Please SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel :) In Remembrance - Youtube live concert video

Here is a personal favourite from our St. Barnabas Spring 2016 concert.

"In Remembrance" is a beautiful contemporary composition by Eleanor Daley, a Canadian composer of choral music.

The words, from the poem,  "Do not stand at my grave and weep" by Elizabeth Frye.

This was a poignant song for both myself and Pete. It was the poem we chose for my Mother's funeral service back in 2010. It takes a lot of focus to sing it, but reminds me of her kindness and her gentle personality.

Mom was our biggest fan, attending concerts until she could no longer go out. I hope you love listening to this song as much as I love singing it.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.

Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

About the Stairwell Carollers,

We are an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. The Stairwell Carollers have been ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions.

A non-profit organization, the Stairwell Carollers chorus raises funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

The Stairwell Carollers perform "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" - Youtube concert video

In this video upload, Ottawa's Stairwell Carollers chorus perform "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" by Paul Mealor, a Welsh composer. 

This contemporary a cappella song is so much fun to sing and uses the full range of the choir's voices. Challenging and very satisfying.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

It's not too late to audition for the Stairwell Carollers!

To set up your audition for the end of January, email info(at)stairwellcarollers.com

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events ! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

The Stairwell Carollers sing Esto les Digo - YouTube live concert video

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Esto les Digo, a Sacred contemporary piece, written by Kinley Lange.

"This a capella setting of a scriptural text in Spanish has been performed widely across the US, South America and Europe, including a performance at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and Carnegie Hall. The harmonic structure is lush and vibrant, tonally based but with colorful non-chord tones. It is contemplative in nature with a pace that makes the Spanish text very accessible for non Spanish-speaking choirs. It ends with a short soprano solo floating above the choir. Also available in an SSAA arrangement." 
(from Kinley Lange's website - http://www.kinleylange.com/mixed.html )

If you love our music, a Donation would be appreciated.

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events ! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

Photos: Holly Massie

Visit our website

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir way back in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales. Net proceeds benefit charity.

Introducing our Choral Cacophony Podcast - and a brand new video!

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, sing an ode to birdsong with "Le chant des oyseaux" - written by Clément Janequin.

I love singing this one! So much fun -- and so challenging too!
Scroll down to see sample music sheets.

Our new venture, Choral Cacophony Podcast, begins with Pierre working this very song!
Have a listen!

If you love our music, a Donation would be appreciated. Please DONATE to our 40th fundraising goal of $15,000 to celebrate this milestone.

All Donations receive a charitable tax receipt.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

Photos: Holly Massie

Visit our website

All our CDs are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats.  

Net proceeds benefit charity.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Like Big Bang? Try it Renaissance style...

"Amor Vittorioso" was written in 1591 as part of a musical Commedia dell'arte.

What could that have to do with half hour TV comedies?

Well, I'll tell you.

Did you know that Renaissance Madrigals helped birth Opera and Operettas? Yeah, I didn't either and it explains a lot.

All those Fa la la la las and other nonsense words flying out of singers mouths at 80 miles an hour. And the songs are about lovers and lovemaking and cheating and unrequited... you get the idea - Hmmmm.

Did you know...

Madrigals were the Pop music of the 1500's. Lots of Sex and sinning, corruption and drink, gluttony, war and... SMOKING too! Here's a cool old video from The King's singers that helps explain the smoking connection...

But I digress...

Big Bang - modern comedy -- connection

Commedia Dell'arte characters = Big Bang characters!

Lover or Columbina = Penny

Brighella = Howard

Arlequino or Harlequin = Sheldon (Arlequino was often the central character ) 

So,  Amor Vittorioso by Giovanni Gastoldi, basically cheers Leonard for finally marrying Penny!

Ta Da - we learn something every day.

Here is our live concert video Of "Love Victorious" on our YouTube channel.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent, Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

Hey!

Did you know --
Amor Vittorioso is on our “Audite nova” Renaissance Madrigals CD! A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

Visit our website

Fa una canzone - an Italian Madrigal, Stairwell Carollers, Youtube video

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Fa una canzone by Orazio Vecchi (1550 - 1605),  an Italian composer of the late Renaissance.

This is such a fun madrigal and it's all about singing!
This version of  Fa una canzone is available on our “Audite nova” CD. 

Fa una canzone English translation  (thanks to CPDL)

"Write a song with no black notes
If you ever wanted my favour
Write it so that it will bring me to sleep
Make it end sweetly, sweetly.

Don't put any harshness into it
Because my ears are not used to that
Write it so that ...

Don't write numbers, or counterpoint
This is my main design
Write it so that ...

Using this style lucky Orpheus
Managed to pacify Proserpina, down under
Write it so that ...

This is the style which sweetly appeased
Saul's fierce spirit!
Write it so that ..."   CPDL

 

Why buy our CDs ?

Our professional recordings are gorgeous and available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats. 

Net proceeds benefit charity.

If you love our music, a Donation would be appreciated. Please DONATE to our 40th Year goal of $15,000 to support celebrations for our Ottawa choir milestone. 

Audio: Tom Barnes.  

Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
 Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie

Visit our website

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events for everyone! 
All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

Stairwell Carollers live, in concert - Eric Whitacre's Lux aurumque - YouTube

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Lux aurumque, written by Eric Whitacre.

"Such an ethereal, mystical and awesome piece of music -- and we got to sing it! I have to tell you that you go into a different plane of existence while singing music like this. It carries you away and you have to use a certain amount of focus to not be literally carried away and forget where you are . It's almost meditative.

