Exhibition of Christmas Records with mp3 Advent Calender

This year as earlier years, the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound celebrates Advent and Christmas with an exhibiton of Christmas records from the vaults of the institute. The exhibiton concists of 78's and LP's with well-known Christmas Music from many lands. For those who wants to dive further down into this subject, the exhibition also concists of many lesser known works. In other words, something for every taste!
In addition, we present on this website a Musical Advent Calender where you everyday can listen to a Christmas recording.

Text: Dag Trygve Henriksen
Published: 01.12.2008

Go directly to the mp3 Advent Calender

The main part of the exhibition is the many LP records, but we have also taken many 78 rpm shellac records up from the vaults. It is possible to listen to some of these records on an accoustic record player as was common about 60 years ago before the LP's and singles were introduced. It is incredible how good and natural sound quality one gets from an original record player. In our digital age this is something worth experiencing.

Photo of Electrola's 1938 Christmas Catalogue from the collection at the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound

On the popular side, you find Bing Crosbys White Christmas and several records with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's Boys Choir (Sølvguttene - The Silver Boys). Stephen Adam's The Holy City is represented in several recordings on shellac, and Adolpe Adam's famous Cantique de Noël is present. Jussi Bjørling's legendary recording of this song in Swedish as Julsång is obvious.

When it comes to the great classical works for choir and orchestra, Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Händel's Messiah represents the famous traditional christmas music. The Norwegian Institute of Recorded sound has among its 34 recordings of the Messiah the complete Grammophone & Typewriter 1906 recording made in London on 25 shellac sides.

The Bach and Händel works stands as giants, thus many other works has become overshaddowed by them. One example is Hector Berlioz' oratorio L’enfance du Christ, a great work in French music history. Arthur Honegger's Christmas Cantata which had it's premiere performance in 1953 and Francis Poulenc's Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël from 1951-2 are both beautiful in the neoclassical style. Hereby recommended as alternatives to the more famous works.

From the British Christmas repertoire we have many Christmas Carols. A few of them are Deck the Hall, Joy to the World, O come all ye faithful, God Rest you Merry Gentlemen and many more. Benjamin Brittens A Ceremony of Carols has entered the repertoire and is performed all over the world. It is written in 1942, and in the exhibition we have one of the very first recordings of this music on shellac records. The performance is by The Morriston Boys Choir conducted by Ivor Sims with Maria Korchinska playing the harp solo. The recordings are mentioned in the Decca Catalogue of 1947, and are probably recorded right after the 2nd. World War.

To continue in the British sphere; This year it is 50 years since the death of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. He has written a Christmas Cantata for soprano-, tenor- and bariton solo, choir and orchestra, named Hodie (This Day). He composed it in 1953-4 when he was 81 years old. In his truly original music style, Vaughan Williams has written a work that speaks directly to the hearts and feelings of the listener.

Among Nordic composers, the Swedish composer Hilding Rosenberg holds a special position with his Christmas oratorio Den Helliga Natten (The Holy Night). The work was for many years performed by the Swedish Radio on December 24th., and still holds it position on the repertoire. It is not among the composers most monumental works, but is made up of several movements with melodies in long melismatic lines, really easy on the ear.

Norway too has many special Christmas hymns and Christmas music. Some works have gained more popularity, for example The Christmas Motet by Eyvind Alnæs which is present in several recordings.

The records are exhibited in the premises of the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound in Stavanger, Norway. It is possible to listen to most of the exhibited records except some of the shellac records.

Norwegian Christmas records

Advent Calender 2008

Feel the Christmas mood by listening to historical Christmas Records - The Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound celebrates Advent and Christmas with a mp3 Advent Calender. Every day until December 24th., you can listen to a recording of Christmas music.

The Music Librarian at The Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound has chosen recordings from 78's not longer covered by Norwegian and European Copyright Legislation. The digitizing projects the Norvegian Institute of Recorded Sound carries through together with digitizing company MemNor provides the mp3 files for the calender. The sound files are not cleaned or restored, so the sound you hear is authentic with pops and clicks as is the condition of the original gramophone records from wich the files are made.

December 1st.

The first recording in the NIRS advent caldender is the Danish hymn Vær velkommen, Herrens år. The melody is written by A.P. Berggren i 1852, the text is by Grundtvig, written for the first Sunday in Advent. That is why we have chose this recording as the first, with chimes for the Advent period. The recording is from a His Master’s Voice 78 recorded before 1948. The performers are not given any more detailed than Symphony Orchestra with Bells. The record bears the number AL 2141 and matrix number BE 1727-2 II

Listen to Vær velkommen herrens år (mp3)

December 2nd.

