22 December, 1818
It is with heavy heart that I write this evening. I have elected to spend my Christmas in Oberndorf, some 17 km. from Salzburg. My reasons for this are not entirely personal—in October I received a letter from Fr. Joseph Mohr of the St. Nicholas parish church here, requesting that I play organ for the Christmas Eve mass. While I am an average organist, I accepted his request (if only because the organ in this church is beautiful)..
It is this that brings me to the reason for my heartache—the organ is significantly damaged. Fr. Joseph suspects mice; regardless of the cause, the organ cannot be repaired in time for mass. I will remain in Oberdorf for the holiday and for the mass, but it will be quite different, I feel… very quiet.
In closing, R. Edelstein – Kaiserthum Oesterrich
23 December, 1818
I write, briefly, tonight from the chapel. In an admittedly curious move, Fr. Joseph has brought a Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolmaster from nearby Arnsdorf and the church's normal organist, to my attention—Hr. Gruber and, worth mentioning, I think, a poem of his own design. His request is that Hr. Gruber and I compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for this poem for mass tomorrow evening.
I cannot how this will turn out, but I do know my work is about to begin.
In closing, R. Edelstein – Kaiserthum Oesterrich
25 December, 1818
I write in the early hours of the Christmas holiday; thus my entry, for now, will be short.
Mass went well, and the piece was both well performed and well received.
In closing, R. Edelstein – Kaiserthum Oesterrich