Here's something you might be interested in.
If there be any doubt of the power of music, consider the Christmas Truce of 1914.
After rushing to war in a spirit of carnival, the armies of World War I found themselves in a world of misery. The war officially started on August 1st. By September, trenches had been dug and "no man's land" had been established.
The horrors of trench warfare were legion. "No man's land" was the space, sometimes as little as 30 yards, between the opposing trenches. This space was filled with irretrievable corpses. Any soldier who attempted to enter "no man's land" was cut down by machine gun fire.
On the night of December 24th, 1914 a strange thing happened in Flanders. Friendly voices called out from both sides and then the sound of men singing Christmas carols began to fill the air.
According to firstworldwar.com, at one point in the trenches, the Germans managed to slip a chocolate cake into the British line with a message proposing a concert at 7:30 pm. The British accepted and at the appointed hour, the Germans began to sing. The Germans invited the British to sing with them.
One English soldier yelled, "We'd rather die than sing in German."
A German soldier replied, "It would kill us if you did."
Christmas spirit was present. A soccer match was played in "no man's land" during the truce and the Germans won 3-2.
In a rare moment, a group of people at war decided that singing and playing together was more important than other considerations. Some soldiers defied direct orders to reengage the enemy.
I can't find any accounts of the actual carols that were sung but the Germans must have sang Stille Nacht at some point that night.
Silent night. Holy night.
All is calm. All is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2CHfZ9NP8k&feature=related
If there be any doubt of the power of music, consider the Christmas Truce of 1914.
After rushing to war in a spirit of carnival, the armies of World War I found themselves in a world of misery. The war officially started on August 1st. By September, trenches had been dug and "no man's land" had been established.
The horrors of trench warfare were legion. "No man's land" was the space, sometimes as little as 30 yards, between the opposing trenches. This space was filled with irretrievable corpses. Any soldier who attempted to enter "no man's land" was cut down by machine gun fire.
On the night of December 24th, 1914 a strange thing happened in Flanders. Friendly voices called out from both sides and then the sound of men singing Christmas carols began to fill the air.
According to firstworldwar.com, at one point in the trenches, the Germans managed to slip a chocolate cake into the British line with a message proposing a concert at 7:30 pm. The British accepted and at the appointed hour, the Germans began to sing. The Germans invited the British to sing with them.
One English soldier yelled, "We'd rather die than sing in German."
A German soldier replied, "It would kill us if you did."
Christmas spirit was present. A soccer match was played in "no man's land" during the truce and the Germans won 3-2.
In a rare moment, a group of people at war decided that singing and playing together was more important than other considerations. Some soldiers defied direct orders to reengage the enemy.
I can't find any accounts of the actual carols that were sung but the Germans must have sang Stille Nacht at some point that night.
Silent night. Holy night.
All is calm. All is bright.
Round yon virgin, mother and child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2CHfZ9NP8k&feature=related