Jag väntade i tystnad –
I waited in silence
Jag väntade i tystnad i skaparens pupill.
DaÌŠ hörde jag de allra första orden.
Du talade så stilla: "o, människa, bli till,"
och lade mig att växa i min moder.
Jag vilade i vattnet i väntan på den stund
då dagen till slut skulle komma.
​
Jag ropade i bävan när ljuset trängde fram.
Nu låg jag där vid världens öppna fönster
med öron som fick höra, med ögon som förnam,
det myllrade av färger, ljud och mönster.
Du lärde mig att älska, jag började förstå:
vårt liv är en underbar gåva.
Jag vände mig mot himlen med glädje i mitt bröst
och nynnade på livets sköra sånger.
Allt levande vill sjunga, vart väsen har sin röst,
som talar till dig tiotusen gaÌŠnger.
En dag ska vi få möta vår skapare och vän,
som var och som är och som kommer.
A song from the perspective of the unborn child. Musically the song comes from deep inside my musical "prenatal" time, from deep inside my local vocal tradition. The song is a fruit of it, I'm a link in a chain of voices. I am attributed as a composer, but I feel more honoured to be a bearer of a tradition. It's music from, not by. As much as I am born from my mother's womb, this song comes from the tradition that nursed it into place.
Here you can order digital versions of the hymn from Peace of Music's Score Store!
For printed versions see below!
SAB-version of the hymn
​​​Jag väntade i tystnad; SAB
SSAA-version of the hymn
SSATB-version of the hymn
Organ-version of the hymn
Listen to a stringversion of the hymn. This one is in a-minor and could be used as a backtrack for your solo-song. The score in f#-minor is more suitable for congregational singing.
Se, nu kommer Jesus! – See, here Jesus comes!
I've been a bit in two minds over this song, thinking it could resemble a Sunday-school poster a bit too much. But looking at it with eyes of innocence, as we sang in the previous song, there's so much to discover: "When your eye is clear, you'll see everything in beauty!"
Marie Sundberg interprets the story of when Jesus rides in to Jerusalem with her voice as the "dala-painter" does with his brush. Subjectively, emotionally and down to earth – and therefore also so sublimely. Thanks Marie for this world-premiere.
Se, nu kom mer Jesus! Se, Guds rena lamm!Mot den gyllne staden går han sakta fram.
Ren och ödmjuk är han utan yttre prakt.Men på korsets tron där tar han kungamakt.
Gå din Gud till mötes, glad i själ och sinn.Jesus kommer till dig, vill bli evigt din.Dagarna är mörka, men i kunglig glanskommer Jesus till oss, vi får vara hans!
Hosianna! Jesus, du vill vara här. Hos ditt folk, din kyrka, är du alltid när.
Here you can order digital versions of the hymn from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SAB-version of the hymn
Se, nu kommer Jesus: SAB
SATB-version of the hymn
Lyft upp din blick och se
– Lift up your eyes and see
This ancient song with medieval roots comes from the island of Sollerön in Lake Siljan.
You can hear about its wonderful history in this video. (in Swedish.)
Dunder Karin, over hundred years old, remembered the dance-steps of her childhood and got up in the old folks home, sharing it with the world and saving it for posterity. We keep dancing in her footsteps - here Eva Rune keeps the tradition alive by sharing her version. Thanks Eva, makes me think of when we danced long-dances on Faroe Island – a chain of voices going back to the Viking days. It transcends space as well: one of my best memories of this song is from Australia when a bunch of Aussies really got hold of this one – inspired no doubt by the series "The Vikings" – and sang it in such a thunderous way old Dunder Karin (Thunder Karin) and indeed Thor himself - the God of Thunder - would have been proud.
Reser Anna Larsson
1848 -1927
Dunder Karin Jönsson
1865 -1967
Here you can order digital versions of Långdans from Sollerön from Peace of Music's Score Store – and learn the dance!​
SATB-version of the hymn
Välkommen!
Welcome!
1. Välkommen nu Kristus, du himmelske gäst!
Välkommen du strålande stjärna!
Välkommen att bjuda oss alla till fest!
Välkomna, vi kommer så gärna!
Välkommen, vi väntat på vanvårdad jord,
Välkommen, vi längtat så efter ett ord
som ville vårt öga uppväcka.
