The octet music on Around the Christmas Tree, related to Christmas, New Year and midwinter, is taken from handwritten sheet music for Swedish octets from the 1860s till the early 20th c. The music takes you to midwinter outdoor and indoor activities and entertainments, from the Oscar ball on 1 December to Knut's Day on 13 January. Here is both well-known music that we usually associate with midwinter, Christmas and New Year. The Octet Ehnstedts Eftr. Has also found some old music that has fallen into oblivion but well worth recording, including several numbers that have never been recorded before.