Nordic - Hommage

Nordic - Hommage (2012)

Nordic are a Swedish folk music group established in 2004.  The group's sound is usually characterised as experimental folk music, where traditional Swedish folk music is blended with jazz, bluegrass, Latin, and reggae.  Nordic is made up of Anders Löfberg (cello), Magnus Zetterlund (mandolin) and Erik Rydvall (nyckelharpa). The three met in 2004 at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and thoughts of a musical collaboration were born. (Wikipedia)

01 | Den Förste (vinjett)
02 | Bruce
03 | Döden
04 | The Lochs of Dread
05 | 8-bitar
06 | Morsis
07 | Minous vals
08 | French Elephant walk
09 | Nordic Beat
10 | Håkon & Michael
11 | Jösses, polska efter Magnus Olsson

Availability: Available in MP3 format in the U.S.

Triakel - Vintervisor

Triakel - Vintervisor (2000)

"Triakel is a band from the Swedish region of Jämtland. The band members are Emma Härdelin (vocals), Kjell-Erik Eriksson (fiddle) and Janne Strömstedt (harmonium). They play both traditional and new Swedish folk music, performed only with a fiddle and a harmonium.

Emma Härdelin, the singer of the band, is also a member of Garmarna, and Kjell-Erik Eriksson is active in Hoven Droven." (Last.fm)

01 | Julvisa från Älvdalen
02 | Berglagsjul
03 | Er framtid blive lyckelig
04 | Staffansvisa från Orust
05 | Innan gryningen
06 | Torspar-julaftas-våggvisa
07 | God morgon här, kär fader vår
08 | Det blir en julhelg glad
09 | Julvisa i Finnmarken
10 | Staffanvisa från Jämtland

Availability: Available used on Amazon in the U.S.

Bukkene Bruse - Den Fagraste Rosa

Bukkene Bruse - Den Fagraste Rosa (2001)

"Bukkene Bruse is a Norwegian musical group, focusing on a varied repertoire of traditional and folk-style Norwegian songs, but also including many new compositions based on various Norwegian musical traditions. The members of the group include Annbjørg Lien, a prominent Hardanger fiddle and nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle) player, fiddle player and vocalist Arve Moen Bergset, flautist Steinar Ofsdal, and pipe organist Bjørn Ole Rasch.

The group was formed in 1988 in Norway, and has travelled and performed widely in Scandinavia and elsewhere. They were selected as official Olympic Musicians for the Lillehammer Olympic Games, and performed at the closing ceremony." (Last.fm)


01 | Eit barn er født i Betlehem
02 | Lullámus
03 | Haugebonden
04 | Julefran
05 | Mit hjerte altid vanker
06 | St. Sunniva
07 | Eit lidet barn saa lystelig / I denne søde juletid
08 | Så spela far juleftan
09 | Den fagraste rosa er funni
10 | Romjulsgangar
11 | For saadan' mildheds gaver

Availability: Available used on Amazon, under both the original Norwegian title and the English "The Loveliest Rose".

Åsne Valland Nordli - Julekvad

Åsne Valland Nordli - Julekvad (1996)

"Åsne Valland Nordli is a Norwegian singer, raised in the village Norheimsund in Hardanger. She started to sing folk tunes when she was a little girl, and learned kveding from Steffen Eide, Margrete Opheim and Sondre Bratland. At only 15 years old, she started teaching at the Ole Bull Academy in Voss." (Wikipedia)

01 | Eg Synger Julekvad
02 | Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker
03 | Kling No Klokka
04 | Eg Er Så Glad Kvar Julekveld
05 | Din Herlegdom, Frelsar
06 | Her Er Det Ny, Som På Jorderik Skjedde
07 | I Denne Søte Juletid
08 | Det Lyser I Stille Grender
09 | Deilig Er Jorden
10 | Det Klimer Nå Til Julefest
11 | Guds Son Er Komen Til Oss Ned
12 | No Koma Guds Englar
13 | Den Fagraste Rosa
14 | Stille Natt

Availability: Available used or in MP3 format in the U.S.

Ranarim - Allt vid den ljusa stjärnan

Ranarim - Allt vid den ljusa stjärnan (2008)

Ranarim are a folk band from Sweden. Their current line-up consists of Sofia Sandén and Ulrika Bodén on vocals, Niklas Roswall on nyckelharp, Jens Engelbrecht on guitar and mandola, Anders Johnsson on double bass, and Olle Linder on percussion. They play a mixture of traditional and original folk compositions.

Ranarim were formed while Sofia Sandén, Ulrika Bodén, Niklas Roswall and Jens Engelbrecht were at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm together.  Niklas Roswall won the 1996 Nyckelharpa World Championship, and has also released a solo album. He is also a member of the Nyckelharpa Orchestra.  Ulrika Bodén and Sofia Sandén also performed as part of Rosenberg 7, an all-female vocal group led by Susanne Rosenberg.

‘Ranarim’ translates literally as ‘dew tapestry’ (‘rana’ means a woven tapestry or rug; ‘rim’ is an old Swedish word for ‘dew’). (Last.fm)

01 | Tiggarvisa från Malung
02 | Klang min vackra bjällra
03 | Julakillevisan
04 | Medan julen är inne
05 | Den signade dag
06 | Hälsningsvisor
07 | Räven raskar
08 | Gladelig sjunga vi
09 | En jungfru födde ett barn idag
10 | Staffan var en stalledräng
11 | Godafton här
12 | Kära mor i huset / Graninge-Staffan
13 | Allt vid den ljusa stjärnan
14 | Det gamla år framgånget är
15 | Haven tack / Klangpolska

Availability: Other of their albums appear to have received U.S. releases, but not this one.  No mp3 version that I can find.