Published in 2024 by GO’ Danish Folk Music

Årsværk

Zenobia’s fifth CD has just been released.
The album is a musical journey through the year.
Writing about the changing seasons is a long-standing tradition, and the *Højskolesangbogen* (Danish Folk High School Songbook) is filled with songs about the seasons; it is from this tradition that the album has emerged.
The concert features Zenobia’s new takes on seasonal songs, alongside well-known songs from the Danish song canon interpreted by the group.
The lyrics for the new songs were written by Martin Rauff-Nielsen and Iben Krogsdal.

1. Standing beneath the glittering stars of the Plough
2. The blue anemone
3. Everything is so dusty here in March
4. A skylark took flight
5. The free shall lift up
6. The midsummer tent
7. Baptizer, singer, lads, flames
8. It has been a long time now
9. They are harvesting tonight
10. September’s sky is so blue
11. Brief is the earth, now my kin
12. Land of lonely apples
13. Message of love; longing for love
14. Welcome, year of the Lord

Released in 2017 by GO’ Danish Folk Music.

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Blot en ild

The release of this CD marks Zenobia’s celebration of the trio’s 10th anniversary in 2017. The music on the album was composed by the trio themselves. The lyrics on *Blot en ild* include classic texts set to new melodies: Kai Hoffman’s “Den danske sang er en ung blond pige” and H.C. Andersen’s “I Danmark er jeg født” both appear here in entirely new settings, inviting listeners to rediscover words that are often taken for granted. However, the album also features newly written verses by Benny Holst and by Martin Rauff-Nielsen, who has written lyrics for Zenobia on previous releases.

From reviews of *Blot en ild*

“A magnificent demonstration of the vibrancy of the Danish folk music scene”
– Le Canard

“Simple, beautiful, inspired”
5 of 6 stars – Fyens Stiftstidende

“[…]it is a blaze of exceptional lyrics and melodies that the trio can be more than satisfied with, and that fire won’t be burning out anytime soon[…]”
– Rootszone.dk

  1. Døber, sanger, knægte, flammer 3.27
  2. Blot en ild? 2.31
  3. Sprogø 3.34
  4. I Danmark er jeg født 3.33
  5. Barbara Avenue, San Diego 1.51
  6. Ensomme æblers lan 2.00
  7. En rose og en tjørn 2.39
  8. Sangen 2.45
  9. Fredag 3.17
  10. Mæt af dage 2.21
  11. Bænkmandens gåde 4.16
  12. Gale onsdag 4.51
  13. Johs’ bryllupsvals 2.37
  14. Den danske sang 3.06
  15. Sommersang om valmuer 2.33
  16. Vuggevise 3.11
Zenobia-Sangbogen-web
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Released in 2017 by GO’ Danish Folk Music.

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The Zenobia Songbook

To mark Zenobia’s 10th anniversary, the trio released a songbook featuring their own songs. Erik Sommer has arranged the songs for choir. Consequently, this songbook contains not only sheet music with melody, chord symbols, and lyrics, but also 3- or 4-part arrangements of most of the songs.

Over the ten years we have toured and recorded with Zenobia, we have received many requests for sheet music for our songs. We have consistently made sheet music available for free on our website and have been delighted to see the number of downloads steadily increase over the years. When we reached several thousand downloads of our most popular arrangements a few years ago, we realized there might be an audience for a proper songbook featuring a more extensive collection of material.

The result of the ensuing deliberations is this book, featuring new songs and new arrangements. Its release coincides with the launch of our fourth album, *Blot en ild* (“Just a Fire”), which includes recordings of a significant number of the songs found in this book.

During the decade we have spent interpreting Danish songs—both new and old—we have conducted numerous choir workshops alongside our concert performances. In doing so, we have enjoyed an excellent collaboration with Erik Sommer on arranging our music for choir. It was therefore natural to turn to him for this project, and he has kindly made his considerable expertise available to us. Thus, this songbook contains sheet music with melody, chord symbols, and lyrics, as well as a wide range of new 3- or 4-part choral arrangements.

The aim of publishing this book is to give the songs a life beyond the context in which we use them; Partly to acknowledge the warm interest we have encountered over the years, but also because, as musicians rooted in the Danish song tradition, we feel it is essential to humbly try to help keep this tradition alive—ensuring it does not become merely a museum piece or pointlessly ritualistic. These songs are meant to be used—in everyday life and at celebrations—and we hope they will be sung at dinner tables, social gatherings, sing-alongs, and choral events.

  • Blot en ild?
  • Bænkmandens gåde
  • De tusinde kloder
  • Den danske sang
  • Døber, sanger, knægte, flammer
  • En rose og en tjørn
  • Ensomme æblers land
  • Gale onsdag
  • I Danmark er jeg født
  • I vintermørkets hal
  • I østen stiger solen op
  • Kort er jorden nu min slægt
  • Kærlighedsbud; kærlighedstrang
  • Midnat
  • Midsommervisen
  • Mæt af dagen
  • Sangen
  • Sommersang om valmuer
  • Sprogø
  • Vuggevise

Released in 2013 by GO’ Danish Folk Music.

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From Funen’s Coasts – Zenobia Plays Carl Nielsen

Zenobia performs 16 Danish songs with melodies by Carl Nielsen, as well as a medley of three folk music pieces: a mazurka by Carl Nielsen’s father, Niels Maler; a polka composed by Carl Nielsen; and a “Reel for Carl,” written for Carl Nielsen by Mette Kathrine Jensen. “Fra Fynske Kyster – Zenobia spiller Carl Nielsen” was featured as the “CD of the Week” on DR P2 in week 30 of 2013.

  1. Min pige er så lys som rav 2.09
  2. Den sorte fugl er kommet 2.12
  3. Tit er jeg glad og vil dog gerne græde 2.39
  4. Jeg bærer med smil min byrde 2.15
  5. Der dukker af disen min fædrene jord 4.26
  6. Jeg ved en lærkerede 2.03
  7. Forunderligt at sige 3.35
  8. Påskeblomst! Hvad vil du her? 2.58
  9. Sænk kun dit hoved, du blomst 2.43
  10. Tunge, mørke natteskyer 4.01
  11. Nu lyser løv i lunde 2.38
  12. Jens Vejmand (Hvem sidder dér bag skærmen) 3.34
  13. Som en rejselysten flåde 3.19
  14. Mazurka / Polka / Reel til Carl 3.27
  15. Derfor kan vort øje glædes 2.37
  16. Underlige aftenlufte 3.31
  17. Solen er så rød, mor 3.15

Released in 2010 by GO’ Danish Folk Music.

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I vintermørkets hal

Zenobia’s second CD, released in 2010. Zenobia performs a selection of beautiful winter songs, interpreted by the trio. The CD features both well-known compositions and lyrics alongside Zenobia’s own songs and melodies.

  1. Spurven sidder stum bag kvist 2.14
  2. Der er ingenting i verden så stille som sne 2.29
  3. Sig nærmer tiden, da jeg må væk 2.17
  4. Der er noget i luften 3.08
  5. Skyerne gråne, og løvet falder 2.14
  6. I vintermørkets hal / Midvintervals 2.29
  7. Julepolonaise 3.30
  8. Maria gennem torne går 2.21
  9. Der er hvidt herude 2.51
  10. Så tænder vi et lys i kvæld 2.42
  11. Det første lys er Ordet, talt af Gud 2.31
  12. Mørk er november 2.53
  13. Kirkeklokke! mellem ædle malme 2.35
  14. En rose så jeg skyde 3.00

Released in 2008 by GO’ Danish Folk Music.

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Midnat

Zenobia’s debut album from 2008. Songs from summer and autumn, as well as other songs from the Danish song tradition. It features both well-known compositions and lyrics alongside Zenobia’s own songs and melodies. “Midnat” was nominated for a Danish Music Award.

  1. Julies sprog 3.33
  2. Midsommervisen (Vi elsker vort land) 3.28
  3. Jens Vejmand (Hvem sidder der bag skærmen) 3.27
  4. Man binder os på mund og hånd 7.02
  5. Det lysner over agres felt 3.05
  6. I østen stiger solen op 3.21
  7. Sensommervise 3.50
  8. Sorrig og glæde 3.13
  9. Den største sorg 2.49
  10. Gode kår 2.31
  11. Nu falmer skoven trindt om land 2.51
  12. Midnat 3.41