STILLE NATT - Instrumental // LP

A Treasure Trove of Christmas Favourites

 “Stille Natt – instrumental” (“Silent Night – Instrumental”) is an exclusive vinyl compilation featuring instrumental versions of some of the most beautiful Christmas songs. Drawn from Kirkelig Kulturverksted’s (KKV’s) musical treasure trove. 

It takes no more than the first four or five notes of the hymn “Away in the manger” or “Silent Night” for us to picture shepherds and angels, a star and a stable. We know the words, so the sound of the melodies alone can conjure up the entire Christmas scene in our mind’s eye.

On this record, we have brought together a selection of KKV’s instrumental versions of well-known and much-loved Christmas songs. Let the inventive interpretations of Iver Kleive, Knut Reiersrud, Aage Kvalbein, Rolf Lislevand and Mathias Eick fill the room. Close your eyes and discover how Frode Alnæs, Stian Carstensen, Tore Brunborg and other artists from Norway and abroad conjure up beautiful images in a wealth of imaginative ways, drawing on the story that became so important to humanity that it marked the starting point of our calendar.

The title, “Stille natt”, comes from KKV founder Erik Hillestad’s 1991 Norwegian translation of the German carol “Stille Nacht”, known in English as “Silent Night”. Until then, the melody had been known in Norway as “Glade jul”, but following Hillestad’s translation for the choir SKRUK’s 1991 Christmas album, his lyrics have become an established part of the Norwegian Christmas repertoire. The song has featured on many of KKV’s Christmas releases over the past 30 years.

“Stille natt - Instrumental” is the second release in a series of remastered gems from KKV’s extensive Christmas catalogue. The first vinyl compilation was released in 2025, featuring a selection of Christmas songs by artists including Kari Bremnes, Sigvart Dagsland, Sondre Bratland and Ingebjørg Bratland. The third compilation in this unique series will be released next year!

SIDE A

1) Det hev ei rose sprunge // Iver Kleive

2) Deilig er jorden // Knut Reiersrud & Iver Kleive

3) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing // Kristiansen//Vemøy

4) Å, Betlehem du vesle by // Mathis Eick, Pasha Hanjani & Etan Tekin

5) Det kimer nu til julefest // Aage Kleive & Iver Kleive

6) Å kom, å kom Emmanuel // Rolf Lislevand

SIDE B

1) In the Bleak Midwinter // Kristinasen//Vemøy

2) Et lite barn så lystelig // Frode Alnæs, Stian Carstnsen & Arild Andersen

3) Mitt hjerte alltid vanker // Aage Kleive & Iver Kleive

4) Away in the manger // Kjetil Bjerkestrand & Tore Brunborg

5) Jeg er så glad hver julekveld // Iver Kleive

6) Stille natt // Knut Reiersrud & Iver Kleive