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CDs
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 From
the Heart of Scandinavia by Jack Pearson What to give that hard-to-shop-for Scandinavian relative? Jack Pearson's new CD! And, as a way to introduce both this new CD and Jack, Rural Route Bookstore is offering it at a discount. Jack Pearson — Minnesota musician, storyteller, and constant wearer of colorful suspenders — has released a new CD just in time for gift giving. Jack's new CD features 17 solo guitar renditions of familiar, and a few lesser known, Scandinavian folk tunes and hymns. All melodies have Jack's special arrangements, and his most ardent fans will recognize them as "Genuine Jack." Contents include songs from Denmark such as Roselil, Det var en lørdag aften, and the beautiful Harvest Song. Some songs from Sweden on this recording are Tryggare kan ingen vara (the beautiful Swedish folk melody best known as Children of the Heavenly Father), Vem kan segla, and Hälsa dem därhemma. Norwegian folk songs include Per Spelmann, Blåmann, and Kjerringa med staven.  Northern
Lights (CD) Sissel Kyrkjbø with
guest, Jose CarrerasIt
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." 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
 Great Hymns
of Faith Volume I (CD) St. Olaf College ChoirGreat
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
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
Walter Eriksson grew up in Brooklyn, New Yrok, the son of ethnic Swedes from Finland. Coming from a musical family, he began studying accordion at an early age and was playing professionally by the age of 14. He studied with, and styled his playing after, some of the most prominent accordionists in the Scandinavian tradition, earning an international reputation as a great performer, composer, arranger, and recording artist. This CD includes such lively tunes as: Livet I finnskogarna, Koster valsen, Sørensens reinlender, and Bestefars vals. CD - 17 $17.95 12 dance songs
Subtitled A Definitive Collection of Traditional Nordic Rhythms, the Scandinavian dance music on this CD represents the remarkable diversity of folk music from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The dances are presented in ascending order of difficulty, and the selections are purposely programmed in an order that allows for a change of pace in both rhythm and tempo. Dances include Seksmannsril, Hambopolska, Gammel Schottis, and Gammel Reinlendar. Remember: you don't have to be a dancer to enjoy Hahn's arrangements of these Nordic melodies. Bonus: In your computer's CD-ROM drive, this CD acts as a book of dance instructions! CD - 19 $17.95 35 dance songs and dance instructions CD/DVD
Since 1964, "Ole Ivars" — the title for this group of five — has been Norway's leading dance band. The group includes Tore Halvorsen (vocal, acoustic guitar), William Kristoffersen (vocal, bass), Ole Odegard (keyboards), Arne Willy Foss (floyte, clarinet, sax), and Arild Engh (drums). Spellemannsblod is a collection of ballads, love songs, and folk tunes including Fridas Vals, Jonsokbarn, and Spellemannsblod. The CD notes include the words to all the songs. CD
- 18 $17.95 15 dance songs  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 AngstStorebror
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
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
For
information about ordering the
Soundtracks from the three
Church Basement Ladies' Plays, click here.
 Away
in the Basement
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. 
