Nils Lindberg's A Christmas Cantata, for choir, Big Band and two vocal soloists, is a mixture of English carols, Swedish folksongs, harmonies of classical music and jazzy rhythms. Live recording from the Stockholm Cathedral.When Nils Lindberg came to Stockholm in the 1950s to study music he knew exactly what he wanted to do: first he would study at the Royal Academy of Music and then he would compose major symphonic works. But he brought with him folk music and church music from his native province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia) where the composer Oskar Lindberg was a major influence. A chance visit a famous Swedish jazz club, where a friend had secretly signed Nils up for a jam session, changed his career.
His brilliance as a pianist was evident and he was immediately engaged for some jazz recordings. When he had finished his studies with Lars-Erik Larsson and Kari Virger Blomdahl at the Academy, at the end of the fifties Nils Lindberg's music developed into a unique mixture of the directness of folk music, the forms and harmony of classical music and the rhythms and improvisatory freedom of jazz.
Nils Lindberg's A Christmas Cantata is a exciting mix of different genres - English carols, jazz music and Swedish folk music - exquisitely arranged by Lindberg for choir, two vocal soloists and Big Band Lyrics are adapted from e.g. St. Matthew, St. John and St. Luke. The work includes some of the most famous English carols such as "Ding, Dong Merrily on High", sung in English.
Olle Persson is a well-established opera singer and Margareta Jalkeus is a member of the popular vocal ensemble The Real Group. Nils Lindberg Big Band consists of Swedish top of the line jazz musicians.
Live recording from Storkyrkan in Stockholm
Musicians:
Olle Persson, vocals
Margareta Jalkeus, vocals
Nils Lindberg Big Band:
Nils Lindberg, piano, composer and arranger
Gustaf Sjokvist Chamber Choir
Gustaf Sjokvist
 | 1. Introduction |
| | 2. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. |
| | 3. Ding Dong! Merrily on high.(French melody 16th century) |
| | 4. And it came to pass in those days |
| | 5. Sussex Carol (English traditional carol) |
| | 6. Anf there were in the same country |
| | 7. Glad dig du Kristi brud (Traditional Swedish tune from Mora, verse 1 only) |
| | 8. But Mary kept all these things pondereed them in her heart |
| | 9. God rest ye merry gentlemen (English Traditional Carol) |
| | 10. Now when Jesus was born |
| | 11. Deck the Hall (Welsh Traditional Carol) |
| | 12. In the beginning |
| | 13. A Merry Christmas (Traditional Carol) |
| | 14. Visa pa vag (Melody from Nas, lyrics by Arthur Eriksson) |
| | 15. Kon min van (Melody from Siljansnas) |
| | 16. Den signade dag (Melody from Appelbo) |
