OLE PAUS:  Hellige Natt – Jul i Skippergata (Holy Night – Christmas on Skipper Street)

ON SACRED GROUND IN OSLO

Some people make their way to Bethlehem to stand on the sacred ground where Christ was born. But according to Ole Paus, our own neighbourhoods might be able to offer a far more authentic reminder of the genuine meaning of Christmas. Ole Paus has recorded a Christmas CD at the café operated by the Church City Mission in Skippergata, a street in downtown Oslo. The CD is called “Hellige natt – Jul i Skippergata” (Holy Night – Christmas on Skipper Street) and features familiar and new Christmas carols with the café regulars singing along with Ole Paus. This café is a meeting-place for people with substance abuse problems. In this setting and with the voices of the café regulars, this record vibrates with authenticity and passion.  

Ole Paus is joined by musicians Sveinung Hovensjø on bass, Per Kolstad on piano and organ and Ottar Nesje on drums. Also contributing are Jostein Forsberg on harmonica, Per Willy Åserud on trumpet, Øyvind Brekke on trombone and Lars Andreas Haug on tuba.

In addition to his own new song ”Sang fra en lys morgen” (Song from a bright morning), Ole Paus performs well-loved Christmas carols such as ”Deilig er jorden” (Wonderful is the Earth), ”Stille natt” (Silent Night) and “Her kommer dine arme små” (Thy Little Ones, Oh Lord, Are We) supplemented with some of his own translations. These include “Hellige natt” (O Holy Night) and “I en steingrå vinter” (In the bleak midwinter).

Track list: 

1. I denne søde juletid                             2:15

2. Hellige natt                                          3:45

3. Sang fra en lys morgen                      2:17

4. Stille natt                                             3:55

5. Det kimer nu til julefest                      4:13

6. I en steingrå vinter                             3:23

7. Du grønne glitrende tre                      2:47

8. Den lille stjernen                                3:56

9. Et lite barn så lystelig                        3:03

10. Jerusalem                                         1:54

11. Her kommer dine arme små            3:21

12. Bred dine vide vinger                      2:46

13. Deilig er jorden                                3:44