There is a new book about the history of the world's best-loved Christmas carol. Here is the information about the German-language book as published on the website of the Silent Night Society:

The Christmas carol "Silent Night!" has been transformed over time into a mixture of fact and fiction, in which reality, legends, business interests and romantic nostalgia have blended together to create its own panorama. This new publication (December 2002) from Thomas Hochradner attempts to sort fact from fiction. It is based on dissertations presented at a 1999 symposium sponsored by the "Blue Window" Cultural Society in Wagrain. Special attention was given to the role of Joseph Mohr (author of the song�s lyrics), thereby filling in gaps in the Silent Night research knowledge base.

The publication is co-sponsored by Friends of Salzburg�s History and the Silent Night Association. It is available for purchase from the Silent Night Association for EUR 19,--.(Stille-Nacht-Platz 7, 5110 Oberndorf, AUSTRIA, Europe.

Here is information about the CD:

In December 2002, a CD with newly recorded variations of "Silent Night!" in different languages was be released. The project was made possible by Gotthard Eder from Arnsdorf, who enlisted musicians from the Salzburger Mozarteum. The Silent Night Association especially welcomes the recording of a version with six verses of the song, which was performed at the original perfomance in 1818. Furthermore, the CD contains many versions of the song in different languages.

An important piece of the puzzle regarding the history of the world's best-loved Christmas carol "Silent Night," was presented to the public in a press conference conducted by the Silent Night Society on Monday, December 20, 1999.

The BRENNPUNKT television documentary (ORF) "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! - a song conquers the world " produced by Frederick Baker, researched the genealogy of the family of Joseph Mohr, the poet-musician-priest who wrote the words for the world-famous Christmas carol. This is the first time that his family history has been seriously pursued and the results have thrilled Austrian historians as well as world-wide fans of the hymn of heavenly peace. The program was televised on December 22, 1999, on ORF 2.

Following meticulous research by historian Manfred Fischer (Silent Night Society ) Joseph Mohr's relatives in the area near the Bavaria-Salzburg border were located and interviews with them were recorded for the first time.

Previous research concentrated on the life of the hymn's composer Franz Xaver Gruber. Now the focus has shifted to the life and family history of Joseph Mohr who wrote the song's lyrics as a poem in 1816.

Four years ago, the discovery of the previously unknown six-stanza "Silent Night" arrangement in the hand of Joseph Mohr caused a great deal of attention around the world. Now intensive questioning of Mohr's relatives and the unusual discovery of the picture of his half-brother have succeeded in furthering the known information about the 19th century priest. Up until now, Mohr's appearance could only be assumed. Now for the first time a picture of a member of his immediate family is available. Historians believe that this is a real coup in illuminating the life of the man who produced the words for this world-renown carol.

Joseph Mohr's Bavarian relatives were present at the press conference and were available for questions.

Details regarding the family of Joseph Mohr:

Franz Falter (b. 1928) who resides in Bad Reichenhall in Bavaria (Germany) is the great-great-grandson of Cajetanus Vitalis Dreythaller, the younger half-brother of Joseph Mohr. Anna Schoiber, the mother of Mohr (who wrote the "Silent Night" lyrics) and Dreythaller, supported herself and her family as a laborer (knitter) and had four illegitimate children. She did not marry the fathers of her children for economic reasons. Around 1794 Schoiber lived with two of her children, her mother and her niece in a building located at Steingasse 31 in the city of Salzburg. This house was along the wall of the Capucin Mountain.

It is believed that she still lived at the location in 1795-96 when she met the day worker Felix Dreythaller at the M�nchsberg area of Salzburg and committed, what was then termed, a "crime of the flesh." When she became pregnant, she was required to report her condition to the authorities (1796) and her "crime" was placed in the permanent records. Since she volunteered the information to the officials, the punishment for this crime was set aside.

Cajetan Dreythaller was born to Anna Schoiber on April 26, 1796, as an illegitimate child, in the city of Salzburg and baptized in the church of St. Andrew. Cajetan Dreythaller became the younger half-brother of Joseph Mohr. The line of descendants of Mohr's half-brother in Salzburg to Franz Falter, living today in Bad Reichenhall, is unbroken.

Cajetan Dreythaller learned the trade of a shoemaker and later married Genovefa Gschwendtner of Bad Reichenhallerin in 1822 after serving in the Imperial Austrian Army. The marriage took place on April 30, in St. Zeno and according to parish records, the ceremony was performed by " D. Jos. Dreithaler, Priest. Anthering." THAT was Joseph Mohr, who served as a priest in Anthering between April 3,1822 and September 13, 1823. The entry in the marriage book might not have been made by Mohr himself, therefore the use of the surname " Dreythaler " since he was half-brother to the groom.

SILENT NIGHT SYMPOSIUM SET FOR DECEMBER

The cultural association "Blaues Fenster" (Blue Window) along with the village goverment of Wagrain is organizing a Silent Night symposium Dec. 10 - 12, 1999, at the Sport Hotel in Wagrain entitled "Joseph Mohr - Antagonist and Humanitarian". Dr. Thomas Hochradner of the Salzburg Mozarteum is responsible for the content and scientific leadership.

The focus of this symposium is the life and origin of Joseph Mohr as well as his role as social and educational revolutionary and progressive theologian. Also addressed will be the history of the dissemination of the song and the political and social implication of the time during which it was created.

Prominent scholars will lecture in detail on the following themes:

Joseph Mohr: A personality in the changing times

Joseph Mohr: Between popular culture and art

"Silent Night" and its authors as objects of marketing (commercial) promise

Following the symposium Mag. Manfred Fischer will issue a publication in which the above discussed themes as well as the findings of the symposium will be documented.

