Kauneimmat Barokkijoululaulut

Ensemble Nylandia · Jussi Salonen · David Hackston

2024 · Physical and digital · ABCD 534

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Credits

Performers: Ensemble NylandiaJussi Salonen — TenorDavid Hackston — Tenor

About this release

Did you know that Angels We Have Heard on High comes from Baroque-era France, and From Heaven Above to Earth I Come from Martin Luther? Kauneimmat barokkijoululaulut is a live-in-studio recording featuring Christmas music of the Baroque era from various European countries.

Specialising in Renaissance music, the 15-year-old Ensemble Nylandia presents a recording of gems of European Christmas carols played on early music instruments. The album centres on the songs’ texts and storytelling. The moods of the pieces range from the peace of the manger to the merry capering of elves, reflected also in the orchestral arrangements and varied instrumental combinations.

The album features a wide selection of instruments played by the Baroque orchestra’s experienced musicians; violas da gamba of various sizes and Renaissance and Baroque flutes, harpsichord, violone bass, lute and vihuela. The musicians’ profound understanding of early music performance practices is conveyed throughout the album.

The storytelling is polished in every language, thanks to an understanding of text and context and to virtuosic technique. Innocence, childlike simplicity and, at times, cheerful humour are represented by the soprano recorder, familiar to so many, or the popular ukulele, which can be heard, among other pieces, in Les Anges dans nos campagnes - Kuului laulu enkelten. The recording also features the poignantly sorrowful English lullaby Coventry Carol (Lully lulla) and Michael Praetorius’s (1571–1621) rose-scented Es ist ein Ros Entprungen - On Ruusu Iisain juuren, which opens with a consoling viola da gamba solo by Jukka Rautasalo and is also known in Finland as Tuo armon valkokyyhky.

The album’s vocal soloists are tenor Jussi Salonen and British countertenor David Hackston, who sing on the album both in Finnish and in the songs’ original languages, French, German, Swedish, and English.

The album was produced by the ensemble’s core group, also responsible for the arrangements: recorder player Sini Vahervuo, harpsichordist and orchestra director Matias Häkkinen and guitarist and ukulele player Jarmo Julkunen. The album was recorded and mixed by Ville Kuukka and mastered by Markku Veijonsuo.

Kauneimmat barokkijoululaulut was first heard in 2012 in the Café Barock series in Helsinki, and ever since, this communal approach to performance, combining singing and instrumental playing, has filled churches and Baroque clubs throughout Finland year after year.

The origins of the songs heard on the album have been researched with meticulous care over a long period, as is also evidenced by Vahervuo’s 2015 thesis for Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Kauneimmat barokkijoululaulut: Opas muusikoille).

Tracks

1.Coventry Carol – Lully lullacomp. English melody, 16th century · lyrics Not specified · arr. English arrangement, 16th centuryISRC FIABA24002004:24
2.Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabellecomp. French melody, 16th century · lyrics Anonymous; English translator not specified · arr. Marc-Antoine CharpentierISRC FIABA24002014:17
3.Les Anges dans nos campagnes – Kuului laulu enkeltencomp. French melody, 17th century · lyrics Anonymous; English translation: James Chadwick · arr. Matias Häkkinen, Jarmo Julkunen, Sini VahervuoISRC FIABA24002022:54
4.Es ist ein Ros entsprungen – On ruusu Iisain juurencomp. German melody, 15th century · lyrics Anonymous; English translation: Catherine Winkworth · arr. Michael PraetoriusISRC FIABA24002033:26
5.Varpunen jouluaamuna – Sparven om julmorgonen (instrumental)comp. Otto Kotilainen · lyrics Sakari Topelius · arr. Matias Häkkinen, Jarmo Julkunen, Sini VahervuoISRC FIABA24002042:59
6.Hej, tomtegubbar – Hei, tonttu-ukot, hyppikääcomp. Swedish melody, 19th century · lyrics Anonymous; English translator not specified · arr. Jarmo Julkunen, Sini Vahervuo, Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002051:37
7.Auld lang syne (Tää ystävyys ei raukene)comp. Scottish melody, 16th century · lyrics Robert Burns · arr. Matias Häkkinen, Jarmo Julkunen, Sini VahervuoISRC FIABA24002062:49
8.Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris – Heinillä härkien kaukaloncomp. French melody, 17th century · lyrics Anonymous; English translator not specified · arr. Jussi Salonen, Matias Häkkinen, Jarmo Julkunen, Sini VahervuoISRC FIABA24002072:43
9.Deck the Hall – Kuusen kotiin tuoda saammecomp. Welsh melody, 16th century · lyrics Thomas Oliphant · arr. Matias Häkkinen, Jarmo Julkunen, Sini VahervuoISRC FIABA24002082:00
10.No, onkos tullut kesä – Jouluaatto (instrumental)comp. Finnish folk melody · lyrics J. H. Erkko · arr. Sini Vahervuo, Jarmo Julkunen, Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002093:15
11.Vom Himmel hoch – Enkeli taivaan lausui näin (instrumental)comp. Martin Luther · lyrics Martin Luther · arr. Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002102:46
12.The First Nowell – Joulu ensimmäinencomp. Cornish melody, before the 19th century · lyrics Anonymous · arr. Jarmo Julkunen, Sini Vahervuo, Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002114:13
13.Wexford Carol – Good people all, this Christmas timecomp. Irish melody, 13th century · lyrics Anonymous · arr. Jarmo Julkunen, Sini Vahervuo, Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002123:26
14.Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht – Jouluyö, juhlayöcomp. Franz Xaver Gruber · lyrics Joseph Mohr; English translation: John Freeman Young · arr. Jarmo Julkunen, Sini Vahervuo, Matias HäkkinenISRC FIABA24002133:52