sundays. You did write that song Only the melody inspector my friend my very great friend father Moore wrote the words He died about six years ago in Vagram. Do you still have your original manuscript original? I don't know it was so long ago and the song was such a little thing. I would have to ask my wife Marie never mind now. You will find it later But that little song of yours has gone a long way into world There was a man down here all the way from Berlin to find out about it About that song. Yes about that song here Here is a copy of a book he left with me. It was published in Leipzig and it has your melody But here is what you had better do now that fame is catching up Well, that's almost the end of my story ladies and gentlemen Accepted the letter went off shortly from Haline to the Royal Concertmaster of Crusher Ludwig Egg Authentic History of the composition of the Christmas song Stille Nacht And since this song Subsequently appeared in a collection in Leipzig in a somewhat changed form The author begs to submit a copy of the original music Hoping that my essay will suffice. I am with veneration Tiesty Franz Gruber died ten years later as poor As he had been born And now ladies and gentlemen There seems to be only one thing left for me to do and the only thing I was asked to do in the first place and That is to play the song from heaven as those Tyrolian children called it as I feel It should be played. I Hope that the orchestra perhaps some of you will join me You have been listening to the CBS radio workshop and all is bright the story of Silent Night Written by Henry E. Fritz with the original music of Franz Gruber and additional music composed and conducted by Alexander Steinert Rudolph Weiss was heard as Kramer Joe Julian as Father Moore and Herm Dinkin as Gruber This is Bob Pfeiffer inviting you to listen to the CBS radio workshop each Sunday at this same time Stay tuned for suspense which follows immediately over most of these same stations America listens most to the CBS radio network