Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir & Nils Schweckendiek - Riemuitkaamme! - A Finnish Christmas (2017) [24/96]

Riemuitkaamme! is an imaginative and unconventional selection of choral music associated with Christmas as it is celebrated in Finland. Several of the pieces are by Finnish composers – Sibelius, Rautavaara and Madetoja, to name a few – while others have become part of the Christmas traditions of the country despite their international background. Among these Berlioz’ The Shepherds’ Farewell and Tchaikovsky’s Christ, when a Child… are quite late additions compared to the medieval hymns Puer natus in Bethlehem, Ecce novum gaudium and Angelus emittitur. All three of these were included in the collection Piae cantiones from 1582, the oldest Finnish music publication. Here, they are performed in settings by various composers from different countries and eras – forming a kind of soundtrack of Christmases past and present, distant and close. Contemporary music forms an important part of the activities of the Helsinki Chamber Choir and Nils Schweckendiek, and true to form, the team includes a world premiere recording in their celebrations: Aattoilta, by the Canadian-born composer Matthew Whittall.

Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach, Philipp Nicolai
01. Wachet auf – Synkkä yö maan peitti aivan 9'30
Jean Sibelius
02. En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Give me no Splendour, Gold or Pomp) 2'48
Leevi Madetoja
03. Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä (Throw Off All Your Daily Cares) 1'39
The Piae Cantiones, Michael Praetorius, Samuel Scheidt, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Hermann Schein, Bach Johann Sebastian
04. Puer natus in Bethlehem / Synnytti piltin Bethlehem 7'07
Taneli Kuusisto
05. Pastorale, Op. 18 No. 2 4'59
Hector Berlioz
06. Paimenten jäähyväiset pyhälle perheelle (L’Adieu des Bergers) 4'27
Armas Maasalo
07. Joulun kellot (Christmas Bells) 3'15
The Piae Cantiones, Jean Sibelius
08. Ecce novum gaudium 2'47
The Piae Cantiones, Jean Sibelius, Heikki Klemetti
09. Angelus emittitur / Enkel’ alas liihottaa 4'18
Jean Sibelius
10. On lapsonen syntynyt meille (A Child is Born Unto Us) 3'12
Matthew Whittall
11. Aattoilta (Christmas Eve) 3'35
Bach Johann Sebastian, Michael Praetorius, Hans Leo Hassler, Caspar Othmayr, Max Reger
12. Enkeli taivaan lausui näin (Vom Himmel hoch) 7'15
Einojuhani Rautavaara
13. Christmas Carol 4'19
Ahti Sonninen
14. Jouluhymni (Christmas Hymn) 2'54
Arvi Karvonen
15. Pastorale 4'55
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
16. Jeesuslapsen tarhassa (Christ, when a Child, a Garden Made) 3'54
Trad. (Folk Song from Silesia)
17. Maa on niin kaunis (Glorious is the Earth [Fairest Lord Jesus]) 2'49

Personnel:
Jan Lehtola (organ)
Helsinki Chamber Choir
Nils Schweckendiek (conductor)