J.S. Bach:
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme – Synkkä yö maan peitti aivan - Chorale Prelude, BWV 645, and chorale setting of Philipp Nicolai’s hymn tune

Jean Sibelius:
En etsi valtaa, loistoa (Give me no Splendour, Gold or Pomp)
Ecce novum gaudium
On lapsonen syntynyt meille (A Child is Born Unto Us)

Leevi Madetoja:
Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä (Throw Off All Your Daily Cares)

Michael Praetorius, Samuel Scheidt, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Hermann Schein, J. S. Bach:
Puer natus in Bethlehem (Synnytti piltin Bethlehem)

Taneli Kuusisto:
Pastorale, Op. 18 No. 2 for organ solo

Hector Berlioz:
Paimenten jäähyväiset pyhälle perheelle (L’Adieu des Bergers) (from L’Enfance du Christ)

Armas Maasalo:
Joulun kellot (Christmas Bells)

Jean Sibelius, Heikki Klemetti:
Angelus emittitur (Enkel’ alas liihottaa)

Matthew Whittall:
Aattoilta (Christmas Eve)

J. S. Bach, Michael Praetorius, Hans Leo Hassler, Caspar Othmayr, Max Reger:
Enkeli taivaan lausui näin (Vom Himmel hoch)

Einojuhani Rautavaara:
Christmas Carol

Ahti Sonninen:
Jouluhymni (Christmas Hymn)

Arvi Karvonen:
Pastorale for organ solo

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Jeesuslapsen tarhassa (Christ, when a Child, a Garden Made) from Legend, Op. 54 No.5

Traditional:
Maa on niin kaunis (Glorious is the Earth [Fairest Lord Jesus])

Riemuitkaamme! is an imaginative and unconventional selection of choral music associated with Christmas as it is celebrated in Finland. Several of the pieces are by Finnish composers –Sibelius, Rautavaaraand Madetoja, to name a few –while others have become part of the Christmas traditions of the country despite their international background. Among these Berlioz’ The Shepherds’ Farewelland Tchaikovsky’s Christ, when a Child… are quite late additions compared to the medieval hymns Puernatusin Bethlehem, Ecce novumgaudiumand Angelus emittitur. All three of these were included in the collection Piaecantionesfrom 1582, the oldest Finnish music publication. Here, they are performed in settings by various composers from different countries and eras –forming a kind of soundtrack of Christmases past and present, distant and close. Contemporary music forms an important part of the activities of the Helsinki Chamber Choirand Nils Schweckendiek, and true to form, the team includes a world premiere recording in their celebrations: Aattoilta, by the Canadian-born composer Matthew Whittall.

---

Recording: November 2016 at Paavalinkirkko (St Paul’s Church), Helsinki, Finland