OpsMajor Posted 24 December , 2018 Share Posted 24 December , 2018 I think there are a couple (?) of sets of lyrics, in German, to the carol Silent Night. Do we know which version was sung in the trenches on the Christmas Eve of 1914? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 24 December , 2018 Share Posted 24 December , 2018 I'm sure you intended to add that tonight, Christmas Eve, will mark the 200th anniversary of its first ever public performance . On December 24th 1818 in Oberndorf, Austria, the tune was first performed on guitar, supposedly because the bellows of the church organ had been damaged by mice. Probably the world's favourite Christmas carol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpsMajor Posted 24 December , 2018 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2018 Thanks - that info had triggered my question but what were the words used in 1914? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 24 December , 2018 Share Posted 24 December , 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpsMajor Posted 24 December , 2018 Author Share Posted 24 December , 2018 Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamtin Posted 25 December , 2018 Share Posted 25 December , 2018 Hi, I think there were probably a few versions sung at different places. The Christmas Truce was not so much a single event, as a series of spontaneous acts at numerous places along the long the Western Front. Here’s a letter from Captain R.J.Armes of the 1/North Staffs who quotes a few songs sung, though Silent Night is not mentioned! http://www.lettersofnote.com/2015/10/the-most-extraordinary-scene.html This book would probably help: https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Christmas_Truce.html?id=hgkgBQAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y all the best cheers mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpsMajor Posted 26 December , 2018 Author Share Posted 26 December , 2018 Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpsMajor Posted 27 December , 2018 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2018 "" I think there were probably a few versions sung at different places"" There were certainly 'a few versions sung' at my Carols by Candlelight service in Church on Christmas Eve, Mark. The majority of the congregation in English with a few children in 'school German' and a couple of us ex Military in our 'BAOR' German! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamtin Posted 30 December , 2018 Share Posted 30 December , 2018 Mike, thats a lovely image, hope it sounded as good! cheers mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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