Välkommen! Allt vände när insikten kom
att ögat är lampan och ljuset inom.
Att se är att himlen avtäcka!
2. Så låt oss nu alla, vår värld till behag,
med himmelskt ljus jorden uppfylla
och hälsa dig välkommen åter idag.
Du är vårt ljus, dig vill vi hylla!
Ja, Herre, du intar din plats vid min härd,
då är jag ock värdig att vara din värd,
ditt heliga hem här på jorden,
den himmel där hela Guds härlighet bor,
det ljus som förklarar vår hemlighet stor:
Din broder, Guds Son är jag vorden!
This is such a powerful song. It states who we truly are. A song we should sing every day to become what we already are; "the holy home of the Divine on earth, the heaven where God's glory dwells, the light that proclaims our great secret: Your brother, God's Son I am become."
We have not received any recordings of this song. Maybe we need to practise it a bit more. Singing it with full conviction takes some training. So we'll get some more time to practise on our welcoming song, the welcoming and realisation of true identity and purpose. We are worthy of it.
Listen to this string arrangement of the song!
You can use it as backdrop for you own recording!
Listen to a Spotify track of the song from Himmelen Inom!
​
Here you can order digital versions of "Välkommen!" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SATB-version of the hymn
SAB-version of the hymn
The miracle my heart finds –
I Betlehem, mitt hjärta
1. The miracle my heart finds
is my Betlehem within.
A child born out of suffering
to bring Life's visioning.
I see the Child of Mankind,
I see Her within me.
Her eyes are free of judgement,
seeing but Eternity.
3. She sees beyond the boundaries
of matter, space and time.
She sees a world forgiven,
one peace, one humankind.
She sees each tiny baby
is cause to celebrate,
for every birth embraces
the Christ Child incarnate.
2. I see the tiny baby,
a timeless traveler.
A star-seed of the heavens,
a weightless wanderer.
No words to start describing
her holiness, her light,
and though she may be sleeping
she radiates delight.
4. Now, sing the star-choir heavens! The Earth choirs, sing the stones!
The song of all Creation!
The song that is our home!
The voice for Truth returning
to claim infinity.
The child is calling softly,
‘See my divinity!’
5. So, ring the Bells of Freedom
from chains of fear released!
Prepare the Christ Child’s coming! Prepare the Way for Peace!
God’s Kingdom’s coming to us
in all humility.
I see the Child of Heaven
and my Identity.
This video-recording is done by me and Åke Edvinsson and Maria Ähdel. I am stating the obvious; this, as well as the other songs the three of us share on this site, were done without any rehearsing at all. In fact the three of us had never sung together as a trio, ever. But we wanted it like that: spontaneous, fragile, risky, hearty. Sharing primarily a tradition, not a skill. We are searching the notes as we go along, listening intently and trying to intuit the others' intentions. Sometimes we end up in a place of beauty together, but the path looking for that space is also beautiful.
I cannot say how happy I get when very well produced and executed videos are being shared on this site. That's what we want and what we aspire to. I wake myself up laughing in the morning! But we also want those who still are looking for their notes to feel free to express themselves here. The searching is important, that's how we find things, and that's why we published these videos of ours here.
A well-known song, with many versions, musically and lyrically. This one has its roots in Malung (although the original version probably comes from Västergötland). Again it is a song inspired by birth and even more so of pre-birth. Of looking for and finding the true birthplace not out there, but within.
This song in its original text was sung at Christmas in my grandfather's childhood home, "To Betlehem my heart is longing". The story was all about how dark and sinful my heart is, but luckily the light is shining from faraway and long ago in Betlehem. I had difficulties with it, but liked the melody and wanted to sing it – with my heart. So in an inspired moment I just changed the preposition and put in a comma; "In Bethlehem, my heart" and all of a sudden Bethlehem had moved over into my heart! The rest of the words came effortless as I was dancing with joy!
​​
There are more stories to explore in the links to the scores below.
Here you can order digital versions of "I Betlehem, mitt hjärta" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SSAB-version of the song
SATB-version of the song
Mysterium! – Mystery!
Mysterium! Jag stiger in till barnet i ett stall
Och hör hur sången tonar här som i en tempelhall.
Ja, himmelen har öppnat sig och änglar stiger ned.
De kommer från Guds kungatron med budskapet om fred.
