Greatheart Press

Christmas Carols and Their Stories

Puzzle 34 · The Story of Silent Night · Page 54 in print

Franz Xaver Gruber

Gruber’s parents wanted him to be a linen weaver. Once allowed organ lessons with Georg Hartdobler in Burghausen, the 18-year-old could play figured bass on the organ after only three months.

Jump to a word

The words

  1. Berndorf

    Where Gruber taught from 1829 to 1835.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  2. Breitfuss

    Maria Breitfuss, Gruber’s second wife and former pupil.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  3. Burghausen

    The Bavarian town where Gruber took organ lessons.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab) · Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  4. Conrad Xavier

    The first names entered for Gruber in the baptismal register.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  5. Engelsberger

    Maria Elisabeth Engelsberger, Gruber’s first wife.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  6. Figured Bass

    The organ accompaniment skill Gruber mastered in three months.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  7. Hartdobler

    Georg Hartdobler, the Burghausen organist who taught Gruber.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab) · Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  8. Hochburg

    The Upper Austrian village where Gruber was born in 1787.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab) · Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  9. Innviertel

    The Upper Austrian region that includes Hochburg.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  10. Linen Weaver

    The family trade Gruber was expected to follow.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab) · Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  11. Memorial House

    The Franz Xaver Gruber Memorial House in Hochburg.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  12. Peterlechner

    Andreas Peterlechner, the Hochburg teacher who gave Gruber music lessons.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab) · Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

  13. Schoolteacher

    Gruber’s profession for over twenty years.

    Silent Night Association: Franz Xaver Gruber (opens a new tab)

  14. Siciliano

    The gentle Italian dance style the hymnal handbook hears in his tune.

    Hymnary.org tune record STILLE NACHT (opens a new tab)

  15. Upper Austria

    The Austrian province of Gruber’s birthplace.

    Silent Night Association (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Stille Nacht - Franz Xaver GruberSilent Night Association (Stille Nacht Gesellschaft), official site
  2. Silent Night Association (Stille Nacht Gesellschaft), official siteSilent Night Association
  3. Hymnary.org tune record STILLE NACHT, quoting the Psalter Hymnal Handbook (1987)Hymnary.org

How we choose sources and photographs