Silent Night - the Christmas song with UNESCO special status

Imagine the scene. It’s Christmas Eve we are in Austria in the year 1818, the sun has set, and the only light is provided by the moon and flickering candles through small windows.

Wherever you look, the snow is deep and crisp; in the distance we can make out the figure of Father Mohr, the local Catholic priest, he is walking the three kilometres from his home, in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, to visit his good friend Franz Xaver Gruber, in the neighbouring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Gruber is the local schoolteacher, who also serves as the church's choirmaster and organist.

The priest is on a mission. In his pocket, Fr. Mohr has a poem; words he wrote some two years earlier. He needs a carol for the Midnight Mass that is only a few hours away. His earnest hope is that his great friend will set the words to music.

A beautiful and minimalist melody married to a profound and simple lyric, and it works.  

Gruber fulfils every hope and the tune is composed in just a few hours. The carol is Stille Nacht; known, in the English-speaking world, as Silent Night.

The first performance at Midnight Mass is a simple arrangement for guitar and choir. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Many popular songs have their own genesis story, an apparent act of chance or destiny that launches a hit. And Silent Night has been a hit, on a massive scale.

Silent NightThe song is a must have on a Christmas album. This week’s number 1, by Boe and Ball has it, the German classical tenor Jonas Kauffman includes it on his festive offering; both excellent covers by the way. The point I am trying to make is that the song has come to define Christmas. A beautiful and minimalist melody married to a profound and simple lyric, and it works. On every level it works. So significant is it as a work of art, UNESCO has given it special status. Which puts it up there with the pyramids and Stonehenge. This is more than a song; it is a cultural phenomenon.

Bing Crosby’s first recording of Silent Night is still the 4th best selling single of all time. Whether your favourite rendition is from Bing, Sinead O’Connor, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf or your child’s school choir you will know this song. Personally, I think that Simon and Garfunkel’s 1966 version has a poignancy that Josephus Mohr might have approved of.

As for Mohr, the man born to an unmarried girl in difficult circumstances, dedicated his life to following Christ. He never monetised his work and gave what little he did have to the poor, whom he served tirelessly. He viewed Jesus in the same way as we are urged to look on puppies. He’s not just for Christmas; He’s for life.

 

Published: 23 December 2021
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2021

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: 
1647. A year when Christmas was banned, lemons were sucked, and Father Christmas was born
Five ways to make your car ready for winter

Jobs currently available

New job
Maintenance Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913348
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with an international organisation with a manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Sudbury – actively seeking to add a Maintenance Engineer to join its growing team.

Key roles and responsibilities include:

  • Assisting with the layout of the site, being involved with and understanding the installation of new services during the development of the site
  • Assisting with the layout of the equipment, being involved with and understanding the installation of new equipment and the production process flow
  • Being a key member of the Engineering team in the creation of:
  • Site engineering maintenance department.
  • Site engineering maintenance facility.
  • Site engineering control system, maintenance schedules and procedures (CMMS computerised maintenance management system).
  • Site engineering technical stores.
  • Site engineering technical library both manual and electronic.
  • Fault finding and problem solving on a variation of production and site equipment.
  • Create and carry out planned maintenance schedules.
  • Liaise with suppliers and service companies regarding problem-solving and service engineer visits.
  • Identify spare parts for all equipment, in line with business strategies.
  • Liaise with Production Teams and identify, implement, and optimise improvements to machinery and plant.
  • Identify and carry out engineering improvement projects when required.
  • Actively train down skills through standardised work to both Production Operatives through TPM & other shift Engineers.
  • Work with suppliers in the installation of new and existing plant and equipment
  • Provide technical assistance to aid in the verification of new equipment.

Essential qualifications and experience required:

  • Experience in a manufacturing environment.
  • HNC Engineering qualification.
  • Experience in PPM and TPM.
  • Experienced in both mechanical and electrical fault finding.
  • Experience in a fast-paced maintenance department.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business that offers a competitive salary and a great working location.

Please note: Due to the company's location – you must have access to your own transport.

