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  Rolf Lislevand
Jul I gammel tid (Christmas in the days of old) (Kirkelig
Kulturverksted, 2005)
I received many Early Music Christmas recordings this year. Although I finished
writing my holiday reviews, this wonderful gem, Christmas in days of old by
Norwegian lute player and Early Music performer, Rolf Lislevand came my way. I'm
more likely to celebrate the Winter Solstice than Christmas, but historical
recordings do pique my curiosity and I enjoy traveling back to the Middle Ages.
This music comes from a time before the mad pace of today's holiday season and a
time when the holidays represented the gathering of people and not the
collecting of expensive gadgets. So you see, I find myself escaping into the
images these historical recordings bring me.
The holiday recordings that I have heard over the past couple of weeks do more
than preserve their various heritages. Listening to these CDs causes someone to
slow down and become more reflective. Rolf Lislevand's Christmas in the days of
old provides us with music for the hearth. The instrumental recording features
lute, theobre and other instruments. He is accompanied by Giovanna Pessi on
triple harp. The songs on the CD range from the 1300's to 1674. They hail from
France, Italy, Switzerland, England, Spain and Germany and from a time when one
didn't need to know the name of the composers. Although you will find names of
composers listed with a few of the tracks, especially with familiar songs from
England.
"Our familiar songs about the child in the manger, the shepherds in the fields
and the wise man of the East often have roots going back more than 500 years in
time, before Modernism, Romanticism, Classicism, yes, even before the Baroque
era."
Even if it is not your normal routine to listen to Early Music recordings played
on medieval instruments, give Rolf Lislevand's CD a listen. Although this music
was composed before Baroque music, to untrained ears, (like mine), it does sound
Baroque at times and anyone who has listened to classical guitar will also
appreciate this warming blend of harp and lute. The best part is, the songs are
free of any commercialism or angle. They are songs that evoke pure and simple
emotions. All that is needed from you, is to sit back, listen and let the music
take you back to another place we can no longer fathom.
by Patricia Herlevi-Balquin
Please note: I will not be reviewing any more Christmas recordings this year.
However, if you represent a group or label that has recorded ancient Winter
Solstice music performed on Early Music instruments, please contact me.
Happy holidays to all.
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