Franz Xaver Gruber (November 25, 1787 to June 7, 1863) was an
Austrian primary school teacher, church organist
and composer of the 19th century.
The son of a linen weaver, Gruber
learned the violin in spite of his father's disagreement,
and
studied the organ with Georg Hartdobler.
He taught primary school in the village of Arnsdorf, Austria from 1807 to 1829.
In 1816, he became organist and choirmaster at St. Nicholas Church in the neighboring
village of
Oberndorf, near Salzburg.
In later years, he was headmaster in Berndorf from 1828 to 1832, and then he served as
organist and choirmaster at Hallein, Salzburg from 1833 to 1863.
He is believed to have composed over 90 musical works, mainly carols and masses.
His most famous composition is without any doubts the celebrated
Christmas carol
Silent Night [
Stille Nacht],
over a six-stanza poem in German written in 1816 by
Josef Mohr, a Catholic priest and assistant pastor of
the St. Nicholas Church.
