Joseph Mohr

Joseph Mohr, sometimes spelt Josef (December 11, 1792 – December 4, 1848) was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and writer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night."

Early life and education

Josephus Franciscus Mohr was born in Salzburg on December 11, 1792, to an unmarried embroiderer, Anna Schoiberin, and Franz Mohr, a mercenary soldier and deserter, who abandoned Joseph's mother before the birth. The ancestors on his father's side came from the town of Mariapfarr in the mountainous Lungau region south of Salzburg, while his mother's family was from the salt-mining city of Hallein. At his baptism shortly after birth, the godfather was recorded as Joseph Wohlmuth, the last official executioner of Salzburg, who did not personally attend but had himself represented by one Franziska Zachin. As the parents were unmarried, Joseph received the name of his godfather, according to custom.

Johann Nepomuk Hiernle, vicar and leader of music at Salzburg Cathedral, enabled Mohr to have an education and encouraged him in music. As a boy, Mohr would serve simultaneously as a singer and violinist in the choirs of the University Church and at the Benedictine monastery church of St. Peter. From 1808 to 1810, Mohr studied at the Benedictine monastery of Kremsmünster in the province of Upper Austria. He then returned to Salzburg to attend the Lyceum school, and in 1811, he entered the seminary. Since he was of illegitimate birth, a special dispensation was required in those days for him to attend seminary. On the 21st of August, 1815, Mohr graduated and was ordained as a priest.

Merry Christmas Darling

"Merry Christmas Darling" is a Christmas song by The Carpenters, written by Richard Carpenter and Frank Pooler and originally recorded in 1970. It was first available on a 7" single that year (A&M Records 1236), and was later reissued in 1974 (A&M 1648) and again in 1977 (A&M 1991). The single went to number one on Billboard's Christmas singles chart in 1970, and did so again in 1971 and 1973.

In 1978, The Carpenters issued their Christmas Portrait album, which contained a new remix of "Merry Christmas Darling". The original 1970 mix continued to be used for all single releases, however. The major difference between the 1970 and 1978 versions is a newly-recorded vocal by Karen Carpenter on the latter. Richard Carpenter himself calls the original recording one of his sister's very best. The original single version of the song can be found on the compilation albums From the Top and The Essential Collection: 1965–1997.

Billboard magazine did not display Christmas singles on the Hot 100 in 1970. This song just missed the top 40 in Cash Box.

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:

Merry Christmas Darling

by: Christina Perri

Greeting cards have all been sent
The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you
Merry Christmas, darling
We're apart, that's true
But I can dream and in my dreams
I'm Christmas-ing with you
Holidays are joyful, there's always
Something new but every day's a holiday
When I'm near to you, the lights on my tree
I wish you could see, I wish it every day
Logs on the fire, fill me with desire
To see you and to say
That I wish you Merry Christmas
Happy new year, too, I've just one wish
On this Christmas Eve, I wish I were with you
Logs on the fire, fill me with desire
To see you and to say that I wish you
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year too
I've just one wish on this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you, I wish I were with you
Merry, merry, merry Christmas




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