Dan Rather and Elliott Kirschner: A Reason to Smile

Dan Rather and Elliott Kirschner find “a reason to smile” in the music of the season. They even include three beautiful renditions of “Silent Night.”

‘Tis the season for many things, and one of those is music. Christmas carols fill the air. Even those who do not celebrate the holiday often find resonance in the beauty the music can evoke. The songs speak of many things: the story of Christmas, its celebration, and the sights and sounds of winter. There are words of peace, contemplation, and goodwill. 

The very act of caroling is itself an expression of art and a symbol of the bonds that hold us together. The merging of voices in song, with or without accompanying instrumentation, is a profoundly human endeavor present in cultures in every part of the world. And while professional musicians certainly have put their stamp on the season (hello, Mariah Carey), this is also a time for amateur voices — from street corners to holiday parties to church sanctuaries — to shine. 

There is so much beautiful talent in this world, especially when we can come together in peace. The melding voices of a choir offers a particularly precious sign of hope at a time that is all too fractured and discordant. 

We wanted to celebrate Christmas in song as A Reason To Smile, while also acknowledging that this holiday is not a religious tradition of many of our readers. We have chosen what has been dubbed the most recorded Christmas song of all time, “Silent Night.” 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. We chose a few from different musical genres, proving there are many ways to honor a classic and celebrate the season. 

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and a restful and reflective time to all. 

We start with the wonderful opera star Jessye Norman accompanied by a boys choir: 

Here is country superstar Brad Paisley’s version:

And we close with a jazzy rendition, courtesy of the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis:

Open the link to listen to the YouTube videos, if you wish.