December is the first and foremost month of the boys choirs. Therefore today, a recording from 1953 of Sølvguttene (The Silver Boys Choir of Norway) conducted by Torstein Grythe. This shellac record was published by Norwegian Columbia with number GN 1435 and matrix number N1987-1. The music is the Sicilian Hymn O sanctissima sung in Norwegian as Å du herlige.

Lytt til O sanctissima(mp3)

December 3rd.

Erik Bye (1883-1953) was one of the greatest Norwegian baritone singers of the years between the Wars. He studied with Morgenstierne in Oslo, zur Muhlen in London and R. Willani in Paris. His debut as opera singer was as Don Basilio in The Barber in Seville at the National Theatre of Norway in Oslo in 1913. He made guest appearances at the large opera houses in Europe and North America before settling permanently in Oslo as opera and concert singer in 1932.

The recording is of Stephen Adams well known The Holy City sung in Swedish as Den heliga staden in a recording made in New York on May 27th. 1920 with orchestra conducted by Rosario Bourdon. The record in NIRS' posession is published by His Master's Voice with number Z 139 and matrix number A 24147. This is a European pressing of the original recording published by Victor in the US.

Listen to Den heliga staden (mp3)

December 4th

Today's record is another recording of The Holy City by Stephen Adams, but this time in the originale language. The recording is really historical, made in 1908. It is Britains most famous tenor at the end of the 19th Century who performs the song, namely Edward Lloyd (1845-1929). It is fascinating to listen to his voice and his performance wich belongs to a completely different performance practice than we are used to a century later. He is accompanied by piano and organ. The recording was made by Gramophone Company, published as Gramophone Monarch Record 02157, matrix number 2413f.

Listen to The Holy City (mp3)

December 5th

The recording presented today is again Danish. It is a hymn melody composed by Andreas Peter Berggreen, with text by Grundtvig. The title in Danish is Julen har englelyd which can be translated as The Christmas Sounds of Angels. The performer is the tenor Aksel Schiøtz (1906-1975), one of Denmarks foremost lieder singers of mid 20th Century. The recording was made by Danish His Master's Voice in 1953, Skandinavisk Grammophon Aktieselskab, number X 8124 and matrix number OCS 3323.

Listen to Julen har englelyd (mp3)

December 6th

Fanny Elsta (1899-1978) made her debut as opera singer in 1932, followed by engagements at Wiener Staatsoper, The Salzburg Festival, and at the bayreuth Festival. She recorded much religious music as well as opera arias. Here, she performs one of the most beloved Nordic Christmas songs, Christopher Ernst Friedrich Weyse's Du grønne glitrende tre, Goddag (Greetings to the Christmas Tree). The record is Columbia GN 122 with matrix number WN 412-1, published in the second half of the 1930's. The orchestra is conducted by Arild Sandvold, at the time precentor of the Oslo Cathedral.

Listen to Du grønne glitrende tre, Goddag (mp3)

December 7th

Today, a really historic record from 1909. Norwegian bariton Chr. F. Saabye performs Lover den Herre den Mæktige Konge on Gramophone Concert Record V 72659, matrix number 665ae. He is accompanied by organ or harmonium.

Listen to Lover den Herre den Mæktige Konge (mp3)

December 8th

Starting off the week with a choral recording. It is the K.F.U.M.-choir "Sela" conducted by Dag Kristoffersen who performs Jeg er så glad hver julekveld (I am so happy every Christmas Eve) arranged by Norwegian composer Lars Søraas. In addition to his conducting duties, Dag kristoffersen (1904-1986) was a highly respected piano and theory teacher at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo. He also wrote a piano school used widespread in Norway. The actual record was published by record company Musica around 1950 with number A 3091 1 and matrix number N 1330.

Listen to Jeg er så glad hver julekveld (mp3)

December 9th

Today a beloved Christmas Carol, Silent Night in Norwegian as Glade jul. The song is composed by Franz Gruber, here performed by Norwegian tenor Bjørn Talén (1890-1947). He was born i Oslo and entered a military career before embarking on music studies with Sebastianini in Neaples in 1914. He made his debut as a singer in Oslo in 1915, and in the period 1921-28, he was engaged at the Berlin State Opera. In 1929 he sang the role of Narraboth in Richard Strauss' opera Salome at the Berlin Kroll Opera under Otto Klemperer. Furthermore, he made guest appearances at the opera houses in Dresden, Zürich, Hamburg, Turin, Madrid, Copenhagen and Stochholm. The recording of Silent Night was published by His Master's Voice in 1919 on X 2095 with matrix number 5753ak.