Mysterium! Jag böjer mig för människa och Gud,
och tillber gåtan som är dold bak barnets tunna hud.
En sådan syn var aldrig sedd: Guds Son på jordens strå,
han delar milt Guds kärlek här med alla jordens små.
I natt slog julrosblomman ut med krona röd som blod.
Guds Son är här, så det är sant att himmelen är god!
Mysterium! I bröd och vin gör han sitt rike känt.
Idag blev Jesus född i mig av Ord och sakrament.
Mysterium!
Magnum Mysterium!
​
Tonight the rose is blooming.
​
Eva Kunda Neidek seizes the moment.
In her video we are taken all the way into the stable only to soar with the doves of peace out into the stars. A child is born and nothing is the same any longer. The star-maps are rewritten. All relations change in the new constellation.
Thanks Eva for your presence in both stable and starry sky! And for bringing with us on the journey. On earth as it is in heaven.
Here you can order digital versions of "Mysterium" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SAT-version of the song
SATB-version of the song
Gloria!
1. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!
Röster från himmelen bryter nattens frid. Herdarna undrar: Vem för ett sådant liv?
Ser sen en änglahär uppfylla himmelen.
Kastas till marken av glädjen och kärleken.
2. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!
Reser sig långsamt upp, allting känns så lätt.
Ser sen den vackraste syn de nånsin sett;
Änglar i himmelsk dans, ärar Skaparen,
sjunger att här nånstans föds nu Frälsaren.
3. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!
Herdarna följer med änglarnas kaskad
av himmelskt ljus och ljud, i en glad parad.
Igenom natten drar änglar och män åstad,
finner så Betlehem, Guds utvalda stad.
4. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!:
Där i ett stall det sker, gåvan Gud oss ger,
mitt i vår verklighet dimper undret ner.
Ett litet barn är fött, som ska vägen gå,
att han ock vägen är, kan vi ej förstå.
​
5. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!
Jesus, du kom till oss från en himmelsk sfär
så att vi bättre kan se vilka vi är.
Vi är av samme Far, samma namn vi bär.
Herdarna nu förstår att de Guds söner är!
6. Gloria! Gloria! Gloria in excelsis!
Jublet vet ingen gräns, himlen räcker ej
för att nu rymma den sång vi ger till dig!
Vägen du går och är tar oss ur tidens natt,
jublande går vi med evighetens skatt!
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!
A new song in what seems an old fold. Yet here is an attempt of creating new ways to see the old stories. For the shepherds the stable is their home turf. They know its sights, sounds and smells well. But this time there is something new there. A radiant mother, a gurgle of a child, the mild incense of a new-born baby. And this time they see that their Saviour, whom the angels have promised for them to meet, is of their own; a baby, a brother. The first joy is receiving the celestial gifts of the angels, but the second, and lasting one is to realise that he comes from them, he is one of them. The brotherhood gives them access to all the gifts of their common Father. "The shepherds now understand that they are the Sons of God!" to quote the song.
This is a lot to take in for us shepherds. Just as the song of last week, "Welcome", ended with a proclamation of Self that we need a bit more time to practise, this is a Christmas song that needs to find its new fold in the old stable.
Here you can order digital versions of "Gloria" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SATB-version of the song
Here comes an orchestral version of the song. The shepherds are joyfully trotting back to their own stomping ground, the stable. But this time led by angels to discover something new.
We say thank you to Sankta Maria Kyrkokör in Uppsala for providing the first choral version on "Hundred Hymns", recorded at a Christmas Concert a few days before Christmas!
We are happy to receive more contributions!
SAB-version of the song
Jubla nu himlar – Rejoice, ye heavens!
Ginge jag runt om jordena kring
för att få lyckan fången
finge jag aldrig erfara ting
som denna änglasången.
Vunne jag ock all världenas gull,
allt det som lysst mitt sinne
funne jag det var enbart som mull
mot mötet i mitt minne.
Jubla nu himlar! Jubla nu jord!
Mötet som trotsar jordiska ord
uti mitt hjärta jag får bära.
Himmelens rikedom är nära!
Dagen är nära, gryningens
glöd brinner nu bortom bergen.
Ängen där änglasången nyss
ljöd målas av himmelsfärgen.
Dagen är här! Den signade tid
uppfyller jordens dalar.
Nuet bär änglarösternas frid,
ljuset oss här hugsvalar.
