# Is there a definitive German-language version of "Stille Nacht"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318 "2016-11-28T20:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/1 "2016-11-28T20:06:23Z")
Was looking through [this old thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14565607) and wondered about “Stille Nacht” (English: _Silent Night_). Now, it’s a very famous song that’s been recorded thousands of times in many languages. What I am wondering about, specifically, is if there is one particular German-language version that is most renowned in German-speaking countries? Is there perhaps a German/Austrian/Swiss Bing Crosby out there who made a name with “Stille Nacht”? In the old thread, I linked to a hauntingly beautiful version in German by Nana Mouskouri. Since her version was released in 2000, I thought there must be an older, more traditional version in the collective German-language discography. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/2 "2016-11-28T20:53:51Z")
It was a poem before it was set to music, so I guess that’d be the definitive text. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/3 "2016-11-28T21:04:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > It was a poem before it was set to music, so I guess that’d be the definitive text. I think the OP is more asking about a definitive recording, not lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/4 "2016-11-28T21:14:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I think the OP is more asking about a definitive recording, not lyrics. In that case, I’d have to go with the Vienna Boys’ Choir. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/5 "2016-11-28T21:25:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In that case, I’d have to go with the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Thanks for this. They’ve got many recorded versions, with different singers over the years. I am checking out the 1958 and 1961 releases first (might be the same recording, not sure). It occurred to me after I posted the OP that there could perhaps be a small handful of much-loved German-language versions – it might be hard to single one out. So if anyone would like to offer up more versions, please feel free. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/6 "2016-11-28T22:19:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In that case, I’d have to go with the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/7 "2016-11-28T23:09:52Z")
For that matter–and this is probably a thread in its own right–are there really definitely English versions of traditional Christmas carols in English? I mean, I could think of a number of fairly contemporary ones (within the last 70 years or so), but those all tend to be the first recordings or the first popular version of modern Christmas/winter songs (see Bing Crosby’s many holiday songs, for instance.) Like what is the definitive “Jingle Bells”? (Originally a Thanksgiving song, though.) Or “The First Noel”? Or even the English version of “Silent Night”? (Maybe Elvis?) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/8 "2016-11-28T23:20:39Z")
Come to think of it, I was thinking of **[Stille, Stille, Stille](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VcDms_tI40)** by the VBC, which is a much prettier song than Silent Night. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-definitive-german-language-version-of-stille-nacht/773318/9 "2016-11-29T05:16:32Z")
On right side of page, a score from an original autograph. [http://www.stillenacht.at/en/text\_and\_music.asp](http://www.stillenacht.at/en/text_and_music.asp) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, melody as in original, accompaniment somewhat similar to original. [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo-RF-93xQc)