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GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Yes, it's "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" |
| I subtitled my Tech Tip "Doug's Dirty Little Secrets" after reading someone's posted message on a guitar web forum. The writer asserted that professional virtuoso guitarists all had secrets they kept to themselves and wouldn't tell anyone else, so no one would play as well as them! |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" Doug's Dirty Little Secrets. It contains ALL of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
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The "Guitar Technique Tip of the Month" is available in newsletter form, which can be emailed to you every month. FREE, no muss no fuss. No more checking to see if the new tip is out each month. VERY convenient.
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By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift to my fellow
guitarists. I am giving it to you now so you have time to learn it by Christmas. It is an
arrangement of Silent Night. I have made it easy enough that it won't be too much of a struggle
to learn.
Silent Night
Music by Franz Gruber
Words by Joseph Mohr
The Story Behind the Carol
The story of the creation of Silent Night has been passed down from generation to generation.
Though scholars find no solid evidence for some details of the narrative, it is a fascinating
account.
It was December of 1818, during a particularly cold winter in the Austrian Alps. Twenty-six-year-
old village priest Joseph Mohr was making last-minute preparations for a special Christmas
Eve mass at St. Nicholas Church. Everything from music to message was in place. But as he
cleaned and readied the sanctuary, he encountered a serious problem: St. Nicholas' organ
would not play. A frantic Mohr struggled with the old instrument, but in spite of his efforts, the
organ remained silent.
Realizing nothing could be done, he prayed for inspiration. He was suddenly reminded of a
Christmas poem he had written two years earlier. Digging Stille Nacht! heilige Nacht! from his
desk, Mohr reread the words. The poem was perfect for the Christmas Eve midnight mass, now
just hours away.
He hurried through the snow-covered streets to Franz Gruber's drafty apartment over the town
schoolhouse. Gruber played the organ at St. Nicholas, and was also a talented composer. The
distressed priest explained his dilemma. Showing him the poem, he asked Franz to write a
melody with guitar accompaniment for his words—music simple enough that could be learned
by the choir that night.
A few hours later, the two friends met at St. Nicholas. There, in the candlelit sanctuary, Gruber
shared his new music with Mohr. The priest approved, and after learning the guitar chords,
whisked the music off to the choir members, who were waiting for their rehearsal.
Just after midnight, Mohr and Gruber stood in front of the main altar and introduced their song.
As they sang, they couldn't have guessed that Silent Night would be remembered not only the
next Christmas in their small village, but almost two hundred years later, around the world.
Gruber's simple but beautiful music blended perfectly with the spirit of Mohr's words. And why
Joseph Mohr selected a guitar accompaniment for his hymn is not known, but the choice was
fortunate. The image of the starry sky, the little church, and the lone guitar is one of enduring
humility and quiet beauty.
And Now, The Arrangement
This is my arrangement of Silent Night for you to print out.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This music may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For my November technique tip, I always enjoy giving a little Christmas gift to my fellow
guitarists. I am giving it to you now so you have time to learn it by Christmas. It is an
arrangement of Silent Night. I have made it easy enough that it won't be too much of a struggle
to learn.
Silent Night
Music by Franz Gruber
Words by Joseph Mohr
The Story Behind the Carol
The story of the creation of Silent Night has been passed down from generation to generation.
Though scholars find no solid evidence for some details of the narrative, it is a fascinating
account.
It was December of 1818, during a particularly cold winter in the Austrian Alps. Twenty-six-year-
old village priest Joseph Mohr was making last-minute preparations for a special Christmas
Eve mass at St. Nicholas Church. Everything from music to message was in place. But as he
cleaned and readied the sanctuary, he encountered a serious problem: St. Nicholas' organ
would not play. A frantic Mohr struggled with the old instrument, but in spite of his efforts, the
organ remained silent.
Realizing nothing could be done, he prayed for inspiration. He was suddenly reminded of a
Christmas poem he had written two years earlier. Digging Stille Nacht! heilige Nacht! from his
desk, Mohr reread the words. The poem was perfect for the Christmas Eve midnight mass, now
just hours away.
He hurried through the snow-covered streets to Franz Gruber's drafty apartment over the town
schoolhouse. Gruber played the organ at St. Nicholas, and was also a talented composer. The
distressed priest explained his dilemma. Showing him the poem, he asked Franz to write a
melody with guitar accompaniment for his words—music simple enough that could be learned
by the choir that night.
A few hours later, the two friends met at St. Nicholas. There, in the candlelit sanctuary, Gruber
shared his new music with Mohr. The priest approved, and after learning the guitar chords,
whisked the music off to the choir members, who were waiting for their rehearsal.
Just after midnight, Mohr and Gruber stood in front of the main altar and introduced their song.
As they sang, they couldn't have guessed that Silent Night would be remembered not only the
next Christmas in their small village, but almost two hundred years later, around the world.
Gruber's simple but beautiful music blended perfectly with the spirit of Mohr's words. And why
Joseph Mohr selected a guitar accompaniment for his hymn is not known, but the choice was
fortunate. The image of the starry sky, the little church, and the lone guitar is one of enduring
humility and quiet beauty.
And Now, The Arrangement
This is my arrangement of Silent Night for you to print out.
Merry Christmas. Enjoy!
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
A Christmas Gift For You. Silent Night |
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains ALL of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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