One of my favourites to sing. Thank you Eric Whitacre!"

All Stairwell Carollers CDs benefit charities and are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats.

If you love our music, a Donation would be appreciated. Please DONATE to our 40th Year goal of $15,000 to support celebrations for our Ottawa choir milestone. 

Audio: Tom Barnes.  

Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016. Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie

Why buy our CDs ?

Our professional recordings are gorgeous and available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats. 

Net proceeds benefit charity.

Visit our website

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events for everyone! 
All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

Saucy Renaissance Madrigal, Fair Phyllis I Saw, performed by Ottawa's Stairwell Carollers - YouTube

In a brand new upload to YouTube, the Stairwell Carollers sing the slightly naughty Renaissance Madrigal, Fair Phyllis I Saw. This one really moves.

Written by John Farmer  c. 1570 – c. 1601, an English Madrigal composer.
Fair Phyllis I saw is on our Renaissance Madrigal CD "Audite Nova" - available HERE.

If you love our music, a Donation would be appreciated. Please DONATE to our 40th Year goal of $15,000 to support celebrations for our Ottawa choir milestone.  All donations receive a charitable tax receipt!

Our professional recordings are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats. 

Net proceeds benefit charity. Buy our CDs

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

Visit our website

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events for everyone! 
All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

In Remembrance - a contemporary Canadian work - YouTube

Our newest download on Youtube is a personal favourite from our St. Barnabas Spring 2016 concert.

"In Remembrance" is a gorgeous contemporary composition by Eleanor Daley, a Canadian composer of choral music.

The words are from the poem,  "Do not stand at my grave and weep" by Elizabeth Frye.

This was a poignant song for both myself and Pete. It was the poem we chose for my Mother's funeral service back in 2010. It takes a lot of focus to sing it, but reminds me of her kindness and her gentle personality.

Mom was our biggest fan, attending concerts until she could no longer go out. I hope you love listening to this song as much as I love singing it.


We are an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. The Stairwell Carollers have been ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions.

A non-profit organization, the Stairwell Carollers chorus raises funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Visit our blog or our website for updates.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4th, 2016.
Videographers: Luc Nugent. Kolin Casagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

New Spring Videos! - Get set for Madrigals, Sacred and Contemporary music

I know it's still snowy out there, and the memories of Forget-me-nots are dim, but like them, we return.

To herald Spring's hopeful renewal, Pierre has started to upload our newest Renaissance Madrigal, Sacred and Contemporary concert video from 2016. Every season helpful volunteers record one of our concerts with 2 to 3 cameras (depending on the number of volunteers and cameras).

Tom Barnes, from Soundscribe, then does a professional audio recording at the same time.

Pete (yes, our director) takes the audio recording and the video and edits them together into enjoyable, high quality individual song videos for our youtube channel.

A labour of love.

Our first selection is Amor Vittorioso by Giovanni Gastoldi (1554–1609),  an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. This piece is available on our “Audite nova” Renaissance Madrigals CD. 
Net proceeds benefit charities in the Ottawa/Outaouais region.

All our CDs are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats.

Our CDs make a great gift for that "hard to buy for" friend who loves Choral music :)

About the Stairwell Carollers:

We are an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. 

The Stairwell Carollers have been ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in Ontario Music Festival Association competitions.

A registered charity, we are a non-profit choir that raises funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Check out our blog or visit our website for more Stairwell Caroller news.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2015.

Videographers: Luc Nugent, Kolin Cassagrande
Editing: Pierre Massie

Ottawa Citizen - The Upbeat: Ottawa Choir sings a Charitable Duet

A duet of American goldfinches

David's original article as submitted is below:

Ottawa choir sings a charitable duet this spring

May 18, 2016, For Immediate Release (Ottawa) –



Founded in 1977, the Stairwell Carollers give back to the community in so many diverse ways. Musically, they are an award-winning a capella choir, led by an award-winning composer, their director, Pierre Massie.

The Stairwell Carollers also sing in a humanitarian key, as they are a registered charity themselves. Over the years, including this spring, proceeds from their CD and ticket sales have allowed them to donate over $130,000 in music scholarships to students and special gifts to local charities.

Continuing this tradition, the choir is thrilled to announce this year’s winner of the Stairwell Carollers music scholarship, Charlie Watson. Charlie is a grade 12 student at Canterbury High School, who plays the piano and trumpet and also sings in the male chorus. He is excited to receive this $1000 award, which will help him as he enters the University of Toronto music department in performance this fall.

The Stairwell Carollers are also pleased to present their next $2000 donation to the Ottawa Chapter of Parkinson Canada. From diagnosis to discovery, Parkinson Canada guides the way for Canadians to live well with Parkinson’s disease through education, advocacy and support services.

The Carollers will make an official presentation of their gift to Parkinson Canada at their spring concert
at Saint Barnabas Church (corner of James St & Kent St) on June 4^th, 7:30pm.

Tickets are available at the door for $20, or in advance for $15 from The Leading Note, 370 Elgin St; Compact Music, 190 & 785 1/2 Bank St; Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave, or online at http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Concerts.html.
And if you’re looking for a great gift, the Stairwell Carollers’ latest CD, “O magnum mysterium”, will be on sale at the concert. Your purchase of a CD will help the Carollers offer their next music scholarship or donation to a local charity.

To learn more about Parkinson Canada, visit parkinson.ca.

David Rain, who sings second tenor, has been receiving his musical cues from the back of Pierre Massie’s head for 23 years with the Carollers. For more information, please visit www.stairwellcarollers.com.