A Danish Christmas

NAXOS 8.554627 · 1999

Contents · Reviews

Danish carols by Carl Nielsen, Niels W. Gade, C.E.F. Weyse J.P.E. Hartmann, J.P. Lange-Müller and others.

Musica Ficta · Bo Holten

Producer & Sound Engineer: Jesper Jørgensen

Musica Ficta www.ficta.dk

Tilbage til CD'er / Danske Sange
Back to Discography · (English site)

Reviews: A Danish Christmas, International Edition

(Heading): "This is a lovely disc, of music largely unknown outside Scandinavia yet which ought to have the broadest possible appeal, especially when performed which such style"
Grammophone dec.99 / Guy Richards

"Offering 77 minutes of music and a 28-page booklet with Danish and English texts, A Danish Christmas is an anthology comparable to the best full-price releases. Insightful notes by Andrew Smith explain the significance of carols in the traditional Danish Christmas celebrations, helpfully setting the scene for this celebratory collection. Here is elegantly appealing music by composers famous (Carl Nielson's tender, "My Heart Always Wanders"), unfamiliar (Egil Harder's "The Christmas Tree With Its Decorations") and unknown--for many of these carols derive from the folk tradition. "Praise Be To You, Jesus Christ" is one of four carols to feature exquisite soprano singing from one of Musica Ficta's excellent soloists, though the majority depend purely upon the ensemble's finely balanced choral sound. Formed in 1996 by composer and conductor Bo Holton, this group is splendidly accomplished, whether it be with simple monophonic lines, or the more complex and thrilling polyphony of "What A Great Throng And Noise"..
--Gary S. Dalkin. Amazon.com

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CONTENTS
1. Blomstre som en rosengård (Like a rose garden)
2. Julen har bragt velsignet bud (Christmas has brought a blessed message)
3. Julebudet til dem, der bygge (The christmas message)
4. I sne står urt og busk i skjul (The bushes are hidden in snow)
5. Kimer, i klokker (Ring out, ye bells)
6. Der er ingenting i verden så stille som sne (Nothing in the world is as quiet as snow
7. Det kimer nu til julefest (Bells ring out for the christmas feast)
8. Gammel julesang (Old christmas song)
9. Velkommen igen, Guds engle små (Welcome again, God's little angels)
10. Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå (The Jesus child lay in a manger)
11. Her kommer, Jesus dine små (Here come your little ones, Jesus)
12. Mit hjerte altid vanker (My heart always wanders)
13. Lovet være du, Jesus Krist (Praise be to you, Jesus Christ)
14. Vor Jesus kan ej noget herberg finde (Our Jesus can find no lodging)
15. Nu vil vi sjunge og være glad (Now shall we sing and be glad)
16. Dejlig er den himmel blå (How beautiful is the blue sky)
17. Et lidet barn så lysteligt (A little child so delightful)
18. I denne søde juletid (At this sweet christmas time)
19. Sneflokke kommer vrimlende (Snow-flakes come streaming)
20. Nu kom der bud fra englekor (Now comes a message from the angel choir)
21. Skyerne gråne (The clouds turn grey)
22. Lad det klinge sødt i sky (Let the clouds sweetly resound)
23. Der er noget i luften (There is something in the air)
24. Velkommen igen Guds engle små (Welcome again, God's little angels)
25. Imellem nattens stjerner (Among the stars of night)
26. Nu ville vi os samle (Now let us gather)
27. Det er hvidt herude (It is white out here)
28. Spurven sidder stumt bag kvist (The sparrow sits silently in the eaves)
29. Juletræet med sin pynt (The christmas tree with its decorations)
30. Sikken voldsom trængsel - nu er det jul igen (What a great throng and n
31. Vær velkommen, Herrens år (We welcome our Lord's new year)

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