This role involves working split shifts: Days – Monday to Friday only.

Please note that you are required to be on call out – on a rota basis, once a month to cover evenings and weekends.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Health & Safety Manager
Sector: Property and Construction
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913336
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing organisation based on the outskirts of Ipswich – actively seeking a Health & Safety Manager to join its friendly and vibrant team.

Working collaboratively with a hands-on approach you will manage and take responsibility for developing, implementing and maintaining an effective Safety programme across the business, consisting of Head Office, Warehouse Facility and support of External Field-based personnel.

You will ensure legislative compliance with a commercially astute and proactive approach to Health & Safety, utilising your experience to pragmatically minimise risk to the business. It is essential to engage people at all levels in the organisation and continuously improve processes and culture to ensure that the company minimise the risks to all.

Qualifications and experience required:

  • You will be NEBOSH qualified, combined with a working knowledge of relevant ISO standards.
  • Experienced across a broad Health & Safety remit with the ability to apply Health & Safety with a rational, logical, and flexible approach.
  • Effective communicator to gain buy-in and credibility.
  • Team spirited with a can-do and muck-in attitude is essential.
  • Ideally, you will have knowledge of CDM and experience with construction would be an advantage.

Health & Safety responsibilities and core objectives:

  • To develop, implement and maintain an effective safety programme and ensure compliance is met in line with all H&S legislation.
  • Implement the company’s health and safety policy and procedures.
  • Make recommendations for changes to the policies and associated processes and systems following review and legislative changes.
  • Arrange H&S audits and inspections as required to identify and minimise the risk to the company and employees.
  • Benchmark and ensure H&S best practices are shared across the business.
  • Communicate changes in H&S legislation to Directors, Managers and all other staff.
  • Identify safety training needs, organise, hold and co-ordinate safety training courses and prepare training material where appropriate.

Health & Safety tasks:

  • Run the H&S Committee ensuring; meeting times are set; compile and distribute the agenda; and take minutes and distribute.
  • Ensure appropriate risk assessments, safe systems of work and method statements are in place and are reviewed in conjunction with the relevant departments.
  • Work to support the business in identifying unsafe acts, conditions and hazards by; investigating of root causes; and identifying corrective and preventative actions; ensuring these are reported to management.

Management Systems tasks and responsibilities:

  • Manage the company’s ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001 compliance.
  • Ensure the company’s ongoing compliance under ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001 by preparing and coordinating external/internal audits and arranging review meetings.
  • Implement the company’s environmental and quality policies and procedures. Make recommendations for changes to the policies and associated processes and systems following audit reviews and legislative changes.

Key skills/qualifications/criteria:

  • NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent, or willingness to work toward this.
  • Experienced across a broad Health & Safety remit, able to demonstrate the ability to apply Health & Safety with a rational, logical, and flexible approach.
  • ISO Lead Auditor certified or prepared to work towards.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Collaborative approach, with a proven ability to build relationships, gain buy-in and foster credibility.
  • Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Fumigation Technician
Sector: Environment and Agriculture
Salary: £11.50 per hour
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913341
About the role

Just Recruitment is seeking a Fumigation Technician for a company based in Sudbury.

You will be responsible for carrying out grain store monitoring, fumigation and pre-harvest insecticidal treatments on clients' premises (contracts or job visits).

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Carry out relevant Risk Assessments for the health and safety of yourself and others around you, ensuring the company policies and codes of practices are adhered to.
  • Ensure you have the correct equipment required for each job and a full understanding of what is required.
  • Inspection and recording of grain in storage.
  • The monitoring for insects and mites.
  • The treatment of grain and other facilities as appropriate (as applicable).
  • Pre-harvest insecticidal treatments.
  • Keep company vehicle clean, tidy and in good repair.
  • Remain in contact with the office to order and replenish stock levels and arrange collection.
  • Ensure that PPE is in-date and fit for purpose.

Hours: 40 hours a week full-time.

28 days annual leave including the 8 bank holidays.

Membership of the pension scheme when eligible.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more