Listen to Glade jul (mp3)

December 10th

This time a composition for male choir, written by Friedrich August Reissiger (1809-1883). It is called En sangers Bøn (A Singer's Prayer). Reissiger was of German heritage, but immigrated to Norway in 1840 to become Kapellmeister at the Christana Theatre. He had his music education from Berlin, but as a boy, he was a pupil of the Thomas School in Leipzig, the school where Bach was employed in the 18th. Century. In 1842, Reissiger founded a song institute in Christiania where he performed oratorios and other choral works. In 1850, he became Organist in Fredrikshald, as well as conducter for the military band and the Halden Choir. His compositions shows a thoroug training in the german musical tradition althoug he also was deeply interrested in Norwegian folk music.

Reissiger wrote En Sangers Bøn in 1865 to text by Norwegian poet Johann Sebastian Welhaven. It is not a Christmas Carol, but the song is anyway suitable at Christmas time. The recording was made in 1927 by the Guldberg Accademic Choir, conducted by Arild Sandvold. It was issued on His Master's Voice X 2504 with matrix number Bb10871-2.

Listen to En sangers Bøn (A Singer's Prayer) (mp3) | Read the text in Norwegian - Wikisource (Only the two last verses are sung)

December 11th

Again a recording with Guldbergs Accademic Choir conducted by Arild Sandvold, from the same record as yesterday. The performance is of Deilig er jorden, in Norway some of the most beloved Christmas music. The record is published by His Master's Voice in 1927 with number X 2504 and matrix number Bb10868-2.

Listen to Deilig er jorden (mp3)

December 12th

Silent Night is the Christmas Carol presented today, in a recording with the Swedish singer Einar Ekberg (1905-1961). He studied with Frei Lindblad, and was an active singer within religious communities. He sung at the Pentecostal Church of Stockholm in the years 1924-48 before moving to the USA. Silent Night is taken from a shellac record published by Silvertone with number SS 2054 and matrix number STH-9-A. Contrary to the version of Silent Night presented on December 9th which was recorded accoustically, this record is recorded electrically with microphone. Notice how much closer the singer comes in the recording and how the timbre of the accompaniment is richer and sounds more natural.

Listen to Silent Night (mp3)

December 13th

At this date we off course has to celebrate with the neapolitan song Santa Lucia, here in a performance by Bjørn Talén (1890-1947) on a recording made by Vox in 1923-4. The number is 3335 and matrix number is 1236 B.

Listen to Santa Lucia (mp3)

December 14th

Bjarne Mathisen is not well known as a singer, but performed much as refrain singer in light repertoar i Norway, and at recordings with the Columbia Dance Orchestra of Oslo. Here, he has the solo in Jeg er så glad hver julekveld (I am so happy every Christmas Eve) on Columbia GN 598 with matrix number CN-1162-1. The recording was published around World War 2. Be aware of the strange prelude, not sounding as to have anything to do with a Christmas carol.

Listen to Jeg er så glad hver julekveld (mp3)

December 15th

Lorri Lail (1904-1978), was born in Oslo, but of Scottish heritage, her origninal name was Laurie Lyle. In 1933, she moved to Stockholm, Sweden to study with Due-Möller, later continuing her studies in Switzerland and France. In 1937-8, she studied at the opera School of Berliner Staatsoper. In the beginning of her carreer, she mostly sang lighter repertoire, touring Sweeden. In the period 1938-40, she sang at Stadttheater Danzig where her debut was Ulrika in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. She sang opera in Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and Dresden, but distinguished herself mostly as consert and oratorio singer. In the period 1952-68, she lived in England, touring Europe and America as well as making recordings .

Richard Wagner is not known for music in small forms. But here we have a lied from him with the title Der Tannenbaum. He wrote this song early in his career, before all the well known operas. The manuscript is dated 1838, the song was first performed in 1839. The record from which the recording is taken was published by Grammophone Shop in New York in 1948 in their series Grammophone Shop Celebrity Series where a whole album is dedicated to Lorri Lail. Accompanist is Gerald Moore. The recording was orginally made by His Masters Voice. The number is GSC 25 and the matrix number is OEA 12496-2.