  Growing
Up Lutheran (Audiobook in CD format) Read by authors Suzann Nelson & Janet Martin, & a few select friends 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 with his time, like finding a cure for hot flashes. Additional readers, also with great natural Norwegian-American brogues, add interest and humor in several chapters. Thanks to friends Ron Nelson, Miriam Nelson, Dr. Stephen "Gabe" Gabrielson, Olaf Bakke and Randy Johnson. Vocals are by Ron Nelson, and organ music is provided by "Gabe" Gabrielson, aka "Ole himself, then!" NOTE: This is not a DVD or video. It is an audio-book reading on three compact discs (CDs); three hours (180 minutes). AB - 01 $19.95 DVDs  Christmas
Unwrapped: The History of
Christmas
Harry Smith, Host/Narrator People celebrate the birth of Christ worldwide on December 25th. But was He really born on that day? Come in from the cold, have some hot chocolate, and get in the mood for the holidays by learning about the history of Christmas.  In this History Channel documentary, TV personality Harry Smith traces the origins of Christmas and examines some of the Western World's most enduring traditions. How did a holiday that began in pagan Rome become the centerpiece of the Christian tradition? Why is the Savior's nativity marked by gift giving? Has consumerism twisted the holiday into a global celebration in which faith plays a small role? How did Christmas trees and candy canes come to be? Discover how the patron saint of children was transformed into Jolly Old Santa Claus by British settlers in the New World, and learn the relationship between cartoonist Thomas Nast's concept of Santa Claus and the Coca Cola company's rendering of Santa in ads and commercials. If you get into holiday documentaries and want more, this program is also available as part of a four-part Christmas DVD (DVD just above). Running time: 50 minutes; produced by the History Channel, A&E, and the Biography Channel. DVD - 04 $12.95 NOW $7.95  Scandinavia
2000-2012 with PBS
Host, Rick StevesFor years now, travel guru, Rick Steves, has taken PBS and APT viewers down main streets, through forests, up to mountaintops, and into homes and all sorts of nooks and crannies around the world. This recently released DVD is the only one that includes all six of the “Rick Steves Europe TV" shows on Scandinavia. This will make you want to travel, but if you can’t leave right now, watching this is the next best thing! Steves will take you to tourist sites in the capital cities of Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Helsinki. Then join him on a two-hour boat ride across the Gulf of Finland to be part of the medieval charm and newfound prosperity of Tallinn, Estonia. However, you will also hike on glaciers, learn rural traditions, go island hopping, take a steamy sauna, sample gourmet reindeer meat, and sip vodka in an ice bar. Throughout the adventure you will see beautiful scenery and learn about Scandinavia's culture, history, and its independent ways of today. Throughout the adventure you will see beautiful scenery and learn about Scandinavia's culture, history, and its independent ways of today. Steves' most recent guidebook on traveling in Norway can be found here. Contents: All six of Rick Steves' half-hour shows on Scandinavia; three hours of travel on one DVD; all in widescreen format. DVD - 01 $24.95 NOW $19.95 A bargain rate we are passing on to you!  Here
Comes Pippi
Adapted from Astrid Lindgren's stories
The townsfolk in Pippi's village agree that the town will never be the same again, and they are certain that the eccentric little girl with her wild imagination, incredible strength, and lack of parental supervision will cause no end of trouble. Her new neighbors, young Annika and Tommy, are excited about the adventures they will surely share with their new neighbor.
This
88-minute DVD
contains one disk with four animated episodes: Pippi Returns
to Villa Villekulla, Pippi Doesn't Sell her House,
Pippi Meets a Master Criminal, and Pippi Saves the Old Folks Home.
In
the first of these
four episodes, Pippi — one of the most loved and recognized characters
in children's lit — returns to Sweden and befriends a monkey (Mr.
Nilsson) and a horse (Lilla gubben or Little Buddy).
Next, she meets up with city slickers who want to sell her house.
Actually, these two characters — disguised as real estate agents — are
the thieves, Thunder and Bloom, who are after Pippi's gold.
The thieves also show up in the third episode on this DVD. Their master criminal manual doesn't address the "wisdom" of Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren's irrepressible and irresistible heroine, and more whacky adventures occur. In the last episode, Pippi somewhat redeems her "lawless" behavior and rescues senior citizens. Full screen, not rated, but animated. Books about Pippi's adventures are found here. DVD - 05
$8.99
Charlie
and the
Chocolate Factory
Adapted
from Roald
Dahl's story Roald
Dahl, like
many of Rural Route Bookstore's customers, was 100% Norwegian. However,
his parents emigrated to Wales rather than America.
Dahl
— a prolific
writer of adult and children's stories, screenplays, novels, and short
stories —
became internationally known for his writing and philanthropy, but
mainly for nineteen children's books which were translated into many
languages and often made into movies. Throughout the years, Charlie
and the
Chocolate Factory
has been issued by several film companies
under different titles including "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory".
This
special
widescreen edition version, released in 2005, stars Johnny Depp as
Willy Wonka, the
reclusive candy connoisseur of a candy
factory that is supposedly closed but continues to produce and ship
candy all over the world,
and is directed by Tim Burton.
Fill
a bowl of
popcorn or, in this case, a bowl of Wonka Whipple-Scrumptious
Fudgemallow Delight candies, and let your imagination run wild as you
sail along the Chocolate River, enter this magical factory, and frolic
with the Oompa-Loompas. 115 minutes. Rating "PG
Suggested".
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.Videotapes
"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."
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