Conrad Franz Xaver Gruber (born November 25, 1787 in Unterweitzberg in the Innviertel municipality of Hochburg-Ach, Upper Austria; died June 7, 1863 in Hallein) was a singer, organist, teacher, and choir director. He composed the song "Silent Night! Holy Night!", which he performed for the first time with Joseph Mohr in St. Nikola at midnight mass in 1818.

Life
He was the third son of a linen weaver. Even as a child, he showed great interest in playing the organ. Nevertheless, his father insisted that he should learn the profession of linen weaver. Franz Xaver was taught organ playing by his teacher Andreas Peterlechner, who recognized the boy's talent. When Peterlechner was unable to play the organ due to illness, he suggested to the priest that Gruber take his place. The priest agreed, saying that bad music was better than no music at all. But things turned out differently, and everyone was amazed at how well the boy could play the organ. His father was touched and bought him a used spinet in nearby Burghausen for five guilders.

In 1806, Gruber passed his teaching examination in Ried im Innkreis, having decided on this profession. In 1807, he took up his first elementary school teaching position in Arnsdorf, in the municipality of Lamprechtshausen, Flachgau. However, since the teacher's apartment was still occupied by the widow of the previous teacher and sexton and her children, Franz Xaver promptly married the widow, who was 18 years his senior, with the added benefit of earning additional income as a sexton.

In 1818, Franz Xaver Gruber wrote the melody for the world-famous Christmas carol "Silent Night! Holy Night!", with the lyrics by Joseph Mohr. At that time, Gruber was an organist and teacher in Arnsdorf, north of Oberndorf near Salzburg, and also served as sexton and organist at the Oberndorf pastoral care center. He lived on the first floor of the school building, which today houses the Silent Night Museum Arnsdorf.

After his first wife died in 1825, Gruber married Maria Breitfuß from Arnsdorf in 1826. She had been his student during the years of the Congress of Vienna, when the eastern and southern Salzburg territories fell to Austria. Gruber had ten children with her. Of his twelve biological children, only four grew to adulthood: Franz Xaver (* November 27, 1826 in Lamprechtshausen; † April 18, 1871 in Hallein), Elisabeth (* November 1, 1832 in Berndorf; † March 31, 1902 in Hallein), Amalie (* June 9, 1834 in Berndorf; † May 2, 1871 in Hallein), and Felix (* May 18, 1840; † January 11, 1884 in Hallein).

In 1829, he became a teacher, sexton, and organist in Berndorf, where he remained until 1835. He then worked for 28 years, from 1835 to 1863, as choirmaster and organist at Hallein's parish church.

In 1842, he married Katharina Rieser, widowed Wimmer, his third wife.

In front of the house where he lived and died, directly next to the parish church in Hallein, is his grave, where the annual singing at Gruber's grave takes place on December 24th at 5 p.m. A museum about his life and work was established in the house.

Gruber wrote church music and died in 1863 as a respected citizen of Hallein.

Remembrance
In 1928, the Mohr-Gruber Memorial was unveiled in Oberndorf.

The Oberndorf elementary school was renamed the Mohr-Gruber Elementary School.

The Gruber organ in Hallein's parish church was named after him in 1963.

The Burghausen secondary school, the Franz Xaver Gruber School (now the Franz Xaver Gruber Middle School), was named in his honor.

Since 2012, there has been a Franz Xaver Gruber Trail in Hochburg-Ach.

Source: Gehmacher, Max: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Das Weihnachtslied – wie es entstand und wie es wirklich ist. Salzburg 1968, Seite 18f.