When you're trying to post something new every day (if not here, then on the Previews or Free pages), it sorta matters what you write about. I simply can't work myself up to write about something I don't feel like writing about. So, for example, yesterday's post about Lucy Lockwood...I really wanted to write about that album and I hope it showed. Today, I wasn't much feeling like writing about anything. There are lots of things I could write about today, but I wasn't feeling any of it. And then I found this. In another time, on another day, this would be on the International page (and it'll eventually get moved there). But it's what I want to write about today, so here it is. It may not have the kitsch of William Shatner or the fan base of Eric Clapton, but it caught my attention and flipped my Christmas switch and maybe it'll do the same for you.
Sund Yard is a German duo. Their "slogan", or whatever, pretty much sums them up--"A voice, a piano--simple and stirring". Both Elena Janis (the voice) and Wolfgang Torkler (the piano) come from Jazz backgrounds and most of their live programs (and their other projects) reflect that background...with material ranging from Jazz vocal interpretations of old standards to gentle Bossa Nova to the more contemporary Pop songs of Joni Mitchell and others.
"Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)", on the other hand, consists primarily of Sund Yard's interpretations of old German Christmas carols (many most often heard in the performances of choirs) and, as such this falls much more into the Classical Crossover arena. Or you could throw a New Age label on it. Or Jazz; yeah, I can see the Jazz aspects, here, though its an entirely different kind of Jazz than our album from yesterday. Regardless of what you call it, what it is is incredibly moving.
As near as I can tell, though Sund Yard have been performing together for a little while (since 2010, it appears, albeit as the Sommerfeld Duo), "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)' will be their first official album release (once again, instant bonus points). Some of the songs will be familiar--"Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" ("Silent Night"), "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree"), "Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen" ("Lo How a Rose e'er Blooming")...these songs have made their way into the American Christmas canon. But many of the songs on Sund Yard's album will be unfamiliar to you, unless you're of German heritage or have listened to other traditional German Christmas efforts. Nonetheless, they're as timeless and beautiful as "Carol of the Bells" and "The First Noel" (carols we borrowed from other countries).
"Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)", on the other hand, consists primarily of Sund Yard's interpretations of old German Christmas carols (many most often heard in the performances of choirs) and, as such this falls much more into the Classical Crossover arena. Or you could throw a New Age label on it. Or Jazz; yeah, I can see the Jazz aspects, here, though its an entirely different kind of Jazz than our album from yesterday. Regardless of what you call it, what it is is incredibly moving.
As near as I can tell, though Sund Yard have been performing together for a little while (since 2010, it appears, albeit as the Sommerfeld Duo), "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)' will be their first official album release (once again, instant bonus points). Some of the songs will be familiar--"Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" ("Silent Night"), "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree"), "Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen" ("Lo How a Rose e'er Blooming")...these songs have made their way into the American Christmas canon. But many of the songs on Sund Yard's album will be unfamiliar to you, unless you're of German heritage or have listened to other traditional German Christmas efforts. Nonetheless, they're as timeless and beautiful as "Carol of the Bells" and "The First Noel" (carols we borrowed from other countries).
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1. Der dezember
2. Maria durch ein' dornwald ging 3. Es kommt ein schiff, geladen 4. Kommet ihr hirten 5. O tannenbaum, du trägst ein' grünen zweig 6. Tausend sterne sind ein dom 7. Es ist ein ros' entsprungen 8. Ich steh' an deiner krippen hier 9. Stille nacht, heilige nacht 10. Oh du fröhliche 11. Winternacht 12. Weihnachten 13. Der dreizehnte monat 14. Es wird scho glei dumpa |
Within the past week, or thereabouts, Sund Yard began a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money necessary to produce and distribute CDs of "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)", much of which was recorded over the summer. The crowdfunding site is Startnext, which appears to be a platform for projects in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. While an mp3 version is posted to Amazon US for November 23, Sund Yard believes a digital download is a poor substitute for a product, lovingly created, that you can can see and touch. Even the sound of a CD is superior. And I agree with them about all that. As with the crowdfunding platforms we're more familiar with, the Startnext campaign has assorted tiers and incentives. I hope they reach their goal and that, if they do, copies of "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)" will make their way to American shores. Regardless of that, however, the download version should certainly be available here (ain't the Internet a wonderful thing?). It may be a poor substitute for a CD, but it's a pretty good alternative to nothing at all.
At this point in the holiday season, most of our musical focus is on the more fun, frivolous, and rockin' and swingin' Christmas music. Yay, William Shatner! Yay, The Monkees! We often don't think too much about the quiet, spiritual, introspective, and beautiful Christmas music until we get much closer to Christmas day, itself. This far out, the real meaning of the season is almost an afterthought. That's kind of the regular tempo of things. There's the hustle and bustle of Halloween, the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, the hustle and bustle of last minute Christmas shopping. And it isn't until all of that is done that most of us find the time to enjoy the more calm and peaceful music of Christmas. Don't worry. There's time. This won't be released until the end of November. But remember, when the time comes, "A voice, a piano--simple and stirring". That's a pretty good recipe for a Christmas album that will be more than mere ear candy.
You'll find a few 100 second samples of a handful of songs from "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)" on Soundcloud. Here's one for "Kommet ihr hirten" ("Come, Ye Shepherds").
At this point in the holiday season, most of our musical focus is on the more fun, frivolous, and rockin' and swingin' Christmas music. Yay, William Shatner! Yay, The Monkees! We often don't think too much about the quiet, spiritual, introspective, and beautiful Christmas music until we get much closer to Christmas day, itself. This far out, the real meaning of the season is almost an afterthought. That's kind of the regular tempo of things. There's the hustle and bustle of Halloween, the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, the hustle and bustle of last minute Christmas shopping. And it isn't until all of that is done that most of us find the time to enjoy the more calm and peaceful music of Christmas. Don't worry. There's time. This won't be released until the end of November. But remember, when the time comes, "A voice, a piano--simple and stirring". That's a pretty good recipe for a Christmas album that will be more than mere ear candy.
You'll find a few 100 second samples of a handful of songs from "Weihnachtslieder (Christmas Songs)" on Soundcloud. Here's one for "Kommet ihr hirten" ("Come, Ye Shepherds").
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