Song facts
- Original key
- B♭ major
- Type
- Christmas carol
- Music
- Franz Xaver Gruber (died 1863)
- Original lyrics
- Joseph Mohr (died 1848)
- First published
- 1833
Public-domain songs · Christmas carol instrumental
Silent Night
Play the Silent Night instrumental in the original key of B♭ major, or from 3 semitones lower to 2 higher. Made by MR Maker from a public-domain score.
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Backing track by key
The original key is B♭ major. If it sits too high or too low for your voice, try the shifted versions and pick the one you can sing comfortably.
3 semitones lower (G major)
2 semitones lower (A♭ major)
Original key (B♭ major)
2 semitones higher (C major)
About this song
Joseph Mohr, then an assistant priest, wrote the poem at Mariapfarr in 1816. On Christmas Eve 1818 in Oberndorf he asked organist Franz Xaver Gruber for a melody with guitar accompaniment, and the two sang it at Mass in St Nicholas Church that night. A. R. Friese first printed it in Dresden in 1833. Gruber's original was a moderato siciliana; today it is usually sung as a slow lullaby. His autographs are mostly in D major, 6/8, and many hymnals print it in B♭ major.
Rights
The melody is in the public domain (first published 1833). MR Maker made this accompaniment from a public-domain score. It contains no lyrics, translations or third-party recordings.
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