Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

December 5, 1993
By Barbara Carney
Vigo County Historical Society

Timeless carols lift holiday spirits

As the holidays approach, we find ourselves surrounded by familiar sights of trees glowing with lights, wreaths colorful with bows, crèches with graceful figures and snow crested miniature villages.

But timeless carols and modern Christmas favorites play a major part in lifting the spirits and preparing us to enjoy the holidays.

This year, the Vigo County Historical Museum is focusing on the “Music of the Season.” In the Vigo Room, there is a colorful display of holiday sheet music and stories of their origin.

For example, the words of a favorite of all Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” were written by Joseph Mohr, a Roman Catholic priest in about 1818 while he was in the Swiss Alps. He and Franz Gruber, a church organist wanted to write the perfect Christmas hymn. When their church organ failed to function, Father Mohr, not wanting to disappoint the congregation, wrote the text, took it to Franz Gruber who put the words to music. The hymn was completed in time for Christmas Eve Mass and Father Mohr and Franz Gruber sang their hymn to the accompaniment of Gruber’s guitar.

John F. Young’s translation of Mohr’s German text first appeared in print in 1863. This carol is presently sung in all of the major languages of the world and is a universal favorite wherever songs of the Christmas message are sung.

Another beloved Christmas carol is from the pen of one of America’s outstanding preachers of the past centuries, Philip Brooks. “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem” was written in 1868. At this time, Brooks was pastor of the Holy Trinity Church at Philadelphia. He wanted to find a new carol for his children to sing in their Sunday School Christmas program. His text was said to be inspired by his recent visit to the Hold Land. Lewis H. Redner, the church organist, was asked to compose a simple melody for the children to sing.

Redner is said to have struggled for some time to find just the right tune for his pastor’s text. On the evening before the program was to be given, he awoke and suddenly the right melody came to him. He quickly composed it and always insisted that the carol was a gift from heaven.

Gene Autry is responsible for writing and recording some popular Christmas tunes. The story goes that when Gene was just out of high school, he worked in a telegraph office and amused himself by playing his guitar and singing.

During one night shift in Oklahoma, a stranger named Will Rogers, heard him and said “Youngfeller, you’re wasting your time here.” Autry took this advice and went on to write “Here Comes Santa Claus” with Gene Haldeman in 1947 and recorded “Frosty, the Snowman” in 1951. Both have become all time holiday hits.

One of the most pleasing sounds is produced by the museum reginaphone. This will be playing from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 19 during the museum’s open house. This is also a reception for David Buchanan who will be leaving his position as executive director of the Historical Society. The public is invited to visit with David and enjoy the music of the season.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

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