Stille Nacht

Music composed by: Franz Xaver Gruber

Lyrics by: Joseph Franz Mohr

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Notes: “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht” in its original German) is one of the most well-known traditional Christmas carols sung around the world.

The song was originally a poem written by pastor Joseph Franz Mohr and composed by his friend Franz Xaver Gruber in early 19th century Austria. Pastor Mohr desperately needed a carol for the Christmas Eve midnight mass that was only hours away, and he hoped Gruber – a school teacher as well as the church’s choir master and organist – could set his poem to music; he composed the melody in just a few hours on that Christmas Eve.

The melody used today (a slow, meditative lullaby or pastorale) is slightly different from Gruber’s original (a moderato tune in 6/8 time and siciliana rhythm), particularly in the final strain.

Stille Nacht / Oíche Chiúin 

Unique Word Count: 44

Oíche chiúin, Oíche Mic Dé, 
Cách faoi shuan, solas geal glé.
Leanbh Íosa, ceansa séimh,
Muire, Iosaf ‘s aingil Dé
Críost ‘na chodhladh go sámh
Críost ina chodhladh go sámh

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé
Tréadaithe ‘r dtús chuala an scéal.
Alleluia! Aingil faoi shéan
Glóir sna hárda i ngar is i gcéin,
Naíonán cosúil linn féin,
Naíonán cosúil linn féin.

Source: I found these lyrics in a collection of Christmas carol lyrics in the Irish language, assembled by the priest Clement Mac Mánuis C.Ss.R. (1943 – 2023) from Co. Louth. The collection is available here: https://www.cumannnasagart.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/caruil-nollag-le-seoladh-3-1.pdf According to this document, this version is from the book ‘Daichead Duan Diaga’ published by Veritas. The text ‘(Tír Chonaill)’ is beside the reference, so perhaps there is a Donegal connection to the book ‘Daichead Duan Diaga’.

Stille Nacht / Oíche Chiúin 

Unique Word Count: 60

Translation: Verses 1 & 2 translated to Irish by Dubhglas de hÍde. It’s unclear who translated verse 3. 

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Cách 'na suan, dís araon,
(An) dís is dílse ag faire le spéis
Naíon beag gnaoigheal
Ceanán tais caomh
Críost, 'na chodladh go séimh.
Críost, 'na chodladh go séimh.

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Aoirí ar dtús chuala 'n scéal;
Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch
Cantain shuairc i ngar is i gcéin
Críost an Slánaitheoir féin
Críost an Slánaitheoir féin

Oiche chiúin, oiche Mhic Dé,
Tiarna go buan, Rí na naomh,
Leanbh chomh geal le solas na gréin',
A thugann grásta dúinn go léir
Criost ag teacht ar an saol,
Criost ag teacht ar an saol

Stille Nacht / Oíche Chiúin 

Unique Word Count: 62

Translation: Verses 1 & 2 translated to Irish by Dubhglas de hÍde; verse 3 translated by Tadhg Ó Donnchadh

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Cách 'na suan, dís araon,
(An) dís is dílse ag faire le spéis
Naíon beag gnaoi-gheal
Ceanán tais caomh
Críost, 'na chodladh go séimh.
Críost, 'na chodladh go séimh.

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé,
Aoirí ar dtús chuala 'n scéal;
Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch
Cantain shuairc i ngar is i gcéin
Críost an Slánaitheoir féin
Críost an Slánaitheoir féin

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé.
Mac Dé, bhí - gáire ar a bhéil
Tuar dá rá is dá lán-chur i gcéill,
Ann gur tháinig tráth chinn an tséin
Críost ag teacht ar an saol
Críost ag teacht ar an saol

Notes: This is the most common 3-verse translation that I have come across. I found it helpful to look up these words:

Ceanán = Little darling, favourite

Caomh = Dear, gentle

 Cantain = chanting, singing

I found an Ulster dialect version of these lyrics in a collection of Christmas carol lyrics in the Irish language, assembled by the priest Clement Mac Mánuis C.Ss.R. (1943 – 2023) from Co. Louth. The collection is available here: https://www.cumannnasagart.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/caruil-nollag-le-seoladh-3-1.pdf

Source: https://gaeloideachas.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Oiche-Chiuin-3-rann.pdf

Stille Nacht / Silent Night

Translation: John Freeman Young, published in 1859

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Notes: The English translation we most frequently sing today was written and published by Episcopal priest John Freeman Young in 1859, who translated three verses of Mohr’s original six.