Slå upp nytt vin i nymakat krus!
Bjud in till glädje-festen!
Förr vi stängt ute gatornas rus
och slängt ut heders-gästen.
Nu ser vi Kristus i varje bror
oavsett tro och ära.
Han för mig fram till sitt tempels kor,
brudkronan får jag bära.
Storbröllop ståndar! Fröjdernas fröjd!
Jorden förenas med himlens höjd!
Hur mycket glädje kan jag bära?Himmelens rikedom är nära!
​​II am so happy for all the well-rehearsed and well-produced videos we are getting into this site. But just because of that it is nice with the opposite; a song never rehearsed with a trio that has never sung together before. But we share a tradition and we share a heart.
​
The lyrics of the song for this time of the new year are about time. It is about time to change perception of time. The now as the new time, as the only time. The lyrics tells the story of how a new time is breaking in, there on the fields where the shepherds hear the angels singing.
"JUBLA" ("Rejoice") in the smaller format: An improvisational session with Ähdel and Edvinsson. This song was, as so many others, conceived with Åke in mind. Over 30 years ago.
​​
Timeless.
"JUBLA" ("Rejoice") in a bigger format: This is Hässelby Motettkör with a fine rendition. Soloists: Mikael Eriksson and Eva Rune, Piano: Filip Ekestubbe, Violin: Lisa Rydberg, Flute: Jan Bengtsson.
This was a 25-year anniversary from the first performance in Hässelby Strand Church of "Himmelen Inom – Heaven within".
​​
Sustainable.
Here you can order digital versions of "Jubla nu himlar!" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SATB-version of the song
Alternative versions of the song
Jubla nu himlar! SAT, SSA, SSAB
Du som spränger rummets gränser
– You who shatter the boundaries of space
1. Du som spränger rummets gränser söker livsrum på vår jord.
Du som själv är skaparordet
blir ett barn som saknar ord.
Du är nära, du är här.
Jesus är det namn du bär.
​
2. Du som format sol och stjärnor finner värme i en famn.
Du vars namn var outsägligt
får ett vanligt jordiskt namn.
Du är nära, du är här.
Jesus är det namn du bär.
​
​
3. Du som fyller universum
trevar efter moderns tröst.
Du som ger oss bröd att äta
mättas från Marias bröst.
Du är nära, du är här.
Jesus är det namn du bär.
​
4. Livet bland de allra minsta
blir den väg du väljer, Gud.
Himlens djupa kärlek når oss
genom barnets hjärtslagsljud.
Du är nära, du är här.
Jesus är det namn du bär.
This hymn is still expecting. It needs some kind of a delivery...
Are you, or your choir, going to be the doula and provide the music?
​
Here you can order digital versions of "Du som spränger rummets gränser" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SATB-version of the song
Du som spränger rummets gränser: SATB
SAAB version of the song
Jubla nu himlar!: SSAB
Under a vault of stars –
Under ett stjärnevalv
1. Under a vault of stars lonely I fare.
Tiara of winter-night twinkles in my hair.
Cold in the friendless night, tired, sick and scared?
Maybe, but even then as a god disguised I tread.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
2. Frosty, the ground I walk, gleams in response,
glitters of starry stuff, glints of what I was.
One time, yes now, I'll see myself anew:
Star-vault of heaven's sky holds my inside temple too!
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
3. Winds of the Milky Way stir and inspire,
angels and black holes sing in the cosmic choir:
"You are but dust, and yet, all dwells in you.
All and eternity is what you are made of too."
​
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!
This song explores the fact that we are made of star-stuff. And that we are made of soil.
As humans we need to balance both truths in order to be fully what we are;
Of star and soil, of soil that has been baked in a star and of star that will turn to soil.
​
In all its incredulity it is foolish not to acknowledge this.
To think we are self-made, independent and in charge of our own destiny. Life is so much more beautiful than that! We are of stars and soil! We are connected and we are interdependent.
And in the final assessment we are even much more;
stars and soil are but metaphors.
In truth we are beyond the scales that our earthly words can fathom.
Here is Anna Eklund Tarantino's rendition of the song:
And here is a choral version by Undersåkerskören:
Here you can order digital versions of "Under ett stjärnevalv" from Peace of Music's Score Store!​
SAB-version of the song.
Under a vault of stars": SAB
