“Two hundred years from now, someone will find it useful.” That was my father’s response to me when I wanted to throw an old calendar away. This incident occurred while I was tidying up his room shortly after my mother passed away. My father lived for eleven more years after this incident and passed away on October 29, 2019. As the anniversary of his passing approached, I reflected on his legacy as a writer. I couldn’t see the value in an old calendar at the time, but I do see the value in my father’s writings. Although he published several books during his lifetime, he didn’t publish his autobiography. The good news is that he wrote the manuscript, and now we are in the process of getting it published.
If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen!
One of the many things that was emphasized during my medical training was the importance of documentation. I remember hearing the phrase “if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.” From the medico-legal perspective, the importance of protecting ourselves was being emphasized (in case there’s a lawsuit, your documentation is your best defense). Aside from the threat of litigation and the reality of frivolous lawsuits, written communication is an essential component of patient care, so accurate documentation is important and can have an impact on clinical outcomes.
Does documentation prove it happened, though?
While it is difficult to prove something for which there is no record, is the existence of a written record adequate proof that an event has occurred?
Unfortunately, documentation can also be inaccurate and misleading. Whether intentional or not, misinformation often spreads through “documentation.” With the advent of social media, it has become so easy for misinformation to spread. People are inclined to believe what they see in print, especially when it comes from what they consider to be a “trusted” source.
Separating fact from myth – The Story Behind “O Holy Night”
I was reminded of the importance of accurate documentation several times while writing my new book, “I Played My Best for Him.” The inspiration to research and write about the stories behind Christmas carols came last December, after reading a brief history of “O Holy Night.” The one-page summary told a very interesting and fascinating story which led me to want to learn about the stories behind other Christmas carols.
The brief summary included a story about French and German soldiers laying down their weapons during the Franco – Prussian war to sing “O Holy Night,” leading to a temporary truce. The essay also stated that “O Holy Night” was banned in France, in part because the composer was Jewish. The war story is not verifiable and there is no evidence for the claim that Adolphe Adam, the composer, was Jewish.
Regardless, these myths have become an integral part of the story of “O Holy Night.”
Two hundred years from now, it just might matter – The Silent Night Story
The story behind “Silent Night,” another popular Christmas carol, has its own share of associated myths, which I won’t discuss here. Rather, I will highlight the aspect of the story that emphasizes the importance of documentation.
Franz Gruber was an Austrian church organist and schoolteacher who composed the melody for “Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht” in German). As the song grew in popularity and spread around the world, people assumed it had been composed by someone famous like Mozart or Beethoven. Gruber’s claims to the song were met with doubt, and it was only in 1995, long after his death in 1863, that the issue was resolved. A “Silent Night” manuscript, signed by Joseph Mohr (the lyricist) was discovered in 1995. It included a note to the effect that he (Mohr) had written the song in 1816 and that the music had been composed by Franz Gruber in 1818.
Not quite 200 years after the composition (177, to be exact), the rest of the world discovered that the composer of “Silent Night” was not Mozart or Beethoven, but a modest schoolteacher and church organist named Franz Xaver Gruber. We know this today because Joseph Mohr made the effort to record this and someone eventually found the document.
I guess my father was right, after all. Two hundred years later…. someone, somewhere may find something you have written or preserved useful. Your handwritten scribble, whether on a calendar or a music manuscript, may solve a mystery in the distant future.
For the full stories behind “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night” and other Christmas carols, check out my new book, “I Played My Best for Him- The Inspiring Stories Behind the Little Drummer Boy and Other Christmas Favorites.” Happy reading!
In loving memory,
Olayinka Olasehinde Simoyan (2/1/1934 – 10/29/2019)
Husband to Modupeola (Afolabi) Simoyan (5/30/1940 – 4/18/2008)
Father, Grandfather, Diplomat, Banker, Community leader and Author!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In