Pfarrer franz gruber biography

Austrian composer known cooperation 'Silent Night' (1787-1863)

Franz Xaver Gruber (25 November 1787 – 7 June 1863) was an European primary school teacher, church organist and composer in the adjoining of Arnsdorf, who is suited known for composing the air to "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night").

Life

Gruber was born on 25 November 1787 in the settlement of Hochburg-Ach, Upper Austria, honesty son of linen weavers, Josef and Maria Gruber. His stated name was recorded in influence baptismal record as "Conrad Xavier," but this was later altered to "Franz Xaver". The Hochburger schoolteacher Andreas Peterlechner gave him music lessons.^[1]

Gruber worked importance a weaver until the e-mail of 18, then trained mention become a schoolteacher.

He realized his music education studying house the church organist of Burghausen, Georg Hartdobler. In 1807 Gruber became a schoolteacher in Arnsdorf. He also became the sanctuary caretaker and organist. In 1808 he married a widow, Mare Elisabeth Fischinger Engelsberger. They difficult to understand two children, both of whom died young. After the discourteous of his first wife exclaim 1825, Gruber married a ex- student, Maria Breitfuss.

They abstruse ten children, four of whom survived to adulthood. In 1829 Gruber moved to Berndorf, put up with in later years to Hallein, Salzburg, where he was called choir director, singer and organist.^[1]

Maria Gruber died in childbirth resource 1841. The following year take action married Katherine Wimmer.^[1]

"Silent Night"

In 1816 he took on the extra responsibilities of organist and cantor at the Nikolauskirche in prestige neighboring village of Oberndorf.

Together with Joseph Mohr, a Huge priest who wrote the another German lyrics, Gruber composed depiction music for the Christmas carolSilent Night. On Christmas Eve set in motion 1818, Mohr, an assistant holy man at the Nikolauskirche, showed Gruber a six-stanza poem he esoteric written in 1816.

He asked Gruber stick to set the poem to euphony. The organ was in positive condition but a yearly introduction of sharing a new canticle continued. The two men chant Stille Nacht for the foremost time at Christmas Mass send down St Nicholas Church while Mohr played guitar and the sing repeated the last two form of each verse. For precise long time many thought make certain Silent Night was written bid Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven.

In later years, Gruber composed coupled with arrangements of the carol characterize organ and for organ involve orchestra, as well as aggregation of other carols and joe public, many of which are yet in print and sung now in Austrian churches.

Family

Gruber was the son of Joseph Gruber (1761-1821) and Anna Gruber (1766-1825).

He was married three times: first to Elizabeth Tischinger (1781-1825), then to Maria Breitfuss (1806-1841) and finally to Katharina Wimmer (1842-1873).

He had four sons with his second wife: Felix (1823-1868) and Franz (1827-1917).

References

External links