Frøydis Grorud - Stille som snø (2014) [Hi-Res]

Frøydis Grorud lends her silken saxophone and flawless flute tones to an album of beautiful interpretations of Christmas standards, 'Stille Som Snø' ('Silent as Snow'). Ranging from churchlike to light classical to warm smoky jazz arrangements, this album creates a Yuletide splendour of its own, and is a perfect accompaniment to the season's festivities, whether the large family gathering over a feast, or an intimate evening with a bottle of wine in front of a crackling fire, or a quiet moment of contemplation alone, away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas parties and shopping.

Featuring songs well-known to the Nordic audience such as 'Det er ingenting i verden så stille som sne' (which is perhaps what could be considered as the 'title track' of the album), 'Jeg er så glad hver julekveld', ' Julen har bragt velsignet bud', 'Kling no klokka', 'Deilig er den himmel blå', 'Mitt hjerte alltid vanker', 'Nå vandrer fra hver en verdenskrok' and 'Sæle jolekveld', several of which come from the Norsk Salmebok (Norwegian Hymn Book). Many songs, of course, have made well-established border crossings and are well-known beyond the shores of Norway: 'Det hev ei rose sprunge' ('Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming'), 'Du grønne glitrende tre god dag' ('Thou green and glittering tree, good day!' – a Grieg composition that has well-worn travelling shoes), 'Å Kom, Å Kom Immanuel' ('O Come, O Come Immanuel'), 'Deilig er jorden' (known as 'Fairest Lord Jesus', although the lyrics are different rather than translated), and perhaps the most universal of Christmas songs, 'Glade Jul' ('Silent Night').

Few Christmas albums are as contemplative, subtle, inventive and as respectful of the sources as this. The ideal Christmas collection for the wise among us who remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Frøydis Grorud, saxophone

01. Frøydis Grorud - Sæle Jolekveld (3:23)
02. Frøydis Grorud - Du Grønne Glitrende Tre God Dag (6:03)
03. Frøydis Grorud - Jeg Er Så Glad Hver Julekveld (4:21)
04. Frøydis Grorud - Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker (3:46)
05. Frøydis Grorud - Glade Jul (3:09)
06. Frøydis Grorud - Det Hev Ei Rose Sprunge (3:11)
07. Frøydis Grorud - Det Er Ingenting I Verden Så Stille Som Sne (4:55)
08. Frøydis Grorud - Å Kom, Å Kom, Immanuel (4:02)
09. Frøydis Grorud - Deilig Er Jorden (4:21)
10. Frøydis Grorud - Nå Vandrer Fra Hver En Verdenskrok (2:15)
11. Frøydis Grorud - Julen Har Bragt Velsignet Bud (5:28)
12. Frøydis Grorud - Kling No Klokka (2:15)
13. Frøydis Grorud - Deilig Er Den Himmel Blå (2:11)