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Josef Mohr
Joseph Mohr (1792–1848) was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and writer best known for penning the lyrics to the Christmas carol "Silent Night" ("Stille Nacht").
Key facts about his life:
Early life: Born out of wedlock in Salzburg, Austria, in 1792, Mohr and his family lived in poverty. A choirmaster at the Salzburg Cathedral recognized his talents in music and intelligence and helped him receive an education. He was ordained as a priest in 1815, though his illegitimate birth required special dispensation from the Pope.
Creation of "Silent Night": Mohr wrote the six-verse Christmas poem in 1816 while stationed as an assistant priest in Mariapfarr, Austria. Two years later, in 1818, he brought the poem to Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolteacher and organist in Oberndorf, asking him to compose a melody for it.
First performance: "Silent Night" was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at the St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf. Mohr played the guitar and sang the tenor part, while Gruber sang bass. The original composition was intended to be accompanied by a guitar due to the church's organ being out of commission.
Social work: As a priest, Mohr was known for his dedication to the poor and needy. During his final years as a vicar in Wagrain, he led initiatives to build a school for impoverished children and established a fund to help pay their school fees.
Death and legacy: Mohr died of a lung infection in Wagrain on December 4, 1848. He died in relative poverty, leaving only his guitar behind as his sole possession. Today, his grave is in the Wagrain churchyard, and his legacy as the lyricist of the world-famous Christmas carol is honored with memorials in Oberndorf and Wagrain.
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