Scandinavian-American and Rural Humor Books

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       Featuring the Heartwarming Humor of "Those Lutheran Ladies"     

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Music and Videos

Northern Lights  (CD)   Sissel Kyrkjebø with guest, Jose Carreras

It has been said that Sissel's voice defies categorization as she glides between classical music and lighter pop fare. According to CD Universe, "She can soar like a seasoned diva in the most difficult of arias, project a plain-spoken earthiness in folk tunes, whisper intimately in romantic ballads, or belt out ... showstoppers with unbridled gusto."  

In March of 2007 — in the medieval-appearing Norwegian village of Røros (where little has changed since 1650, and which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 — a magical musical event occurred in the landmark church so familiar to visitors to Norway. Sissel performed in concert with world-renowned special guest tenor Jose Carreras, and PBS recorded the event. 

The concert aired last Christmas in the U.S, and this CD features beautiful renditions of Christmas classics as well as many of Sissel's compositions.

CD - 12     $19.95

Spirit of the Season a CD by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra,
featuring Sissel Kyrkjebø   

Although Sissel Kyrkjebø has been singing since she was 15 and made her European debut the next year, it wasn't until the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer that American audiences were introduced to her during her magnificent singing of the Olympic's Opening Anthem.  With many CDs and awards, she has teamed up with vocal masters such as Placido Domingo, Celine Dion, Jose Carreras and Josh Groban. But, according to Sissel, singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for this Christmas Concert was “a match made in heaven.” 

For her first-ever Christmas album released in the U.S., Sissel collaborated with the world famous  Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra. The concert was seen on PBS throughout the United States, and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Sissel received two Grammy nominations for this release, "Spirit of The Season"  for Best Classical Crossover Album as well as Best Engineered Classical Album.

CD - 7       $22.95

Great Hymns of Faith Volume I (CD) St. Olaf College Choir

Great Hymns of Faith Volume II  (CD)  St. Olaf College Choir

Choirs associated with Midwestern Lutheran Colleges are known for their excellence in a cappella singing and for their perfection in all aspects of choral interpretation.

The St. Olaf (College) Choir is the pioneer a cappella choir in the United States. For more than a century, since F. Melius Christiansen founded this college's music program in 1903, the St. Olaf Choir has set a standard of choral excellence and remained at the forefront of choral artistry.  Under the direction of Anton Armstrong, this choir continues to develop this rich tradition.

Although the choir has produced many excellent recordings, two recent CDs mark the first time the group has produced entire recordings of common hymns.  One or both of these CDs would make an excellent gift for the person who truly appreciates the beauty of well-performed choral works or one who delights in hearing familiary humns.  (If you are curious about the contents of each CD, send an email to: questions@ruralroutebookstore.com

CD - 13 Vol. 1    $16.98

CD - 14 Vol. 2    $16.98

Norwegian-American (Gammeldans) Music  (CD) The Berntsons

For over 100 years members of the Berntson Family have been providing "gammeldans" music for their friends, neighbors, and at community events. Three generations of this Norwegian-American family have had normally staid Scandinavians kicking up their heels as the Berntsons played waltzes, schottisches and the hambro.  Growing up in the 50's, my dad (who didn't dance and would never allow me to try dancing) would have referred to these peppy, cheerful tunes as "good milking music" and he would have cranked up the barn radio and been rewarded with full pails of milk.

Now that milking music is heard in fewer barns and "gammeldans" songs are heard at fewer wedding dances, the Berntsons are still around to again remind the listener of less blaring and more carefree times.

CD - 11   $17.95

Nordic Shores   (CD)  Arna Rennan

"A true joy to listen to...".  Arna's beautiful voice floats off this disk and into your heart filling it with memories, hope and warmth. These 19 Norwegian folk melodies are excellently rendered with Arna rich alto voice and her impressive self-accompaniment on either guitar or accordion.  In addition, some of her select friends and her husband provide additional background instrumentation.  

Arna is a serious student of Norwegian music having spent many years in Norway studying centuries-old folk music and mastering a variety of Norwegian folk instruments, including the langeleik and several kinds of fløyter.

Fondly Arna says that Nordic Shores is "a collection of songs and melodies taught to me by my mother from her native land, songs friends have passed on to me, and favorites of mine that I learned while living there."

