Center of Jewish Poems and Piyyut in Ashdod - Shirat HaBakashot (PAL DVD) - $18.5
(cdRoots# yy-mgdvd049)
DVD of Shirat HaBakashot (Song of Requests) - a collection of piyyutim (Jewish liturgical poems) sung by the synagogue attendees, mainly on Shabbat (Saturday) and Jewish holidays. The Bakashot prayer on this DVD is sung during the Jewish New Year High Holidays, and is performed by Rabbi David Edery and the "Center of Jewish Poems and Piyyut in Ashdod" choir. The singing is in the a-capella style (with no instrumental accompaniment), while the singers are sited at tables laid out with delicacies - all this in the best Jewish tradition requirement. The viewer of this DVD experiences the Jewish tradition and holiday spirits, as if he is present in the synagogue himself. (PAL format DVD)

Nina Ramsby and Martin Hederos - Jazzen - $16.99
(cdRoots# amigo-jazzen)
Singer Nina Ramsby and pianist Martin Hederos first met in 2000 and began singing casually together. In January 2004 recorded Visorna, a collection of their favorite songs in Swedish. In the spring of 2005 they began work on this new recording, Jazzen, featuring their own unique takes on jazz standards by notable jazz performers like Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Sade and Betty Carter. Nina has rewritten the lyrics in Swedish, to suit her own needs and experiences. These are bare, sometimes stark performances, mostly simply piano and voice, with occasional string, harmonica, reed and brass punctuations that envelope the voice and allow it room to expand and contract as it needs. They also have 2 original pieces (one song, one instrumental), which to my ear, are some of the best pieces on the CD.

Various Swedish - Folkjul - A Swedish Folk Christmas - $temp out of stock
(cdRoots# bis-5031)
In Sweden the unbroken tradition of folk music has influenced both liturgical and classical music and musicians. Gunnar Idenstam, concert organist has created a program which combines traditional Christmas hymns, folk music and the sonic possibilities of a great church organ, in his own original arrangements. Idenstam is joined by folk fiddler (and baroque violinist) Lisa Rydberg as well as Sofia Karlsson and Emma Härdelin, two of Sweden's most distinctive voices in the traditions of folk music and ballads. A key role is also played by S:t Jacobs Chamber Choir,. Led by its choral director, Gary Graden, the choir has constantly extended its repertoire and forms of expression, exploring the realms of avant-garde music, jazz and, as here, folk music. The program (sung in Swedish) includes international favorites (Silent Night and Veni, veni Emanuel), Swedish traditional versions from the rich stock of the Lutheran hymn book (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen) and Swedish folk tunes and newly written material in the same vein. The resulting disc demonstrates a vital interplay between 'folk culture' and 'high culture', and gives a fresh breath of life to familiar materials, presenting an entirely new view of Christmas. The disc comes in a double-folded digipak with full color booklet including liner notes and song texts in Swedish and English.

Various Galician Artsists - Cantigas de Nadal - $16.99
(cdRoots# boa-nadal)
11 tracks of traditional Galician songs of the Christmas season by 11 bands and artists on the current Galician folk scene: Berrogüetto, Leilia, Pancho Alvarez, Na Lua, Os Cempes, Maite Dono, Uxia, Chouteria, Muxicas, Xistra de Coruxo and A Quenlla.

Sagskara - Apelgra - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# cda-sagskara)
Traditional Christmas songs and tunes from Sweden

Picotage - Je n'irai plus aux champs - $14.99
(cdRoots# fce-5376)
Following their collection dedicated to Christmas carols, the band is engaged again on the repertoire of Central France. This production is clearly focussed on traditional sounds, but Picotage worked to carefully mix them up with a progressive flair, defining their own music as 'musique d'Hammond' rather than musique du monde.

Cororchestra Cantarchevai - Nadàl Encara - $14.99
(cdRoots# fce-cornadal)
A collection of Christmas carols from Italy and elsewhere, performed in a unique, sparse, modern folk style, an almost neo-field-recording atmosphere.

