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This CD contains songs and poems without Christian overtones.

Hoping for a quick return of the Sun after the long Nordic winter nights was central in the mythology of Nordic people of Europe. Reverence for the sun, that source of all energy and life was practiced not only in the religion but also in daily life. During the winter solstice, after which the length of the night began to diminish, was a holy festival which coincided with the gradual resurrection of life in Nature. The evergreen tree, the 'Tannenbaum' symbolized eternal life in Nature, the victory over death. The candles on its branches were reminders of the return of the light of the sun and its life-giving power. This simple symbolism has remain intact into our time.
In this sense, the celebration of Christmas is a purely Nordic festival. The commercialization which engulfs this festival today is a poor reflection of the holiness this event once was to our ancestors. With the Christianization of northern Europe the original symbolism was given a new meaning and significance by the church. The festival of the return of light and life was changed to celebrate the birth of Christ. But the ancient symbols of the evergreen tree, the Tannenbaum, and the candles could not be totally suppressed although the church actively sought to do so well into the 19. century.

In these songs and poems we celebrate again the return of light and life. From afar our ancestors greet us from their world in which God, Mankind and Nature lived in close harmony.

1. Auf, haltet euer Herz bereit (M: Erika Steinbach T: Thilo Scheller)
2. O Tannenbaum, du trägst einen grünen Zweig (Trad. Westfalen)
3. Die Weihenacht ist kommen (Gedicht: Erich Limpach)
4. Es hat in der tiefschwarzen Nacht geschneit (M: K. Lischewski T: Hans Hano)
5. Der Sunnwendmann (M: Ilse Lang T: Martin Greif)
6. Heut ist ein Sternlein vom Himmel gefallen (T&M: G. Wolters)
7. Ein leises, zartes Klingen (Gedicht: Friedrich Karl Otto)
8. Ich brach drei dürre Reiselein (M: G. Wolters T: Heinz Grunow)
9. In dieser klaren Sternennacht (M&T: Herbert Napiersky)
10. Jahr, dein Haupt neig (M: Christian Lahusen T: Max Mell)
11. Berghoch am Walde (Gedicht: Hermann Wirth)
12. In dunkler Stunde still und spät (M: G. Nowottny T: J. Bauer)
13. Grünet Felder, grünet Wiesen (M&T: Trad. Österreich)
14. Tut auf das Tor (M&T: Hans Baumann)
15. Wenn eine Mutter ihr Kindlein tut wiegen (M&T: G. Wolters)
16. Schnee fällt vom Himmel (Gedicht: Karola Wilke)
17. Hohe Nacht der klaren Sterne (M&T: Hans Baumann)
Price: $US 9.25
 
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