Following on the success of their Nordic Sounds release, Peter Dijkstra and the Swedish Radio Choir return with a second volume of music in the series, this time focusing on the use of traditional Swedish folk songs in contemporary choral music. The disc's repertoire ranges from Jan Sandstrom's arrangements of improvised folk songs of the Sami people - whose singing is among the earliest continuing vocal traditions of Europe - to recent works such as the sixteen-part Kosijat by Jaakko Mantyjarvi, one of the best-known contemporary composers in Finland. The disc concludes with Anders Hillborg's twelve-minute Muoayiayaoum which explores a phonetic sequence of vowels that open and close. The level of vocal virtuosity that Dijkstra elicits from his singers is breathtaking and the choir's performances are a lesson in vocal precision.

NODEBOG presents musical pleasures and "divertissements" from 18th century Norway. The melodies are found in hand-written music books containing both international "hits" well known throughout Europe and local favourites - Halling dances and Pols dances are featured alongside minuets, marches and English country dances. These rediscovered treasures from the past can only be recreated through living performance today, here by flautist Hans Olav Gorset and his fellow musicians. These melodies may not seem important to the music historian, but to the listener they certainly are - being international "hits" of yesterday - and, who knows, perhaps becoming the hits of today.

During his lifetime, Hugo Alfvén became known as one of Sweden’s principal composers of his time, with works that struck a chord with a wide audience. As a result of his popularity, a nationwide collection was held in celebration of his 70th birthday in 1942, with the proceeds used to build Alfvéngården, the composer’s home during his final years. Now, 80 years later, Elin Rombo and Peter Friis Johansson are releasing their tribute to Alfvén’s 150th anniversary, recorded at Alfvéngården using the composer’s own piano.

Anders Eby conducts the Mikaeli Chamber Choir and a cast of acclaimed soloists on this programme dedicated to works by composer Olov Olofsson. Originally recorded in 1975 for Swedish audiophile label Proprius, the album has been remastered by 2xHD for the high-resolution music lover.

In May 2011, in Lars Nilsson's Nilento Studio outside Gothenburg, Inger Marie Gundersen and her five Scandinavian musicians met with producer Rasmus Solem and created "For You." This time, Ulf Wakenius and Inger Marie join forces once again. This time with a Scandinavian dream team featuring another Swede, Lars Jansson, on piano, and two Danes, bassist Jesper Bodilsen and drummer Morten Lund - as well as the wonderful trumpeting of Norwegian Per Willy Aaserud on several tracks. This album includes a version of the perhaps most successful song ever from a Norwegian pop group, AHA's "Take on Me".

From 1950 and onwards, Allan Pettersson was mainly occupied with working on the monolithic symphonies for which he is best known. But before that, while still a student at the Conservatory in Stockholm and later a viola player in the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, he composed two sets of songs: Six Songs and Barfotasånger (Barefoot Songs). Of these two, the second would become especially important for the composer, who returned to it throughout his life, quoting various songs from it in his symphonies.

Icelandic music of the last half century is the focus of this recording by the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, led by its conductor, Graham Ross. Born from his close collaboration with the native composers of the “Land of Fire and Ice,” this programme sets out to explore and highlight their hypnotic soundworld, instinctively leaning towards contemplation. A prime example is the touchingly beautiful Requiem by Sigurður Sævarsson, which here receives its world premiere recording.

The story of Mary Magdalene has been a source of comfort for many women, and research has shown that medieval ballads about Mary Magdalene are often sung by single mothers. Young women who were out¬casts must have found some measure of consolation in the songs about Mary, who bore children with her father, her brother and a priest, but was cleansed of sin after doing penance in the wilderness for many years.

Ståle Kleiberg is often called a "modern romantic", and for good reason. We encounter a distinctive and highly individual alloy of modern and romantic elements in his music, whether it is characterized by a still, meditative lyricism or an energizing vitality. The music speaks of summer. It is imbued with joie de vivre, and was composed with a full command of the genre and with considerable virtuosity.

This music has been specially chosen to celebrate the 200th anniversary in 2014 of the Norwegian Constitution. As well as being compelling in its own right, the works featured here serve as a musical history book, offering an insight into parts of the Norwegian saga. Several songs are clear examples of how a "national song" can be a way of marking and remembering the nation's history. In this recording we give the national anthem in its complete form, something that is seldom done, and, through many fresh arrangements of familiar melodies and a splendid "outdoor" sound, offer a new and invigorating listening experience.

Tine Thing Helseth is a Norwegian trumpet soloist specializing in classical repertoire. Since her breakthrough in 2006 with the Eurovision Young Musician Finale, Tine Thing Helseth's development has moved on at an amazing pace. In 2009 she was made a Borletti-Buitoni Fellow, and her diary is now filled with concert dates all over the world. On 'My Heart is Ever Present', Tine teams up once again with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, led by Elise Båtnes. Isa Katharina Gericke joins in for versions of Handel's two showpieces for soprano, trumpet and orchestra, plus "Eg veit i Himmelrik ei Borg" (I know a Castle in Heavens High). And among the all time classics of Bach/Gounod, Holst, Reger and others, Tine also presents a beautiful piece she has written herself: "Engledans" (Angels' dance).

Lillebjørn Nilsen and Andy Irvine had known each other for about 17 years when they met at the Telemark Festival back in 1994, what they both had dreamt about became a reality. Their collaboration resulted in an exhilarating concert. The live recording is finally released as an album in June 2021.

"Hirundo Maris" is singer/harpist Arianna Savall’s debut as a band leader for ECM New Series. The title, the Latin term for “sea swallow” finds the quintet connecting sounds of the Mediterranean with the North Sea. Part early music ensemble, part folk group, the band creates rich instrumental textures colored by Arianna’s sparkling harps and Johansen’s Hardanger fiddle. This recording is a listening experience like none other.

Kari Bremnes is a Norwegian singer and songwriter from the Lofoten Islands, based in Oslo. Nordic, European, open, powerful, personal and melancholic - are the words that describe Kari's music. From light to dark and raw, but always deeply connected to mystery of life and human fate. For "Over en by" she has written all the lyrics and most of the music.

Kari Bremnes is a Norwegian singer and songwriter from the Lofoten Islands, based in Oslo. Nordic, European, open, powerful, personal and melancholic - are the words that describe Kari's music. "11 ubesvarte Anrop" is her ninth studio album.