Hive Open Mic, week 36, Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber (arrangement by mipiano)

Evergreen as a topic for this week of Hive Open Mic made me think a bit; which song or musical piece would represent in the best way something that is the green, always green. Of course, conifers were all the time in my mind. It was not easy to find a musical composition associated with conifers... But, associated with the Christmas tree, and Christmas itself, we have enough to choose from. Therefore, my part in this week's theme will be the song Silent Night.

The Christmas celebration this year will be a little different, many families will not be able to get together. That made me a little sad too, we will celebrate Christmas in a very small circle of the three of us, my husband, our son and I.

However, it doesn't stop me from remembering what it was like to celebrate Christmas when we were children in a large family circle. On Christmas Eve, we decorated the green pine with candles, red balls, figurines of angels and a star was placed on top. The scent of that evergreen pine was remarkable. After the festive dinner, we went to look for presents under the Christmas tree.

Besides, a song that never missed those Christmas evenings was Silent Night (Stille Nacht). It is a popular Christmas carol, composed by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818 to the lyrics by Joseph Mohr. Here I play my arrangement of this famous tune. I have written down some broken chord accompaniment for the left hand, and I hope that the harmonic structure that I have used will give a nice feeling to my listeners.

The lyrics by Joseph Mohr in German :

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!