Untitled

Julvisa

1. Juleevangeliet - Gospel of Luke 2:1-19

2. Nå Tennes Tusen Julelys (Norwegian)

Music and Text: Emmy Köhler

3. Det Kimer Nå Til Julefest (Norwegian)

Music: Carl C. N. Balle

Text: N. F. S. Grundtvig

4. Julvisa (Swedish)

Music: Johanna Ölander

Text: Rafael Hertzberg

5. Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker (Norwegian)

Music: Traditional Swedish Melody

Text: H.A. Brorson

6. Deilig er Jorden (Norwegian)

Music: Traditional German Melody

Text: B. S. Ingemann

7. O, Jul Med Din Glede (Norwegian)

Music and Text: Gustava Kielland

8. Sancta Lucia (Swedish)

Music: Traditional Italian Melody

Text: Arvid Rosén

9. Det Hev Ei Rose Sprunge (New Norwegian)

Music: Traditional German Melody, harmonized by Michael Praetorius

Text: Peter Hognestad

10. En Stjerne Skinner i Natt (Norwegian)

Music: Tore W. Aas

Text: Eyvind Skeie

11. JULENISSE MEDLEY

På Låven Sitter Nissen (Norwegian)

Music: Traditional Norwegian Melody

Text: Margrethe Munthe

Julenisse (Norwegian)

Music: Traditional Melody "Gubban Noa"

Text: Unknown

Hei, Tomtegubber (Norwegian)

Music and Text: Traditional Swedish

12. Julenatt (Norwegian)

Music and Text: Tore W. Aas

13. O, Helga Natt (Swedish)

Music: Adolphe Adam

Text: C. de Rockemaur (original French)

Swedish Translation: Unknown

14. Glade Jul (Norwegian)

Music: Franz Gruber

Text: B. S. Ingemann

A Message From Vivian Evans

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Julvisa -- A Norwegian-American Christmas

"O, Jul med din glede" ("Oh, Christmas with your joy") begins a beloved Norwegian song, expressing a child's delight in the Christmas season. Growing up in New York as the daughter of Norwegian immigrant parents, each year I experienced two cultures combining to create a festive celebration - Christmas, Jul. In addition to Santa Claus there was Julenissen, Julekake was served with fruitcake, and we sang Glade Jul along with Silent Night.

This recording reflects my love for the Norwegian Christmas music my parents shared with me. There are traditional carols that have been sung for centuries, and contemporary Christmas songs I've learned in recent years. I've included some deeply religious music conveying the origin and true meaning of the holiday, and lighthearted songs that add such zest to the celebration. Since the Scandinavian countries are intimately connected in history and culture, there are songs with Swedish and Danish roots, and Norwegian translations of traditional German carols.

For five years or so I have had the pleasure of singing with the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle. It's a bit like belonging to a second family, whose enthusiasm for Norwegian music and culture I wholeheartedly share. When I was asked to make a recording of Norwegian Christmas music, participation by the chorus seemed essential, and their songs on the CD are wonderful.

Special thanks to Ragnhild Park, a Chorus member and native of Lofoten, Norway, for opening the CD with her sensitive reading of the Christmas Gospel, to Chorus Director Beth Bekkevold for her enthusiastic and inspired direction, and for her terrific piano accompaniments of the solo songs, to Mary Cowger for her excellent accompanying of the chorus, to Barbara Grande-Dougherty for her beautiful flute playing, and to Tre Norske (Sissel Peterson on accordion and Juanita Holmes and Megan Eymann on violin) for their rollicking contribution to the Julenisse medley! Thanks also to Bill Chism, whose sensitive and lovely guitar accompaniments added so much to our music, to Charlette Haugen, a Seattle artist whose painting, "Northwest Night Magic," is the perfect cover image for our CD, and to Margaret Berg, whose skill and creativity enhanced the CD design. Last but by no means least, this labor of love could never have come to fruition without the unfailing and enthusiastic help and support of Victoria Sangrey-Hunter and Tim Hunter, who were in on it at the beginning and saw it through to the end. Tusen hjertelig takk til alle sammen!

This recording is dedicated with love and respect to my parents: Helga Mathisen, who immigrated alone to New York City from Grimstad as a 16-year-old girl, and Iver Thorson, who at 18 came to Seattle with two of his brothers from Nordgulen, Sogn. My parents shared their love, their music and their culture with me, and I will be forever in their debt. With these songs the memories come rushing back - the sights, sounds and smells, the candlelit church services, the parties with dancing and singing around the fragrant Christmas tree, the anticipation and joy of Christmas Eve, Julaften. It's my hope that the music on this recording will transport you to the Norwegian-American Christmas I know and love so well.

Vivian

Featuring Vivian Evans and the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle