Suite of Israeli Folk Songs-The long history of Jewish folk song has resulted in a rich and varied repertoire of songs which deal with religion history festival and celebration. The melodies featured in Shalom! reflect this panoply of subjects and range widely in mood from lament to rejoicing.

The tradition of the Christmas tree in Western Europe dates back to a time long before any Christianization had taken place. During the severely cold winter nights so it was believed evil spirits tried to ?kill? nature. Needle-leaved trees were the only ones which kept their green colour throughout the year and therefore became symbols of immortality. These ?living? trees said to be the work of benign spirits were brought into people?s houses to ward off evil life-threatening powers. In the 14th century people first started to decorate Christmas trees. It was a pagan custom originated by the inhabitants of Alsace. This custom was taken over by the Church in thecourse of the 15th and 16th century. At first the decoration consisted mainly of edibles such as apples and wafers but later small presents were added. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with candles. The flickering candle flames were meant to create the image of a starry sky in which Christ?s apparition could be recognized. The German organ-player Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig was the first person to notate the song ?O Tannenbaum? the melody being a well-known folk song. Next to ?Stille Nacht? ?O Tannenbaum? is the most famous German Christmas song now known throughout the world. In the United States of America the melody of ?O Tannenbaum? has even been used in four States (among which the State of Maryland) for their State song. In David Well?s arrangement the song is first heard as many of us know it. After this introduction however it is transformed into a solid rock version and the beat has been changed. In the second part the familiar three-four time is back but here the rhythm is different from the original. After the richly ornamented rock beat the basic theme can be heard once again and the composition is concluded in a festive manner.

Une marque de commerce du compositeur australien Percy Grainger sont ses élaborée et artistique, parfois arrangements folk-song ' groovy '. Un exemple bien connu est ' De Berger Hey ', une mélodie anglaise traditionnelle à laquelle les gens dansées dans l'ancien temps, portant des costumes recouverts de bell. Grainger découverte dans la collection folk-song du musicologue Cecil Sharp, qui, pour sa part, avait entendu le violoniste de le Bidford Morris danseurs jouer le festif lively tune en 1906. Une preuve de l'arrangement de Grainger comment populaire est, est le nombre de fréquemment joué différentes versions et nombreux instruments allant du piano à l'Orchestre du vent. ' Hey Shepherd ' est la pièce encore idéal pour chaque orchestre qui souhaite faire quitter la salle de concert avec un sourire sur le visage de son auditoire. / Fanfare

Hello Kentucky is a light-hearted march written in American style which makes use of snippets from the traditional folk song My Old Kentucky Home.

Dreaming of love. This is the theme of the folksong on which the composition was based. Its characteristic melody inspired Jacob de Haan to this instrumental romance with a transparent structure consisting of an introduction the folk-melody a development of the theme the folk-melody accompanied by ornamental triplets followed by the final bars.

A beautiful expressive flugelhorn solo on a Norwegian religious folk song of Ole Olsen I himmelen.

In the early days of the United States a main source of transportation was the many waterways rivers and the Great Lakes. From this focal point of commerce and social activity came many wonderful folk songs. Shore to Shore uses two of these sailing songs. Blow ye winds blow and Leave her no more.