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A Scandinavian Christmas is a superb classical choral compilation for the holiday season. The Choral Arts Northwest presents this magnificent program of Scandinavian music with flawless a cappella perfection; guest organist David Dahl provides reverential instrumentals on seven (of 19) tracks. This is a beautiful package.

This music is not for everybody. The songs are sung in foreign tongues (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Latin), and the melodies are almost entirely unfamiliar, unless your ancestors happen to hail from the Nordic lands. The fantastic liner notes are extensive (14 pages!) and will be your tour guide for this particular journey; all lyrics are provided in English.

Even if your background is entirely unconnected with Scandinavia, this album is something very special. The singing is sweetly emotive and technically outstanding. When Choral Arts join in harmony, their voices meld as one; when a soloist steps forth to lift his or her voice, its distinctive and lovely tones float seamlessly on the lovely choral foundation.

Not surprisingly, the 19 cuts are drawn from traditional Scandinavian carols and texts, as well as from some contemporary Nordic composers. The tones tend to be sweetly lush and the tempos relatively slow. The liveliest tracks are "O Jul med din glede" and "Swedish Christmas Medley" (arranged by Berith Sandquist Ballard). My favorite piece is probably "Den yndigste rose" (Most Precious Rose), which opens with the most delicate solo.

One might suspect that I like this album so much because my name is Swanson and I live in Minnesota (a Scandinavian stronghold), but those suspicions would be dead wrong. Swanson is my married name, and I can assure the world that A Scandinavian Christmas is glorious music in any cultural context. Have a listen!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Richard Sparks, Director
David Dahl, Organ

Soprano: Joelle Berry, Marilyn Cleveland, Christina Graham, Julie Johnson, Carrie Rice, Linda Strandberg
Alto: Berith Ballard, Nancy Barr, Kristine Bryan, Kari Frost, Cindy Harris, Ruth Preston
Tenor: Robert McCaffery-Lent, Kai Nelson, Ken Peterson, Matthew Phillips, Gavin Pyle, Willem Tilstra
Bass: Erik Bangsund, Tim Braun, David Frost, Vernon Nicodemus, Patrick Ryan, Joel Schreuder

Recorded January 1999 & August 2000
Recording Engineer & Executive Producer: Roger Sherman

Scandinavia has a rich history of choral music and music for the organ. In 1997, Choral Arts Northwest put together a program of Scandinavian Christmas music with David Dahl as guest organist. This recording consists of works from that popular program, drawn from traditional carols and texts as well as some of Scandinavia's marvelous contemporary composers. The traditional Latin hymn Ave Maris Stella provided the basis for three selections, including the beautiful setting by Norway's best-known composer, Edvard Grieg.

From the Web site:

Now in its twelfth season, Choral Arts is known for its polished, rounded tone and mastery of choral literature from all styles and historical periods. Besides presenting their own season in both Seattle and Tacoma since 1993, this professional-level choir has made many outside appearances, and was the only chamber choir from North America invited to participate in the 1999 competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany, placing fourth out of 300 applicants and winning a special prize for interpretation of a Romantic choral work. In the spring of 2003, the choir recorded their third CD.

Choral Arts Northwest

A Scandinavian Christmas

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Track List