Ensemble del Doppio Bordone - La notte di Natale (ES5303 - $14.99
(cdRoots# fce-doppio)
With its blend of ancient instruments from peasant culture (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, flutes) and of cultured origin (fiddle, cello and harmonium), during last ten years this band performed all over Europe, obtaining a vast positive response both from audience and critics. In December 1995, the Ensemble represented Italy in the program Comete, co-produced by various national broadcasting companies of EU, Eastern Europe and North-American countries. Its repertoire varies from alms-collecting chants, dances played during harvest time, carnival music and Christmas carols, songs sung in May and melodies of Passion.

Le Picotage - Noel nouveau est venu (ES5311 - $14.99
(cdRoots# fce-picotage)
Christmas songs and tunes from the Centre of France, played on hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, keyboards, plus a fantastic female voice. The Christmas Carols were chosen among the dozen of popular songs that are particulary abundant in the Centre of France: some of these songs are still sung in certain churches in the Limousin region. The legendary complex to which the lyrics make reference are taken mainly from the Apocryphal Evangiles.

Zenobia - I Vintermorkets Hal - $temp out of stock-15.99
(cdRoots# go-1810)
The Danish trio calls I Vintermørkets Hal an album "for all winters - from all our winters. From the magically Christmassy ones when we were little girls, over those shrouded in picturesque snow to those rainy and stormy ones." On voice, piano and accordion (with many guests adding all sorts of other instruments), Zenobia offer spritely dances, sad stories and joyous celebrations of the winter's cold pleasures. Sometimes rustic, sometimes elegant, the music speaks of winter in any language and any country.

Helene Blum - En Sød Og Liflig Klang - $15.99
(cdRoots# go-blum06)
Folk and modern interpretations of Jule music old and new by the Danish singer, accompanied by Harald Haugaard (who also produced the recordings), with Ditte Fromseier, Harald Haugaard, Kirstine Elise Pedersen, lea Havelund, Mikkel Bøggild, Sune Hånsbæk, Torben Sminge, Hans Mydtskov, Karen Mose, Jullie Hjetland, Kristian Stærke on violins, cello, guitar and vocals. One of the best Christmas recordings I have heard in a while. Highly recommended.

Gunnar Halle and Espen Eriksen - Meditations on Christmas - $18.99
(cdRoots# grcd-4345)
Trumpet and piano duets improvise on both familiar old Christmas songs, traditional favorites and lesser known Swedish works

Bukkene Bruse - Den Fagraste Rosa - $18.99
(cdRoots# grcd-bukkene-rosa)
Christmas music from Norway performed by Annbjørg Lien: Hardanger fiddle, fiddle, Swedish keyed fiddle; Arve Moen Bergset: Kveding (vocals), Hardanger fiddle, fiddle; Steinar Ofsdal: Sjøfløyte (sea flute), willow pipe, tin whistle, dize, jew's harp; Bjørn Ole Rasch: Church organ and keyboards. This is the Heilo edition, from Norway, in a nice gatefold package.

Sinikka Langeland - Andreas Liebig - Stjerneklang - $17.99
(cdRoots# grcd-stjern)
Sinikka Langeland sings folk songs and improvises with Andreas Liebig, who performs on the historic Wagner-organ (1741) in Nidaros Cathedral, in Trondhjem, Norway. They present Bach's organ chorales for Christmas in a unique and passionate way.

Anonymous 4 - Christmas Music from Medieval Hungary - $9.99
(cdRoots# hm-hungxmas)
The famous female vocal quartet offers unusual holiday music.

