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I would really appreciate it if anyone could help me learn about traditional Nordic songs for this time of year!
This tune is SO beautiful, I have to learn it!
I'm not sure if "Höken" (Hawk?) is a traditional one for Christmas in Sweden, or not - but I found it on Barry Phillips' "Colonial Christmas" album.
(*edit) Olov Johansson is playing the nyckelharpa here! He says (in this description) it's a trad Swedish tune!
"Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul" (Christmas, Christmas, Brilliant Christmas) must be sung and played at this time of year!
"Himlen Hänger Stjärnsvart" (The Sky Rests Starry Black) - performed by Christoffer Nordenström.
Christmas Carols from Sweden - Stella Chamber Choir
Playlist
"Staffansvisan" (?) *edited - see post #7 for more info!

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@Ilona -
Kjell Magne Robak is a full-time Cellist in Norway.
Norwegian tune, "Det Lyser I Stille Grender" - some harmonics played on CELLO!
"Nordnorsk Julesalme" (Northern Norwegian Christmas Hymn).
A Norwegian Christmas song called "Musevisa" (The Mouse Song).
"Nå Tennes Tusen Julelys", by Swedish poet and composer Emmy Köhler (1898).
- Emily

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Here are couple of my absolute favourite Christmas songs!
First one is ”Joululaulu” (Christmas song) by Konsta Jylhä. I loooove this! ❤️ The lyrics are very sad, but the melody is so, so beautiful.
”Taivas sylissäni” (Himlen i min famn/ The heaven on my arms) is actually a Swedish song but very popular also in Finland.
”Rauhaa, vain rauhaa” (Peace, only peace) by Ahti Sonninen. In this video the first song, and the cellist is my teacher. ❤️
And then a bonus. 😄 On Sunday next week my chamber orchestra will play traditional Christmas songs at church. I will be there and this concert will be streamed on YouTube! 🤩 It’s at 7PM Finland’s time so not so bad time in the US, but you can of course watch it also later.

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@Ilona -
That is super exciting news about your concert!
I will be sure to watch!
I LOVE the videos - especially "Joululaulu"!
Thank you!
- Emily
Ilona said:
And then a bonus. 😄 On Sunday next week my chamber orchestra will play traditional Christmas songs at church. I will be there and this concert will be streamed on YouTube! 🤩 It’s at 7PM Finland’s time so not so bad time in the US, but you can of course watch it also later.

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Yule/Christmas - VERY different folklore & traditions in Iceland!
"Jólakötturinn" (Yule/Christmas Cat)!
Supernatural Iceland: Christmas
THIRTEEN Santas?

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I had almost forgotten there's some great music I wanted to learn here!
Happened to be digging around in some early music & found something interesting for Christmas - the Gaudete! It's a sacred Christmas Carol that 1st showed up in in a collection of Medieval songs compiled by Finnish student, Didrik Petri (in 1582), while studying in Germany. Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum (Pious ecclesiastical and school songs of the ancient bishops), included:
- anonymous school & devotional songs in Latin
- some of the songs are of Sweedish & Finnish origin
- dating back to different periods, some as far back as the 11th century
❤ Please look to the Maybe it's Not Too Early for Baroque or Medieval Christmas Thread (posts #5, #6) for more info/analysis of Gaudete & play-along sheet music!

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Kaja is a Swedish band - Livet Nord is it's 5-string fiddler. They teamed up with Tetra (Swedish vocal quartet) an extremely colorful mid-winter album, Midvintervaka (playlist). They also embrace some Middle Eastern sound on this album, which I enjoyed.
Found Livet Nord playing a solo version of the album's Klappvalsen (originally composed by Mats Edén)!
Staffansvisan (Staffan's Song), also known as Staffan Stalledräng (Staffan the Stable Boy) could be, in the modern era, the best known in Sweden of all the Swedish ballads. It is still sung every year, usually as part of the Lucia celebrations on 13th December. (Balladspot - Scandinavian Ballads)
So, I'm finding quite a few different versions of this tune - everything from hard swung to heavy rocked!
(Danish: I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!)

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Think I've posted some music from Hoven Droven somewhere, but they also have a Jul-time album playlist - I väntan på Sjulsmäss (Waiting For Christmas Fair).
Julmedley
Julspoven
...feet stomping, yet?
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