GJERMUND LARSEN TRIO – Christmas Sessions (Hello Records HCD7436)

Christmas SessionsIf you crave something different for your Christmas musical entertainment this year you might try Christmas Sessions by the Gjermund Larsen Trio. Gjermund is a prominent Norwegian fiddle player and his trio comprises Andreas Utnem on harmonium and piano and Sondre Meisfjord playing double bass. A Norwegian Christmas is very much a family affair with the main festivities being held on Christmas Eve. The most usual Christmas meal is ribbe which is pork belly served with sauerkraut and I tell you this because it may go someway to explaining the mood of this album.

The mood is solemn. The drone of the harmonium is the basis of all the tunes with the grumbling notes of the double bass underpinning Larsen’s fiddle. Most of the tunes are Scandinavian but several sound vaguely familiar as though we Brits had pinched them for our use. ‘Du Gronne Glitrende Tre’ is a perfect example of this. It translates as “you green, glittering tree” and the tune Larsen plays was composed by Christopher Weyse – one of two used for the carol. There doesn’t seem to be any link to Britain, after all.

We’ve already heard ‘Stille Natt’ and that gives you the feel of the trio’s approach to a familiar piece of music. ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ comes later and it’s relatively light and rather beautiful once you get into it.

Some Christmas albums lead you to singing along and other such frivolities but Christmas Sessions is more conducive to snoozing the afternoon away with a handkerchief over your face. It’s skilful and original but to me it doesn’t really say Christmas.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: https://www.gjermundlarsen.com/en/

‘O Helga Natt’:

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