Various Artists – Christmas in Germany [Capitol Records (International Series) SM-10095, 12″ LP, 1965?]
Christmas Eve is upon us. I’m going to keep it simple today and tomorrow as I celebrate with my family. This album, Christmas in Germany, features some lovely traditional Christmas melodies in orchestral and choral settings. We’ll take a listen to the most familiar tune on the album, “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” – “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
You can read the original German text along with an English literal translation and much more about the history of “Stille Nacht” at the website of the Silent Night Association based in Salzburg, Austria.
And I think it’s apropos to mention that today marks the centenary of the famous “Christmas Truce” that took place between German and Allied, mostly British, soldiers during the first Christmas at the beginning of World War I in 1914. Christmas songs and other tunes were a part of this event. If only it had proved more lasting.
Here is the version of “Stille Nacht” heard on this album, performed by the Bielefelder Kinderchor, the Bielefeld Children’s Choir, with some church bells at the introduction.
Sleep in heavenly peace tonight, if you’re not too distracted by the excitement of Christmas morning!
Jukebox Delirium 