Darko Rundek and Cargo Orkestar - Ruke - $17.99
(cdRoots# hm-pir1894)
Darko Rundek, singer, poet, actor, theatre director and frontman of the late Yugo-cult band Haustor, took a holiday from his solo-career for the adventures of a real Cargo Orkestar. The comédie des sens of Paris meet the European spleen of Zagreb, cosmopolitan influences of immigration clash with Balkan traditions. Join the Cargo Orkestar for a mysterious musical journey, rough and real, made of questioning, pain, joy and humour. Listen

BalkanBeats - A Night in Berlin - $18.99
(cdRoots# hm-pir2338)
Robert Soko has been throwing parties in Berlin since 1993. He was the first to coin the term BalkanBeats to try and define his mix of music from the Balkans. BalkanBeats are Serbian Gypsy brass and folk melodies reinterpreted, given electronic beats and blended with western styles such as ska and rock. In the recent past the phenomenon has caught on in other cities around the world where Balkan immigrants live. BalkanBeats parties rave all the way from Frankfurt and Vienna to New York and Melbourne. Robert grew up in Zenica, central Bosnia, listening to western music: rock and roll, punk and ska. In 1990 he left Bosnia for Berlin. He took a job as a taxi driver and started hanging out at the Arcanoa, a punk bar in Berlin's immigrant quarter Kreuzberg with his ex-pat friends. The Arcanoa became their second home. Soko put on his first parties there, playing his Yugo music for fifty German marks and beer for free. He celebrated socialist holidays: Tito's birthday, Day of Women. May First. The parties were a mix of irony and nostalgia and Soko was surprised to see how many people came, as nostalgia for Yugoslav socialism was not the 'in thing' in those days of growing Balkan nationalism. And yet the parties grew. Then something happened. After years of listening and playing western-derived rock, punk and ska, Soko found himself returning to his ethnic Balkan music roots, the roots he had rejected as a youth in Bosnia. This was largely due to two figures, Goran Bregovic and Emir Kusturica. Bregovic who revamped Balkan Gypsy melodies, making Balkan music palatable for a western audience, and Kusturica, for whose Gypsy inspired films Bregovic did the soundtracks. And Soko played new/old Balkan music. And people loved it. Women grooved to it. Guys pogoed to it. It was a sensation. The press took notice. From the Arcanoa, Soko moved onwards and upwards, first to the Mudd Club, then to the Lido, all the while spreading the party fever to other cities around Europe, to New York, L.A., South Africa and Brazil. The enhanced CD features a Slideshow, which takes the viewer through a BalkanBeats night in Berlin with music by Fanfare Ciocarlia. Listen tp Markovic Orchestar | Listen to dunklebunt

various - Messiah: Remix - $13.99
(cdRoots# hm-remessiah)
One of the irresistible chestnuts of classical music gets a radical overhaul by some of the contemporary music scene's leading provacatuers. Handel's 1742 warhorse gets mashed into electronica, modernist mania, moody ambience, rough-hewn hip-hop and uninhibited nuttiness by artists like John Oswald, Scanner, Paul Lansky and Eve Beglarian.

Marina Rossell - Nadal - $17.99
(cdRoots# hm-rossell05)
Music for the Christmas holiday from one of the great voices of Catalan Spain.

Moshe Berlin Ensemble - Aeinu! - $19.99
(cdRoots# hm-sm1628)
Aneinu! contains repertoire from the Israeli hasidic-orthodox klezmer tradition. The field recordings of Israel's foremost klezmer clarinetist, Moshe Berlin, were made by ethnomusicologist Joel Rubin in a yeshiva during the ceremony celebrating the end of the holiday Simchat Torah. They show the vital role that the music of the klezmorim and the ecstatic singing of nigunim (melodies of spiritual elevation) play among orthodox Jews, displaying at the same time a microcosm of the variety of ethnic and cultural influences to be found in the musical traditions of Israel today.

Marina Rossell - Al Gran Teatre del Liceu - $12.99
(cdRoots# hm-wv450006)
Recorded in the Gran Teatre del Licieu de Barcelona during la Diada, Catalonia's national holiday, it showcases the artist's continued revival of the traditional Catalan repertoire. The album twenty-three tracks features several guests, including Kepa Junkera.

The Oxford Waits with The Mellstock Band - Hey for Christmas - $19.99
(cdRoots# hojo-hey)
Seasonal songs and carols from the Bodleian Library's Broadside Ballad collections

The Bulgarian Voices Angelite - Angels' Christmas - $17.99
(cdRoots# jaro-angelx)
The famous Bulgarian choir explores the Nativity as heard in Bulgaria and eastern Europe.