CD - 15      $16.00

Storebror og Lillebror (CD) Arna Rennan  and  Nordic Angst

Storebror og Lillebror, which translates as "Big Brother and Little Brother", is Arna's second CD, but she has now formalized a backup band called Nordic Angst — a term used by Americans to describe the perceived darkness of the Nordic culture, the kind of darkness found in Ingmar Bergman films.  Arna says the name was chosen because the band "represents both the perspective of traditional folk music interpreted through an American sensibility" and a "love and understanding of Nordic folk traditions." 

Nordic Angst uses an eclectic blend of traditional and nontraditional instruments such as the nyckelharpa, ocatave mandolin, electric guitar, accordion, overtone flute, acoustic guitar, and bass, and the songs on this recording include ballads from the Middle Ages, dance tunes such as the halling and pols,  drinking songs, and, as Arna states, "a wayward tango or two with a contemporary sound that bridges time and cultures." In summary, this CD  blends traditional Norwegian folk music with a contemporary sound. 

CD - 16       $16.00

A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway (CD) St. Olaf College Choir

In 2005, the renowned St. Olaf Choir recorded A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway with the Nidarosdomens Jentekor and esteemed soloist Randi Stene in Trondheim, Norway. The recording honors Norway's 100 years of independence and celebrates the historic and cutural connections between St. Olaf College and the country of Norway. Available in CD format.

CD - 6    $16.98

Can We Have Christmas Now? (CD)  Sari & Mari Kaasinen

Sari and Mari Kaasinen are among the best-known singers of folk songs in Finland and are founding members of the group, Värttinä. On this CD, they present  11 of their favorite 11 of their favorite Finnish Christmas songs--both original and traditional--with arrangements by Timo Alakotila and other great players from the Finnish folk music world. While the lyrics and style are definitely Finnish, the universal spirit of Christmas shines through. As many of these songs remind the sisters of their childhood, a child's sense of wonder and excitement can be felt throughout, as expressed in the title "Can We Have Christmas Now?" Sari completes the album with a special version of "Silent Night" on the Finnish harp, the kantele.

CD - 2   $15.00

A Swedish Christmas (CD) Anne-Charlotte and Ellen Harvey

Anne-Charlotte Harvey and her daughter, Ellen, sing songs for a traditional Santa Lucia festival, as well as favorite songs for dancing around the Christmas Tree. The 20 songs include: Sankta Lucia; Hej, tomtegubbar; Stille natt, Hellige natt; Julpolska--nu har vi ljus; När juldagsmorgon glimmar; and others. Newly available on CD format.

CD - 3      $17.95

Tusen Julelys (CD) Oslo Gospel Choir
Princess Märtha Louise, guest soloist

This beautiful CD from the Oslo Gospel Choir includes 12 traditional and contemporary Norwegian Christmas favorites, such as Glade jul, O Helga natt, Det kimer nå til julefest, Nå tennes tusen julelys, Mitt hjerte alltid vanker, En krybbe var vuggen, Delig er jorden, and others. It also features a solo by Princess Märtha Louise on Det lyser I stille grender. Imported from Norway.

CD - 4       $21.95

Vikings: The Book and CD That Work Together  by Interfact

Can you write in "runes"? Have you explored a Viking village? Have you ever played Viking games? This Interfact set gives you a chance to do these things and more, and it's a great way to learn. The CD ROM has 15 hours of activities, games and on-screen adventures and runs on both PCs with Windows and Apple Macintosh. The book is loaded with more fascinating information and highlighted with lots of full-color illustrations and photos.
For ages 7-12.
V2 - 02 $14.95

Those Lutheran Ladies: Live at Medora

Just when we think everyone in the U.S. and Canada must already have eight or nine copies of this 20-minute humor tape, we get more orders for it!  No, we aren't complaining, and no, it isn't music, and we don't sing or play instruments — at least not in public. But now, in response to requests, it is again available in both cassette and CD formats.

"Those Lutheran Ladies" are, of course, Janet Letnes Martin and me, Suzann Nelson.  Yup, I guess we are still funny, but perhaps not as peppy as we were in 1998.  Go to 'Those Lutheran Ladies'.    Recorded live in 1998 at the Medora Musical (held each summer in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park), this humorous tape, about growing up on farms in quiet Norwegian-Lutheran communities in the 50s in the Midwest, is perhaps tied in popularity with our book, Growing Up Lutheran.

