Silent Night - CHORAL

I wrote this for my family to sing on our Christmas Musical Tour 2022. My son, Jim, returned from a mission right before Christmas, and within the week, we started performing. He was called to serve in the Spain, Barcelona mission starting in 2020, but he was reassigned to Oregon, Eugene (only a few hours from our home in Washington State) for more than a year! So, when he returned Spain, we took our family to visit the people he had grown to know and love in Oregon, and we sang for them. It was an AMAZING time for our family. 

This song was written specifically for our voices and ranges. And, since Jim had learned Spanish on his mission, it includes a verse in Spanish, which he sang as a solo. (Feel free to substitute the Spanish lyrics with any other language that fits your setting.)

I've included the version we sang below, and to make it more accessible (in case you don't have a 10 year old boy that has a nice low alto range, or a returned missionary who speaks Spanish) I've also included a version without the boy solo and without the Spanish lyrics. It's a little shorter, but still delightful. 

Both arrangements invite the congregation to join on the final verse.

Voicing: SATB choir, solo(s)

Accompaniment: piano

Topics: Christmas, Jesus Christ, Peace

Lyrics by Joseph Mohr, translated from German to English by John F. Young

Music by Franz Gruber

Arranged by Rachel P. Mohlman

LYRICS


Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace;

Sleep in heavenly peace.


 Noche de luz, noche de paz; 

 reina ya gran solaz 

 do el niño dormido está,

 mensajero del Dios de verdad.

 Duerme, niño, en paz;

 duerme, niño, en paz.


Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight!

Glories stream from heaven afar;

Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Savior, is born!

Christ, the Savior, is born!


Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face,

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;

Jesus, Lord;

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.