Sondre Bratland - Rosa Fra Betlehem - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-121)
Songs for Christmas sung by the great Norwegian artist, beautifully recorded at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, and accompanied by Knut Reiersrud, Iver Kleive and Paolo Vinaccia.

Iver Kleive - Juleevangeliet - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-207)

Oslo Gospel Choir - Det Skjedde i de dager - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-259)
The spirit of Norwegian Christmas - Princess Martha Louise reads the Christmas story in Norwegian. Songs are performed by the choir and guest vocalist Sigvart Dagsland, and include Stille Natt, Det Hev Ei Rose Sprunge, Dailig Eg Jorden, Hellige Natt and more.

Iver Kleive - Hyrdenes tilbedelse - $19.99
(cdRoots# kkv-287)

Schola Sanctae Sunnivae and Hartkeriana - Officium et Missae in Nativitate Sancti Ioannis Baptistae - $24.99
(cdRoots# kkv-306)
A female choir from Trondheim, Norway and a male choir from Amsterdam presnt works inspired by a thousand years of church music traditions. These internationally recognized choirs have recorded a St. John's officium, a collection of a full days masses and hourly prayers on a double CD set, with music both for midsummer and the nativity. Music in the gregorian tradition, marvelously recorded (as all KKV recordings are), with great spacial presence and accuracy.

Carola - I natt blir värden ny - Jul i Betlehem II - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-326)
The norwegian vocalist presents a second collection of old and new Christmas songs in the Holy Nativity Church in Bethlehem, bringing moods and sounds from the region of the world where Christ was born. Her second visit to the city of David has inspired her to new interpretations of famous Christmas songs, featuring the musical expression of Bethlehem. Carola wonderful voice is complemented by musicians from Norway, Sweden and the Middle East.

Det Norske Jentekor - Julens hjerte (The heart of Christmas) - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-327)
For Christmas the Norwegian Girls Choir presents Yuletide songs in arrangements by Henning Sommerro. The record also features the Cikada string quartet and Kari Bremnes on two tracks and Lise Sørensen on violin. Anne Karin Sundal is the choir conductor. The songs on the new record have mostly been selected from traditional songs that are part of Christmas, given fresh new arrangements that still hold close to the simplicity of the old folk songs.

Aage Kvalbein and Iver Kleive - Julemeditasjoner (Christmas meditations) - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-328)
Two Norwegian musicians on piano and cello express the tranquil moods of Christmas. With their extensive experience of interpreting traditional musical material and with a touch of irreverence, these open-minded musicians have toyed with familiar Christmas songs, inserting a classical piece by Vivaldi here and another by Schubert there, to create a mix of well-loved Christmas songs.

Solveig Slettahjell and Tord Gustavsen - Natt i Betlehem - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-342)
Christmas carols and religious songs, in Norwegian and English, both tradtional and contemporary, performed on piano and voice

Oslo Gospel Choir - En stjerne skinner i natt - $19.99
(cdRoots# kkv-343)
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the choir recorded in Oslo Concert Hall in December last year, where they gave five concerts to packed houses. This recording radiates the intimate and inspiring Christmas spirit this choir is so renowned for.he recording offers highlights from the choirs repertoire performed at Christmas concerts across Norway over their 20 years, featuring such favourites as "Glade jul" (Holy Night), "Julekveldsvisa" (Ready for Christmas Eve), "O, helga natt" (O Holy Night), Go Tell It On The Mountain, "En stjerne skinner i natt" (A Star Is Shining Tonight), written by the choir conductor Tore W. Aas, and "Mariavise" (Marys Song), written by Aas and Erik Hillestad.

Stephen Brandt-Hansen - I Julens Lys - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-354)
Popular and esoteric Jule songs by the Norwegian singer and a small ensemble with Iver Kleive on piano, plus harmonica, keyboards and a choral group.