                

Growing Up Lutheran Sound Versions
Read by authors Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin

Authors Nelson & Martin read an abridged version of their bestselling book, Growing Up Lutheran, in their natural Norwegian-American brogues.  Chapters are introduced with excerpts from familiar Lutheran hymns. In other words, there are no hymns from the green hymnal or With One Voice.  Truckers can shoot right across Kansas or Montana when they listen to this, and people in the hospital can shoot right through the day...unless they have had stitches.  In the case of stitches, the authors recommend the book version.  Why get sewn up again? The doctor has better things to do, like finding a cure for hot flashes.

Jiggle Your Jell-O DVD   Featuring "Those Lutheran Ladies," David Cook and Greta Grosch. 

Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, commonly known as "Those Lutheran Ladies," have adopted new personas for this crazy DVD.  Watch them portray Myrtle Klemetson and Ethel Urness, Emil's Mrs. — the ladies just down the road apiece — as they try to understand the younger generation and attempt to please their children by "working out." 

To these two women the phrase, "working out," means being a hired hand on a farm, or working at the nursing home in town. Myrtle and Emil's Mrs. just don't get it, but they try! Like typical Norwegian-American women of a former era, Myrtle and Ethel don't have time to fool around exercising. They get plenty of that by just existing: dusting everything in sight both inside and out, "putting up," serving at funerals, rolling lefse, cleaning the church, and feeding the menfolk's bottomless pits. 

If you need a good laugh, or know someone who does, this DVD will handle the situation.  If you want to give a total Jiggle Your Jell-O Gift Package, add the T-shirt and computer mousepad.

CA 9 - 03    DVD     $14.95       
Order 3 or more DVDs and receive a free mousepad.

To find out more about recent activities of "Those Lutheran Ladies," go to:   http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/532807.html?nav=5010

Delafield (VHS format)
Mark Brodin, producer/director

"Way to make me bawl out loud--all alone--on a Saturday night! When something evokes emotion in this old Norwegian Lutheran body, you know you have something that hits close to the heart. This is an absolutely beautiful, touching documentary." 
                                         An email from Suzann Nelson to the producer of the video.

It is apparent that this video was not made by someone simply assigned a job. . . and it wasn't. Mark Brodin, producer and director, is a former member of the Delafield Evangelical Lutheran Church (and current sound engineer for Church Basement Ladies.)  Brodin's concern and love for the people of the area come through clearly in this wonderful, but sad, story that centers on the parallel between the changing farm economy and the decline of the Delafield Church's population.

Founded in the 1870s by Norwegian immigrant farmers who were seeking to raise crops, families and community, they placed their most loved building in their most loved spot--a church in the middle of a cornfield. For the next 125 years, Delafield provided spiritual and social sustenance and continuity to subsequent generations. That continuity was broken in 1998 when the small congregation decided to disband and give away their beloved building.

Although this story takes place in southwestern Minnesota, it is relevant to rural areas throughout the Midwest, and viewers unfamiliar with this geographic region will recognize the pain and struggle of the dwindling membership as the people face the hard reality of change.

This video, which aired on many public television stations in 2002, would be a great gift for anyone who grew up in rural areas, and a wonderful donation to church libraries.

V2-05 Video $29.99  

Church Basement Ladies      CD of the Music
Original Cast Recording

Drew Jansen, lyricist and composer, wrote all the music for this new musical comedy based on Nelson and Martin's books. Recorded in August 2005, just prior to the opening of the play, vocals are by the original cast: Greta Grosch, Janet Paone, Dorian Chalmers, Ruthie Baker, and Tim Drake. Keyboards, for this CD, are performed by Drew Jansen who is also musical director of the show.

Songs on this CD include: Closer to Heaven, The Pale Food Polka, Get Down to Business, Song for Willie, My Own Personal Island, Dead Spread, The Cities, This is Most Certainly True, Sing a New Song, Mother of the Bride, and For Good.

$15.95 CD - CBL


Jiggle Your Jell-O Mousepad

This is pretty explanatory, and makes a great stocking stuffer or gag gift and it fills the bill when you are invited to a party with the rule: No gifts over $10!  For the Jell-O fanatics on your gift list, or for more items with this theme, combine the mousepad with the Jiggle Your Jell-O DVD, with the Jiggle Your Jell-O T-shirt, or both.

RR-03 $6.00

Order by using the 'Place an Order' form or you may order by phone (800 494-9124).  For payment and shipping charges, see 'Place an Order.'