THREE´S A CHARM

 

Cajsa Stina Åkerström is my queen in the singer-songwriter genre. Worth a listen even if you speak no Swedish at all. Vreden och stormen. Silje Nergaard rules the jazzpop genre. Chain of Days. Ingebjørg Bratland reminds me of Cajsa Stina but with less perfectionism and more folksy vocal ornamentation. Månesinn.
IMAGE: ITUNES.COM

SOUNDTRACK FOR CLEANING HOUSE

Today is the day we've earmarked for our christmas cleaning, and after that, the game is on! What used to be a housewife's lengthy list of chores from October to December, we will attempt to accomplish in a weekend and a day. Ehem.

In the sidebar to the right is a christmas cleaning compilation on Spotify that I hope contain a few new favourites that haven't already been played to pieces in your earbuds.

3 x NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC

   

New secular winter songs performed on Di første jul by Tone Damli. Beautiful choral arrangements of sacred Norwegian christmas classics performed by Skruk on Stille natt. 

If you are looking for a CD to send as a gift around the world, this is it: the double disc Desemberstemninger  with Ole Edvard Antonsen and his impressive list of guest appearances. It includes enough Norwegian classics to make it a Scandinavian gift, but enough well known carols and standards for it to be a welcome gift in non-Norwegian homes as well.  

IMAGES: COVER IMAGES FROM ITUNES

GIFTS FOR MUSICAL CONNOISSEURS

    

If you are looking for a musical gift that'll last beyond the holiday season, Scandinavia boasts several acclaimed classical virtuosos with award winning releases. Try Martin Fröst's latest release,  Brahms: Clarinet Quintet, Trio in A Minor & 6 Songs, Leif Ove Andsnes, Beethoven: Piano Concertos No.1 & 3, or Håkan Hardenberger Gruber: 3 MOB pieces - Busking - Schwertsik: Divertimento Macchiato
IMAGES: ITUNES

YOUR OCTOBER PLAYLIST

We're compiling short playlists on Spotify with Scandinavian artists only. Spotify users are welcome to subscribe, or use it as a starting point to discover new artists.

You can also simply press play in the sidebar here on the blog. Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

The Swedish Public Radio has two channels devoted to christmas music only. The channels are available between the 26th of November and 9th of January.  Both stations are available online:

P2 Klassisk jul, traditional christmas music
P4 Bjällerklang, popular christmas music

Happy listening!

MUSIC (BE)FOR(E) ADVENT

  

Tender instrumental arrangements that match the silent landcape and falling snow outside our window: Jul på norska by "Jojje" Wadenius, Julsånger utan ord with Mats Bergström och Georg Riedel. And  for the 1st Sunday in advent: JUL with Songlaget BUL Oslo. Click on cover to preview. 

IMAGES: ITUNES

JANUARY PLAYLIST

  

If your holiday soundtrack is Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall, try Lisa Ekdahl's Heaven Earth and Beyond, Silje Nergaard's At first light and the late Monica Zetterlund's Waltz for Debby. My January favourites. Click on a cover to preview in Itunes.
IMAGES: ITUNES

VÄLKOMMEN DU GODA MED LJUSET HIT

Any concert with Helen Sjöholm and Benny Andersson is a wouldn't-miss-it-for-the-world to me, and nothing beats a Lucia processional in December. THIS IS WHERE you watch it and THIS is what you eat while watching (the rap performance is a good bathroom break... no further comments).
IMAGE: LUCIA AT DANDERYDS GYMNASIUM, PHOTOS BY NIKLAS PARK

THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS

The Swedish Public Radio has two channels devoted to christmas music only. The channels are available between 26th of November and 9th of January.  Both stations are available online:

P2 Klassisk jul, traditional christmas music
P4 Bjällerklang, popular christmas music

As a service to those of you that are technically or "swedishally" challenged, I've also added them to the sidebar of this page. Just press play.

The Norwegian public radio also has a channel fully devoted to christmas music.
Listen in online at NRK Julemusikk.

Happy listening!