Mathias Eick, Pasha Hanjani and Ertan Tekin - Tre Vise Menn (Three Wise Men) - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-355)
Mathias Eick, the Norwegian jazz instrumentalist has come together with Ertan Tekin and Pasha Hanjani in Istanbul, the city where East meets West and the past meets the present. Together they have improvised a Christmas CD based on Christmas melodies like "En rose er utsprungen" (A Spotless Rose is Growing), "Folkefrelsar til oss kom" (Saviour of the Nations, Come) and "Mitt hjerte alltid vanker" (My Heart is Always with Jesus). Oriental sounds and harmonies fuse with Western melodies to give you an deep feeling for the universal message of the holiday.

Sondre Bratland - Jol i mi song - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-373)
2011 release of Christmas and other music from the tradition, performed by one of Norway's greatest singers. Simple, acoustic arrangements played by an excellent ensemble: Tore Bruvoll on guitar, banjo and mandolin, Sigbjørn Apeland on harmonium and piano and Nils Økland on fiddle. Highly recommended. Listen

Pust - Julero - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-374)
Music for the winter and Christmas by a fine sensemble of Norwegian singers: Anne Hilde Grøv (soprano), Jorunn Lovise Husan (mezzo), Elisabeth Anvik (alto) Jostein Hasselgård (tenor), Håvard Gravdal (baritone) and Mads Iversen (bass). Pust means "breathe" in Norwegian, and there is a fresh breath of beauty in this recording. Listen

Katia Cardenal - Ven a mi casa esta navidad - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-card-navi)
The Nicaraguan singer presents the songsof Christmas she remembers from her home. Classics from Europe are intermingled with songs local to Nicaragua, Bolivia and elsewhere in the southern Americas. Recorded with Cuban musicians including guitarist Rey Guerra.

Frode Alnæs, Arild Andersen, Stian Carstensen - Julegløggen - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-jule)
OK, some things I just can't resist. Norwegian musicians Frode Alnæs (guitar), Arild Andersen (bass) and Stian Carstensen (banjo and accordion) join together to give a jazzy yet Nordic touch to some Norwegian folk songs and some global holiday classics, traditional and popular.

Skruk - Stjerna fra øst (Star of the East) - $17.99
(cdRoots# kkv-star)
With the Moscow Balalaika Quartet, Torunn Sævik and Geirr Lystrup. An original set of songs for Christmas, based on Russian traditions, and performed by a small ensemble of instrumentalists, a balalaika quartet, solo singers and large chorus.

Vintermane - Sode Julenatt - $18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-vinter1)
The eminent Vintermåne trio, featuring vocals, piano and saxophone, delivers the real Christmas spirit with folk tunes from Telemark and a poetic jazz-inspired accompaniment on Søde Julenatt

Berit Opheim Versto and Karl Seglem - Draumkvedet - $18.99
(cdRoots# nor-0978)
Norwegian singer Berit Opheim Versto and reed player Karl Seglem take on the great epic poem of Norway in a powerful new recording. Andrew Cronshaw wrote in fRoots: "A famous Norwegian medieval vision-song. The narrator falls asleep on Christmas Eve, wakes thirteen days later (excellent plan, I reckon) and describes his vivid dreams of life and death. On CD1 Berit's slow soaring performance, varying around the core melody, is unaccompanied, recorded in Voss church; on CD2 Seglem surrounds it with subtle surging ambiences of electronics and goat-horn. Powerful."

Bukkene Bruse (w/Annbjørg Lien) - Den Fagraste Rosa - $12.99
(cdRoots# ns-6044)
Christmas music from Norway

Helene Blum - Linden Sol - $15.99
(cdRoots# ph-0410)
Helene Blum, the Danish singer and fiddler is joined by the Harald Haugaard Ensemble (octave mandolin, fiddle, guitar, cello, Jew's harp, double bass, flugelhorn, and percussion) in a follow-up to her marvelous 2008 holiday recording, En Sød Og Liflig Klang. Liden Sol, (Little Sun) offers both traditional songs of the Yuletide, as well as a few original songs, all done with grace and musicianship.

