Tapiola, Not Tapioca

Is this the first international Christmas record I've shared this year? Shame on me for not getting some of them out sooner. I don't have a whole lot of them this year, but the ones I do have I think are pretty good. Is this the first Christmas record from Finland I've ever shared? I think it is, though I had an album of Finnish music from Detroit a few years ago. I guess there is a community of immigrants that are keeping the traditions of their homeland alive there. But this one is the real thing from the real place. I love to hear Christmas music from faraway places. I may not understand the language, but you can usually pick up on the Christmas spirit in the music. You will also hear familiar themes that have been appropriated into the Western celebration sometimes. And of course there are songs of the season that have become standards performed around the world at this point. It's a much smaller world these days with airplanes moving people and satellites moving information back and forth quickly across the globe. I think it's still going to be long while before we have a global mono-culture, but someday. If you want to add a little Scandinavian spice to your holiday listening, please download and listen to Tapiolan Yhteiskoulun Kuoro (The Tapiola Choir)-Tapiolan Joulu (Christmas In Tapiola) (Finnlevy (Finland) SFLP 8541, Stereo, 1973).

1. Hoosianna (Hosanna)  
2. Jouluevankeliumi (Christmas Gospel)  
3. Enkeli Taivaan (From Heaven Above The Earth I Come)  
4. Jouluyö, Juhlayö (Silent Night, Holy Night)  
5. Maa Ja Taivas Riemuitkaa (Earth And Heaven, Rejoice)  
6. Nyt Syntynyt On Lapsonen (A Child Is Born)  
7. Kuului Laulu Enkelten (Angels We Have Heard On High)  
8. Katso, Ihme Taivainen (Look At The Heavenly Miracle)  
9. Oi Sä Riemuisa (O, How Joyfully)  
10. En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa (I Look For No Power, No Riches)  
11. Arkihuolesi Kaikki Heitä (Now Let's Leave Our Daily Tasks)  
12. Joulun Kellot (Christmas Bells)  
13. Joulukirkkoon (To The Christmas Church)  
14. Kilisee, Kilisee Kulkunen (The Sleigh Bells Jingle)  
15. Koska Meillä On Joulu (Now We Have Christmas)  
16. No, Onkos Tullut Kesä (A Christmas Tree Song)  
17. Maa On Niin Kaunis (Crusader's Hymn) 

MEGA