PERMANENT JOSEPH MOHR EXHIBIT FOR WAGRAIN

A permanent open air exhibit in Wagrain's "Silent Night District" between the parish house and the Mohr grave will inform visitors about the life and work of Joseph Mohr. The authors and creators of this exhibit are Margareta Kuehhas and Kurt Kaindl.

The content of this exhibit will encompasses Mohr's childhood as well as his many moves to different parishes, his work in Wagrain and the creation of "Silent Night."

Joseph Mohr's life and work in Wagrain were characterized by his struggle for social reform. The most important issue for him was the support of the old and suffering as well as the welfare of the schoolchildren. He eliminated the "rotation principle" for the poor which meant that old and sick servants were not sent to live on different farms for short periods of time, but could remain in one place. Even today one is amazed at the energy with which he was able to raise the funds to build a school in this impoverished village. The school still exists today and is named Joseph Mohr School. He also made it possible for poor children to attend school. Joseph Mohr who was sickly all his life, died Dec. 4, 1848 of pulmonary disease.

TALK OF "SILENT NIGHT" FILM

An announcement in the July 10, 1999, edition of the "Salzburger Nachrichten" causes one to wonder what kind of fairy-tale will be presented to the public this time.

Any talk of a "Silent Night" film should be discussing the men who would portray Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber. This announcement talks about Gwenyth Paltrow. We can only hope that it will not be a repeat of the ridiculous 1997 film produced in Austria which included fights between railroad barons and unions, the kidnapping of the parish priest, and gratutious love scenes. At the same time, we must also fear that a script based on a 1994 book published by a German author/filmscript writer should never be used as the basis for a major motion picture. The book includes scenes where Fr. Mohr rescues a girl from white slavery. This fabricated storyline even connects him with the fire that destroyed the City of Salzburg.

The story of the composers of "Silent Night" is beautiful in its simplicity. The world does not need another fairy-tale about this carol. Let us hope the screenplay sticks to the facts.

From "Salzburger Nachtrichten" - July 10, 1999

"Stille Nacht" ins Kino

Spektakul�re Pl�ne in Salzburg - �ber 100 Millionen Schilling sind n�tig

SALZBURG (SN-fr�). Die Entstehungsgeschichte des weltber�hmten Weihnachtslieds "Stille Nacht" soll Stoff f�r einen kommerziellen Kinofilm werden. Seit Monaten laufen in Salzburg die Vorbereitungen. Es gebe schon ein Drehbuch, sagt Hannes Schalle, Chef der Salzburger Fachhochschule. Donnerstag wurde in M�nchen �ber m�gliche Kooperationen gesprochen. Atlas Film will das Projekt produzieren, der Film-FernsehFonds Bayern k�nnte mitfinanzieren. Bei Salzburgs B�rgermeister Heinz Schaden wurde schon um m�gliche Drehgenehmigungen ab Februar 2000 angefragt. Die Betreiber wollen den Film in Salzburg drehen und Weihnachten 2000 in die Kinos bringen.

Es sei m�glich, da� ein US-Regisseur engagiert werde, sagt Schalle. Entscheidend f�r den Verkaufserfolg werde auch die Besetzung der Hauptrollen. "Bekommen wir Stars vom Kaliber einer Gwyneth Paltrow ("Shakespeare in Love", Anm.), wird es ein Welterfolg."

Bis dahin ist aber noch ein weiter Weg. 80 bis 130 Mill. S sind n�tig. Schalle f�hrt Gespr�che mit einer deutschen Bank, deren Namen er noch nicht nennen will. Es geht um einen Finanzierungsfonds f�r Film- und TV-Projekte, der mit 650 Mill. S dotiert werden soll.

MOHR MUSEUM OPENS AT HINTERSEE

Governor Franz Schausberger officially opened the Joseph Mohr House at Hintersee, (Federal State of Salzburg), Austria recently. Fr. Mohr was assigned to the Hintersee parish for ten years and resided in the nearby parish house from 1827 to 1837. Not a great deal is known about his tenure at Hintersee, however historians plan to search the Diocese of Salzburg's archives in order to obtain further information.

The Joseph Mohr House contains an exhibit case of Mohr artifacts along with an oil painting of the priest.

"Hintersee was very important in the life of Joseph Mohr," said historian Manfred Fischer. "He was there for nearly ten years and only in Wagrain did he stay longer!"

Fischer, who is a board member of the Silent Night Association, said he spoke to Hintersee's Mayor, Heinrich Oberascher, about the importance of delving into the archives.

"There is a lot of research to do, because we know only a few facts from his stay in Hintersee. It's time to fill in this gap in his life's story."

The opening of the Mohr House is part of Gov. Schausberger's initiative to promote the "Silent Night" historic locations in the State of Salzburg.

SALZBURG'S GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES CULTURAL INITIATIVE 1998

Governor Franz Schausberger announced that there will be a new campaign to promote the "Silent Night" cultural sites throughout his province. This includes locations in Oberndorf, Hallein, and the city of Salzburg.

Dr. Schausberger made his announcement from Steingasse, the street where Joseph Mohr grew up in the late 18th century. At the same time, the Governor stated that new research by historian Manfred Fischer has determined that Joseph Mohr was not born at 9 Steingasse as previously thought. The mix-up occurred because the birthplace had been listed as an apartment over the store of the saddlemaker. Fischer's research into the census of 1794 revealed that there was more than one saddlemaker shop on Steingasse and that Mohr lived at #31. "There is no justification for a memorial at number nine," said Governor Schausberger.

News of the governor's cultural initiative has been greeted with enthusiasm by "Silent Night" fans around the world.