Welcome to Musical Chairs!-a project where I release a daily music video featuring myself performing with a rotating lineup of fellow musicians and loved ones.
YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/srcZGUE2q_Y
Today’s post (#24 of 31) covers Franz Gruber’s “Silent Night”. I am joined by my great friend, Dave Nelson. We have all heard so many wonderful versions of this song but the first time I heard Dave Nelson play his arrangement, it made me weep because it was so hauntingly beautiful.
This song has been dubbed the most recorded Christmas song of all time, Dan Rather’s “Steady Newsletter” recently said “The words come from an 1816 poem — “Stille Nacht” — written by Austrian priest Joseph Mohr. The story goes that he was inspired by an evening walk amid a quiet snow-filled landscape. An era of violent conflict had recently convulsed Europe with the Napoleonic Wars. A silent night was something to cherish. The music came a few years later, a collaboration with a local teacher and organist, Franz Xaver Gruber. The original melody evolved slightly over the years to what we know today. A song with more than 137,000 recordings offers a lot of options to feature.”
Guest Artist: Dave Nelson, Guitarist Dave Nelson is currently touring and performing with the band Heartsfield. Having been a member since 1999, Dave and the band have had the pleasure and privilege to share the stage with the likes of Charlie Daniels, Little Feat, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Trace Adkins, Dickey Betts, Poco, Los Lobos to name just a few. Dave also performs a tribute to the late, great Levon Helm with the Chicago-based Electric Dirt band. He is a founding member of the mythical and infamous swillbilly band Dick Smith. When he’s not recording or performing, Dave is an immensely popular TikTok internet influencer as well as a life coach… and perpetual liar. His hobbies include long naps and grooming the family pet gibbon, Fizzy.
Location note: Geneva United Methodist Church. We filmed this in the church itself and there is nothing better than singing in a beautiful church and just trying to FILL it with your instrument of choice!
Happy holidays! Please enjoy and share!
For links to all currently released videos, please visit my website http://www.dennisobrienmusic.com/calendar?view=calendar&month=12-2023