Various artists - Christmas Around The World - $8.99
(cdRoots# putu-xmas)
A collection of music from around the world specifically for Christmas. 12 tracks compiled for 2003 include Steve Schuch and the Night Heron Consort, Liuba Maria Hevia, Michael Doucet, Sheryl Cormier, Los Reyes, Dan Crary, Kali , Ramon F.Veloz and more.

Baraban - La Santa Notte Dell'oriente - $17.99
(cdRoots# rd-baraban2)
Christmas songs and melodies by the quintet Barabàn from Milan. From Christmas Eve to Epiphany, eleven tracks show vocal or intrumental tunes, rhymes and sounds: from traditional rites of Northern Italy from the Po Valley, songs usually performed in the cowsheds during the watches of the night, pastorelle played in the foggy nights around Milan, pive from the repertoire of travelling musicians, Christmas carols from Venetia and Friuli, begging songs of Romagna, Gregorian airs, songs performed during a traditional theatrical piece called Gelindo, the Stella repertoire from Lombard mountains, sounds and noises of Befania rite. La Santa Notte dell'Oriente is not, however, a pure nostalgic disc. Far from any ethnic revival, the band plies a contempory musical course mixing bagpipes, fiddles and melodeons with a range of Mediterranean and Eastern percussions.

various artists, Italy - I Doli Du Signuri - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica10)
The sorrows of the Lord - As with Christmas, the Passion and Death of Christ have long stimulated the popular musical creativity in various compositions. The album presents research documents from the provinces of Messina, Enna, and Catania: monovocal and polivocal songs from the rituals of Holy Week in Sicily. The Passion, the Stations of the Cross, and Resurrection, through the liturgical songs and the traditional religious culture. Recordings from 1979 to 1992.

Various Artists - A Cantata Di Li Pasturi - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# rd-ethnica8)
Vocal and instrumental pieces from the Christmas tradition in the province of Messina, with an wide and varied panorama of monovocal and polivocal pieces (ninne nanne, litanie, novene ) and instrumental pieces (pastorali with bag pipes). The collection demonstrates the profound roots of the rich culture of Christmas in the popular religious traditions. Recordings from 1984 to 1993.

Ambrogio Sparagna - Fermarono i Cieli - $17.99
(cdRoots# rd-ft37)
In the middle of the 18th century Alfonso Maria de' Liguori and his Redemptorist priests introduced hymns both in the local dialect and in Italian, based on popular songs, to teach the basics of Christianity. Many of the songs were related to Christmas-tide celebrations, as well as lullabies, pastorales for the zampogna (Italian bag-pipes), alms-seeking chants, and others. Sparagna preserves the original spirit of these traditional folk prayers with Peppe Servillo and a female vocal quintet, accompanied by the eclectic instrumentalist Erasmo Treglia and an trio featuring a giant zampogna (bagpipe), along with harmonium, tamburelli, organetto (accordion), ciaramella, ghironda, oboe barocco, violino and more.

Henning Andersen with Marit Mattisgard - Underlege makter - $17.99
(cdRoots# talik-24)
The songs of the church bells of Valdres, Norway, performed by this duo on voices, fiddles, jews harp, folk flutes, zithers and of course, the bells of Valdres themselves. The artists say: "The bells ring: From time immemorial the church bells have rung in to festival and feat, to sorrow and joy. For people here in Norway the church bells have been a sound and safe landmark for over a thousand years. Over the years they have served various purposes but primarily have been God's voice here on earth. They have summoned the congregation to church service, baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals. Gradually they gained other duties than the sacral as they were used to warn of war and mobilisation, accidents and catastrophes. The bells marked the passing hours, the start and end of the working day and the commencement of church holidays when tired bodies could rest."

Skruk and Rim Banna - Krybberom - $temp out of stock-18.99
(cdRoots# kkv-krybberom)
The Norwegian art ensemble Skruk and singer Rim Banna from Nazareth join together to create a powerful recording, interpreting traditional songs from both cultures about the Nativity, centered on themes of homelessness and peace