The history has it that a group of actors was performing throughout the Austrian Alps in the month of December in 1818. On December 23, they had to perform Christ's birth story at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, a village near Salzburg, but unfortunately due to some reason the St. Nicholas' church organ wasn't working and there was no chance of repair before Christmas. So, the group performed in a private home.
| The priest Josef Mohr was assisting the group with its performances. The performance showing Christ's birth was very effective and captivating. It kept Joseph preoccupied so much so that instead of his daily walking straight to his house, he took the path up over a hill overlooking the village. | From the hill top Mohr looked down the beautiful village with snow capped houses and trees. He felt the majestic silence of the night and suddenly remembered one of his poems, which was about the night of December when Angels had heralded the birth of long awaited Messiah to the shepherds on hill side.
He got inspired to make a good carol out of his poem to be sung on the following day that was the Christmas Eve. However, he didn't have any music. So, the next morning he went to Church organist Franz Xaver Gruber, who composed a musical melody for Mohr's poem in few hours. Later and over time this musical setting came to be known as The Silent Night Holy Night Christmas carol.
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