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

 

Tipp Tipp Tapp alternates short stories and children's songs in fun arrangements, and accompanies a sweet anthology by the same name. There's both the stillness of winterforests and tree-looting giddyness in this family favourite.
Maria Haukaas Mittet is native to Troms, and her christmas collaboration Lys imot morkertida with Oslo Gospel Choir will be our family's backdrop this christmas. Warm vocals and pleasant arrangements.
Another excellent collaboration we can't live without in this family is Grammynominated Spirit of the Season with Sissel Kyrkjebö and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. World-class arrangements and performances!
Click on the covers to listen in.
IMAGES: BOKUS, ITUNES, AMAZON.COM

HEJ HOPP

I realize that this isn't a record that will appeal to our international readers, and perhaps not even my husband..., but to myself and those likewise inclined this is a moodlifter extraordinaire. Christmas album  "Santa has gone home" or Tomten har åkt hem (to Haparanda!) by Benny Anderssons orchestra is released today and can be sampled here or there. Don't miss Helen Sjöholms rendition of Nu tändas tusen juleljus.
IMAGE: MONOMUSIC

PLAYLIST FOR NOVEMBER

  

I know that christmas bloggers around the world have confessed to playing christmas music already. I don't care what they say, it's too soon. Try Lisa Nilsson's soothing, warm, vocals, Jan Johansson's melodic sensibility, and Georg Riedel's updated childhood nostalgia as backdrop for crisp days and chilly evenings. If you haven't heard these before, click on the covers to preview. It'll be a treat for your ears.

SOUNDS LIKE EASTER

         

Händel, Bach and Haydn has reigned over easter repertoires for centuries, but these are Scandinavian complements to the classical fare. Hymn contains beautiful jazz piano renditions of traditional Swedish psalms suitable for easter. Sorgen og Gleden are Norwegian psalms in softspoken versions. For the days we celebrate the spirit of easter but don't want to be in solemn mode: No.3. Click on the covers to preview.
IMAGES: ITUNES

FEBRUARY PLAYLIST

   

Done with bleak midWinter melancholy but too early to celebrate spring? Odd has been a favourite for a long time, even though I can barely get what he's saying! The timbre of Bjørn's music fits winter, and so do his beautiful lyrics. Cajsa Stina reframes the small and ordinary into starry moments. Click on the covers to sample the records. 
IMAGES: ITUNES.APPLE.COM

BAO!

Enjoying my lunch in front of the 10 year anniversary concerts with Benny Anderssons Orkester. Available internationally through SVT Play until the 8th of february. Or view a recording session of one of my favourites Allt syns när man är naken (Everything shows when one is naked). Despite being naked-themed dance music penned by ABBA-Benny, this is as far away from Lady Gaga as you get.
IMAGE: PRESS IMAGE BY CARL HJELTE; BLIXTEN & CO

NUTCRACKER

This year I was invited to attend the ballet The Nutcracker and absolutely loved it. Though I've enjoyed Tjajkovskijs music for decades, seeing the stellar performance was something else. If there's a little girl in your life tickets to the Nutcracker is the gift for her next year. Sheet music and arrangements of The Nutcracker are found here.

JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH?

One of our most enthusiastic readers of the blog has tipped us off: the Norwegian public radio also has a channel fully devoted to christmas music.

Listen in online at NRK Julemusikk.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR III

                  

Three different genres, but all three ladies bring something to the table beyond the traditional chorals or jingle bell-dashing. Silje performs the definite version of Sonjas sang til julestjernen in my not-so-humble opinion. Linnet's Jul features original material that provide welcome variation and would be perfect for that long drive home for christmas without any of the sappy sentimentalities. Click on a cover for a preview/samples. 

IMAGES: ITUNES

LISTEN IN

Did you know that the Swedish Public Radio has two channels devoted to christmas music only? The channels are available between 29th of November and 9th of January.  Both stations are available online:

P2 Klassisk jul, tradditional christmas music
P4 Bjällerklang, popular christmas music

As a service to those of you that are technically or "swedishally" challenged, I've also added them to the sidebar of this page. Just press play. Happy listening!