---

It´s like a fairy tale: a Christmas carol, the spontaneous idea between two friends becomes the symbol of peace worldwide. The text and music were composed in times of distress, circulated through fortunate circumstances and are now widely renowned and cherished...
Distinguished authors offer facts, background information and interpretations on Silent Night and provide an insight into its almost serendipitous emergence during a profound social upheaval. The author´s contributions reveal the song´s unforeseen ´road to success´ accompanied by surprising twists and turns which testify to the significance of its ´message´ in the present day.
Silent Night´s charisma has led to it being the most translated Christmas carol in the world. While sometimes used for political and commercial purposes, it also became the impulse of diverse artistic creativity. The core of this event lies in the State of Salzburg. Here, in 1818, a song was created that touches the heart like no other, that reflects religious affiliations, releases nostalgic feelings and evokes family memories.

---

Hochradner, Thomas
ao. Univ.-Prof., geb. 1963, ist seit Oktober 2014 Leiter des Departments für Musikwissenschaft an der Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, seit 2012 des "Arbeitsschwerpunktes Salzburger Musikgeschichte". Zahlreiche Veröffentlichungen, darunter zuletzt das Thematische Verzeichnis der Werke von Johann Joseph Fux (Band 1, 2016).

Neureiter, Michael
MMag., geb. 1950 in Hallein, wohnhaft in Bad Vigaun, verheiratet, Studium der Theologie und Philosophie (Geschichte) in Salzburg, bis 2004 Geschäftsführer des Österreichischen Bibliothekswerks, bis 2008 Zweiter Präsident des Salzburger Landtags, seit 2007 Präsident der Stille-Nacht-Gesellschaft.

---