This
date in 1792 saw the birth of a humble priest named Joseph Mohr. He
died in poverty, having given most of his salary to the poor. His
claim to fame is that in 1816, he wrote a poem which we now know as
the Christmas Carol, Silent Night.
- Joseph Mohr wrote the words, six verses, in 1816 but the music wasn't composed until Christmas Eve, 1818, when Mohr handed the poem to Franz Xaver Gruber, asking him to compose melody to fit the words.
- The first arrangement was for two solo voices accompanied by a guitar.
- According to legend, this request was made because the organ at the church had broken down.
- The song was first performed at Christmas Eve mass that same day. Mohr sang the tenor part and played guitar, while Gruber sang bass.
- The song was originally written in German and the title was Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.
- The original manuscript is lost, but a copy was found in 1995 which had been signed and dated by Mohr and also acknowledges Gruber as the composer of the tune.
- It was translated into English by Bishop John Freeman Young in 1859.
- Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain, and it has been recorded many times by many diverse artists. Bing Crosby's version is the third best-selling single of all-time. Other covers include Nat 'King' Cole, Frank Sinatra, Leona Lewis, Sinead O'Connor, Annie Lennox and a punk version by The Dickies.
- The song was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011.
- It has been translated into 143 different languages. They are all listed on the carol's web site, http://silentnight.web.za/index.htm, which states the most recent version is Kurdish Soranî. If you want a Klingon translation visit http://silentnight.web.za/translate/klingon.htm
My Christmas Novella!
A Very Variant Christmas
Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.
The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?
Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.
Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.
Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
Available from Createspace, Amazon and Amazon Kindle
Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.
Available from Createspace, Amazon and Amazon Kindle
New!
Jack Ward, President of Innovia, owes his life twice over to the enigmatic superhero, dubbed Power Blaster by the press. No-one knows who Power Blaster is or where he comes from - and he wants it to stay that way.
Scientist Desi Troyes has developed a nuclear bomb to counter the ever present threat of an asteroid hitting the planet. When Ward signs the order giving the go ahead for a nuclear test on the remote Bird Island, he has no inkling of Troyes' real agenda, and that he has signed the death warrants of millions of people.
Although the island should have been evacuated, there are people still there: some from the distant continent of Classica; protesters opposed to the bomb test; and Innovians who will not, or cannot, use their communication devices.
Power Blaster knows he must stop the bomb from hitting the island. He also knows it may be the last thing he ever does.
Meanwhile in Innovia, Ward and his staff gather to watch the broadcast of the test. Nobody, not even Troyes himself, has any idea what is about to happen.
Part One of The Raiders Trilogy.
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