Steven Verhaerts & KultBlech Resdent put out Kommet Ihr Hirten / Come, Ye Shepherds on Berlin Classics

Steven Verhaerts & KultBlech Resdent put out Kommet Ihr Hirten / Come, Ye Shepherds on Berlin Classics

Steven Verhaert & KultBlech Dresden

The new album "Come, ye shepherds" by KULTBLECHDRESDEN, the brass ensemble of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra founded in 2018, is a guarantee for festive Christmas music.

The ensemble presents atmospheric Christmas songs such as "Joy to the world," "Engel auf den Feldern", "Amazing Grace" and "Silent Night" on the current recording.

With various medleys it goes on a musical world tour. "Weihnachten in Deutschland" is a compilation of well-known songs that are sure to be sung under Christmas trees nationwide in Germany. "Weihnachten in Europa" takes you further afield to the neighboring countries. "Hirten auf Reisen I" then spans a wider geographical arc with its Arabic sounds. And "Hirten auf Reisen II" even takes us to the far reaches of outer space. 

The men's team KULTBLECHDRESDEN plays masterfully under the direction of conductor Steven Verhaert and demonstrates a sense of humor with all its devotion to Christmas traditions.

The subtle arrangements by Hans-Reiner Schmidt and Markus Höller, made especially for KULTBLECHDRESDEN, give the well-known melodies a very special glow.

Hardly any instrumental group is as closely associated with the Advent season as the brass group. And so the fourteen highly motivated musicians, supported by two lively percussionists and an enthusiastic conductor, follow this time-honored tradition and provide the whole family with exceptional Christmas music!

https://www.berlin-classics-music.com/en/album/8854732153-kommet-ihr-hirten/                 

Berlin Classics puts out Vetra: My Norwegian Winter by Regnhild Hemsing

 

Berlin Classics puts out Vetra: My Norwegian Winter by Regnhild Hemsing

Label's description:

The Norwegian violinist Ragnhild Hemsing has always incorporated old, Norwegian traditions on her three previous albums for Berlin Classics. 

This is mainly due to the fact that she not only plays the modern violin, but also the traditional Hardanger fiddle. Already on her first album "Røta" (meaning roots) she played chamber music with the Hardanger fidde. The album was awarded the OPUS Klassik. On the album "Peer Gynt" she played a very original version of Grieg's drama music together with the Trondheim Soloists. And on her last album she presented violin concertos as well as Hardanger-concertos together with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Ragnhild Hemsing is thus not only an interpreter and representative of Norwegian musical tradition, but also preserves it and leads it into the modern age. In keeping with the pre-Christmas season, she dives deep into the musical tradition of her home region of Valdres on her new album "Vetra". 

Winter is the central theme in all her works. The word "Vetra" comes from the dialect spoken in Valdes and means winter. In addition, she has gathered a group of outstanding musicians around her, all of whom are also very familiar with Norwegian musical history. The album will be out on CD, VINYL, as well as on all streaming services.

Some folk melodies are old, very old indeed. In the past, melodies and especially church songs were only ever passed on from mouth to mouth. Much was lost, some was changed again and again. 

The Norwegian folk song tradition has a very long history and much has been preserved and handed down to this day. This is mainly thanks to the composer and scientist Ludvig Mathias Lindeman. He lived in Norway from 1812 to 1887 and travelled the various valleys and regions - always in search of myths and legends, melodies and verses. 

He published a twelve-volume collection of folk songs under the title "Ældre og nyere norske Fjeldmelodier". In 1884 Lindeman also came to the Valdres region and recorded 86 church songs and 83 other melodies there. In Norway, these folk melodies, songs and dances are called "slåtter". It is above all the traditions of her homeland that Ragnhild Hemsing has drawn on for her album "Vetra".

https://www.berlin-classics-music.com/en/album/88547376-vetra/

Berlin Classics issues Felix Klieser Christmas Album

 

Berlin Classics issues Felix Klieser Christmas Album

A Golden Christmas, Felix Klieser

Decorate the hall with boughs of holly.... Horn player Felix Klieser loves snow and the freezing cold, even if he doesn't get much of it at home in Hanover. Ever since he was a child, winter has been his favorite season of the year - and not just for climatic reasons: "Even today, I'm an absolute Christmas fan and can't imagine anything better than coming back from a walk in the snow to a warm house and slowly warming up again with a cup of hot chocolate. 

Little lights, trays full of cookies, a visit to the Christmas market - this time is definitely my highlight of the year!" says the horn player enthusiastically.

1. Deck the hall

2. Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder

3. Cantique de Noël

4. Carol of the bells

5. Veni, vani Emmanuel

6. He shall feed his flock

7. Großer Herr und starker König

8. Abendsegen

9. Pastorale sur la naissance

10. Das neugeborne Kindelein

11. Jesu komm' in meine Seele

12. Tochter Zion

13. Maria durch ein' Dornwald ging

14. Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen

15. Adeste fideles

16. Stille Nacht

Berlin Classics

https://www.berlin-classics-music.com/en/album/8854732283-a-golden-christmas/