Listen to Der Tannenbaum (mp3) | Read the text (in German - from Das Weinachtsbüro)

December 16th

Another recording of Edward Lloyd (1845-1929), the British tenor who was at his peak at the end of the 19th. Century. In this recording from 1908, he performs Stephen Adams' The Star of Bethlehem. This song is not as well known as the one by the same composer we presented with Lloyd on December 4th., but it is worth the time listening to the performance. Edward Lloyd is accompanied by piano and organ on this record published by the Gramophone Company on Gramophone Monarch Record 02139, matrix number 2412f.

Listen to The Star of Bethlehem (mp3) | Sheet Music (from the National Library of Australia) - in another key than the recording.

December 17th

I denne søte juletid which can be translated as In this Sweet christmas Time is one of Hans Adolph Brorson's christmas hymns. It was first published in Nogle Jule-Psalmer (Some Christmas Hymns) in 1732. Here, it is performed by Norwegian tenor Erling Krogh (1888-1968). He studied with P. Cornelius in Copenhagen in the years 1915-18, with Hettisch in Paris in 1920-21 and with Reszke in Nice in 1921. His debut as a consert singer was in Kristiania (Oslo), Norway, in 1915. He made his opera debut in 1918. In the period 1918-21, he was engaged by Opera Comique in Kristiania, he was the leader of the Norwegian Opera Society in 1923-4 before he headed his own opera company. He made guest appearances on the large scenes in Europe and the USA, among them, the Berlin State Opera. Among his many opera roles, worthy of mentioning is the title roles of Lohengrin and Othello, as well as Radames in Aida. The recording of I denne søte juletid is from His Master's Voice AL 2162, matrix number OT327, recorded 1931.

Listen to I denne søte juletid (mp3)

December 18th

Carsten Woll was a Norwegian tenor living most of the time in America where he made many recordings. Here is a recording of the Norwegian Christmas song Hvor salig er den lille flok (How Blessed is the little Flock), recorded by Columbia, ca. 1921-24. The record has number E 4797 and matrix number 85930.

Listen to Hvor salig er den lille flok (mp3)

December 19th

Adolphe Adam is the composer of the well known O Holy Night, in Norway best known in Jussi Bjørling's legendary recording from 1959. Here we present the song with another tenor. Evan Williams (1867-1918) was an American tenor with Welsh ancestors. As a yong man, he worked at a steel melting shop when his voice was discovered through an amateur ensemble. This led to studies with Louise von Feilitsch in Cleveland, Ohio. His official debut as singer took place in Worcester in 1896 before further studies with Saubage, Ben Davies and Ffrangeon Davies in New York. In 1903, 1906, 1910 and 1912 he was on tour in England, in 1910 by arrangement of the British Gramophon Company. He is recognised as one of the most distinguished American oratorio singers of his generation, and has made many recordings. This recording of O Holy Night is published on His Master’s Voice DA 393, matrix number A6610. The recording session took place in Camden, US in 1908, the original number of he record was 4-2061, then it was republished in 1924 on his Master's Voice as DA393.

Listen to O Holy Night (mp3)

December 20th

Again a recording of Cantique de Noël, this time with star tenor Enrico Caruso (1873-1921). Caruso studied with G. Vergine og A. Fasanaro and made his debut in opera only 15 years old. Numerous guest apperarances worldwide established his reputation as the finest tenor of his time. He made about 250 grammophone recordings, each selling so well that one has asked if it was Caruso who made the gramophone or if it was the gramophone who made Caruso. Nevertheless, his voice is one of the most distinguished we have on record from the early days of the gramophone. Cantique de Noël was recorded by the Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden, in 1916 with the number 2-032022, republished as DB 139 i 1924. Matrix number is A 17218.

Listen to Cantique de Noël (mp3)

December 21st

The last Sunday in advent is celebrated with a 1915 recording of Felix Mendelssohn's melodi Hark! The Herald Angels Sings with a vocal quartet accompanied by orchestra. The quartet concists of Perceval Allen (1880-1955), soprano, Edna Thornton 1875-1965), contralto, John Harrison (1872-1929), tenor og Steward Gardner, bass.

Perceval Allen made her concert debut with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1905. She recorded the soprano arias in the recording The Gramophone Company made of the most known arias and choirs from handel's Messiah, a recording later referred to as The 1906 G&T Messiah. From 1908, she sang at Covent Garden, giving the large Wagner roles, among them Brünnhilde in Richters 1910 performance of The Ring of Nibelungs. She toured all over the world, in Canada, Australia, Africa and in Europe. She made many recordings from 1901 on, and was the first singer to record a part of Elektra, the opera by Richard Strauss.

