BAROKK BOREAL releases JULETIDE: Christmas Songs by Norwegian 17th-Century Poets

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The songwriters included on the album are Iver Brinch, Ingeborg Grytten, Samuel Bruun, Johan Brunsmand, Samuel Bugge, Oluff Lind, Peder Offvid, Petter Dass, and Dorothe Engelbretsdatter—little and big giants of their time, who saw their songs printed and shared with the world.

For each song, there's often added something  like “To be sung as: Et lidet Barn saa lystelig." These poets wrote lyrics to melodies they knew by heart and assumed the reader would as well. Barokk Boreal has sought out and found these melodies—both in folk tradition and in written sources from the 17th century—the same melodic material from two layers of tradition and transmission.

In true Barokk Boreal style, each Christmas song is presented as a musical tableau, weaving together the tunes as they are brought down in folk tradition and in written 17th century sources. Both sources are rich in variations, and Barokk Boreal embraces this diversity, treating each “child” in each melody family as equally original and equally valuable. Cathrine sings from the written Baroque sources, Øyonn from folk traditions, while Vegar and Ulrik play across both traditions.

This time, the producer is early music veteran Rolf Lislevand.

"Christmas music and Christmas songs are some of the most beautiful things we know. The ‘here and now’ and times gone by woven together. Old, unknown songs, and new variations on familiar ones."

Cathrine Jane Bothner-By shares: "Since we began playng Christmas concerts in 2015, unknown Christmas and New Year's songs from 17th century Norway have constantly come to light. We knew we would encounter truly wonderful Christmas texts and melodies in this material. And still, it is like finding gold every time. And then comes the exciting task of arranging them, pursuing moods, finding different ways to use the four of us in Barokk Boreal, and trying to bring out the beauty and richness of it all.

We’re so glad to have completed this recording, so more people get to know this heritage. You’ll find atmosphere and storytelling, wonder, subtle humor, and a hope for peace on earth.”