Edna Thornton made her debut in London in 1899, from 1904 she sang at Covent Garden. Her roles included that of Erda in Richters complete Ring of 1910. She made many solo recordings, as well as ensemble scenes together with Nellie Melba and John Mc Cormack.

John Harrison made many recordings for The Gramophone & Typwriter Company at the beginning of the 20th. Century, among them the tenor recitatives and arias of The 1906 G&T Messiah.

On Steward Gardner there is not much information to find, except that he appears on records from The Gramophone Company.

The record was published in 1915 as His Master’s Voice 04121, matrix number HO 587 AL.

Listen to Hark! The Herald Angels Sings (mp3)

December 22nd

Today we present the Norwegian bariton singer Olav Werner (1913-1992). He studied with S. Hoff at the Music Conservatory of Oslo and made his first appearance with a solo church concert in Oslo in 1945. He sang light music, religious music and lieder as well as opera, e.g. Arnljot Eggen's opera Cymbelin at the Norwegian National Theatre. He recorded more than 600 sides alltogether, spanning from popular hits and Hawaii songs to religious melodies and romances. Cesar Franck has written Panis angelicus, a song which is much performed around Christmas. The recording is from a record published by Norwegian Odeon in 1954. The number is ND 7191 and the matrix number is CLN 395-2B. Rolf Holger (1903-1969) accompanies on the organ.

Listen to Panis Angelicus (mp3)

December 23rd

No Christmas without Praetorius' Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. The original text to this Christmas hymn can trace it's roots back to Frater Conradus, about 1582-84. Michael Praetorius printed it in 1609. In Norwegian it is mostly performed as Det hev ei rose sprunge. Here performed by the YMCA Choir "Sela" conducted by Dag Kristoffersen on Musica A 3089 with matrix number N 1159. The record was published around 1950.

Listen to Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (mp3)

December 24th

CHRISTMAS EVE - we celebrates with an excerpt from Georg Friedrich Handel's oratorio Messiah. First, the two orchestral movements, the soprano aria Rejoice Greatly as well as three choruses. This excerpts makes up the core of the oratorio. From Part 1, telling about the prophecies and the birth of Christ, you can listen to the Overture, then comes the Pastoral Symphony describing the sheppards at night and the birth of the Saviour. It is natural to include Rejoice Greatly a jubilant aria on the newborn child. Part 2 of The Messiah describes the Passion. The famous Hallelujah Chorus celebrates Christ's resurrection to eternal life. From part 3 which is a refelction on the Return of Christ comes the two large choruses Worthy is the Lamb and the final Amen!. These two majestetic movements thus makes up the finale of this musical advent calender.

The recordings is from different sources. Through the years, there has been made numerous of recordings of the music from Handel's Messiah. As early as in 1906, the Gramophon & Typewriter Company made the first attempt to record a long part of the oratorio on 25 shellac sides (- all of them part of the Collection at the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound). But to present the music in better sound than the accoustic recordings is able to do, the chosen recordings are electrial recordings with microphones.

The Overture and the Pastoral Symphony comes from His Master’s Voice C 2071 with matrix numbers CC19789 II A (side 1) and CC19793 (side 2). Sir Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967) conducts London Symphony Orchestra in this recording from 1931.

Recjoice Greatly is taken from His Master’s Voice C 2556, matrix number 2B6269 from 1933. Boy soprano Master Raymond Kinsey sings the solo part with an uncredited orchestra.

The chorus Hallelujah is taken from a german recording of the Brumo Kittel Choir and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Professor Bruno Kittel. The recording is Polydor 66896, matrix number 1242 GS 1D from about 1940-41.

Worthy is the Lamb and Amen is from the large set of 38 shellac sides recorded by Sir Malcolm Sargent in 1946 with choir, orchestra and organ. It is side 37 and 38, the record carries the number DX 1301 and matrix numbers CAX9600-1 (side 37) and CAX9601-1 (side 38). Sir Malcolm Sargent conducts the Huddersfield Choral Society (Chorus Master Herbert Bardgett) and the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Listen to Overture (mp3)

Listen to Pastoral Symphony (mp3)

Listen to Rejoice Greatly (mp3)

Listen to Hallelujah (mp3)

Listen to Worthy is the Lamb (mp3)

Listen to Amen! (mp3)

On the Copyright in these recordings

All recordings used in this Advent Calender is more than 50 years old, thus not longer covered by Norwegain and EU Copyright Legislation. The original shellac records is in the posession of the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound. This calender is intended for personal listening only, other use has to be agreed on by the Norwegian Institute of Recorded Sound.