Twitter, NEW Gloucester Wassail Youtube vid and Christmas Concerts!

Follow The Stairwell Carollers - @StairwellChoir on Twitter!

#Ottawa #Choral #Concerts - The Stairwell Carollers https://t.co/mVuhXSvou0 Dec 14th and 18th, 2019 #Christmas pic.twitter.com/ksmzeOseTo

— The Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) December 11, 2019

Don't miss our tweets - and those of tenor, David Rain - Choral Composer - @DavidRain56

Countdown: #10 of 10 reasons to come hear our @StairwellChoir concert at Southminster Church, Sat Dec 14 at 7:30pm:

Pierre Massie musical gems like Do You Hear What I Hear?

Tickets only $15 in advance:https://t.co/yTWzGE6rbT

You won't be disappointed!https://t.co/j5mzIRMKzL

— David Rain, Choral Composer (@DavidRain56) December 11, 2019

NEW VIDEO - Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform The Gloucester Wassail, arranged by R. Vaughan Williams.

This version of “The Gloucester Wassail” is on our “Mourning Dove” CD.

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

Audio: Tom Barnes.
Recorded at Southminster United Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 15th, 2018.
Videographers: Matthieu Brennan, Elisa Torlone
Editing: Pierre Massie

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $140,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Summer Hiatus - NEW Youtube Vid - "I am not Yours", Stroope

If you hadn't guessed we are taking a break.

The choir always breaks for the summer -- hence no summer concerts! We are all volunteers - and now, especially as we are getting on a bit - long in the tonsils you might say - we are just pooped after Spring concert season is completed.

And, for the first time, I'M taking a break - from the blog and the podcast. In the past I have continued posting through the summer holiday, but now I don't care so much about my NUMBER of readers.

I care more about not boring the pants off you with needless yadda yadda. I'd rather focus on keeping you informed of the choirs doings and getting up tos - which are fascinating -- to me.

For myself, it's my garden, my family and relaxing with good reads.

No worries, blog posts and podcast epis will resume at the end of summer - earlier if anything interesting develops. We will audition again at the end of August - email me anytime to set up your 15 minutes.

Here's a NEW video to check out while you while away your summer vacay.  New videos are being posted to YouTube sporadically through the summer and I will do posts to alert you of them when that happens.

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform "I Am Not Yours", written by Z.Randall Stroope.
I LOVE this one!!!

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 3rd, 2017.
Videographers: Richard Auger, Andrew Mason
Editing: Pierre Massie

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while 
studying music student at Ottawa U.  

The Stairwell Carollers scored Gold in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

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

All Donations get a charitable receipt.

Youtube Comments - even The Stairwell gets Flamed

Every now and then on Youtube we get a slightly negative comment for a song video.

I'm not complaining; 99.9999% of the comments we receive are high praise for our music. We have met new fans and other artists and have been usefully corrected - usually in a polite manner - thanks, you!

The funny thing is that those negative comments almost always go like this:

You sing (name of song) 

(beautifully/wonderfully/angelically/etc) 

BUT the (word he thinks means "dynamics/phrasing") 

are wrong.

OMG facepalm emoji

I almost need a copy/paste answer for this one.

Dynamics (even phrasing) can be at the discretion of the Director. Period. It's called interpretation.

Our Director, Pete, with his Rock band LEGACY in 1985. A multi-instrumentalist, he is an expert at interpretation too.

The exception is an adjudication situation with an adjudicator who has a favourite way he likes a piece to be sung. Then you better do your homework if you want him to judge you positively.

That being said, there are common/popular versions of pieces that listeners are used to.  With that familiarity comes an unspoken consensus of the application of dynamics - especially if they are indicated in the music. If a director chooses to ignore the published song dynamics, then that director must let the "claps" fall where they may.

But, wait a minute, here's the thing bugging my posterior sensibilities today.

In the Renaissance era, Dynamics for songs were not printed on the sheet music.  My info today is from the website and pen of a well-respected expert in the field of music history, Andrea Angelini, Choral Conductor, Composer and Music Journalist.

Sigh. I wish commenters would do their own homework before trying to show off their "knowledge" with unpleasant "drive-by" commenting.

I figure if you can't say something good say nothing at all.  And that's from this certified whiner and complainer.

But I try.

What do you think? Are you a musician on Youtube? Feel free to post your link to your channel in the comments section along with your comment.

Yes, I sense the irony.

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 among the best of Ontario choirs, having won the 2010 and 2013 OMFA competitions. 

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

Net proceeds benefit charity.

Please DONATE to support our 40th year workshops! 

Early Music Trivia Quiz- No Drake, Bieber or Gaga

A Musical Trivia Quiz to celebrate the arrival (or not) of Spring:) 

ANSWERS AT END OF POST

1. Which British composer, whose work we'll be performing on May 27th at St Martin's Church, lived in London at the same time as Shakespeare?

In fact, he is one of the few composers of the only surviving contemporary settings of verse by Shakespeare...  (don't cheat by clicking the link!)

2. From just the title of this piece, Abendlied (evening song), can you guess which Bible story it is referring to?

Clue : it is in the New Testament.

3. What is a composer attempting to express in a madrigal?

And what is a madrigal?

4. If you were to read the song lyrics "falalala", you would likely think they come from the Christmas song Deck the Halls. But, this Spring, we are singing these lyrics too! Can you guess what the name of our piece is, and where the "falalala" comes from?

5. Which Renaissance Franco-Flemish composer was so influential in his time that he:

• was kidnapped three times as a child, because of the beauty of his singing voice? 
• occupied the prestigious post of "maestro di capella" at one of Rome's churches at only age 21? 
• received invitations from monarchs of France, emperors, and the Pope?

6.  In what era do you think this piece was composed? Take a wild guess!
"La la la, je ne l'ose dire" tells the story of a husband who has many reasons to be jealous of his wife, because she will go to sea with anyone. In the song, you can also hear all the village gossips. The moral of the story : "sadly, marriage lasts for eternity!"

7. This German composer composed many madrigals. In fact, his book of madrigals was used in music teaching for more than 100 years after its publication and he is now considered one of the madrigal leaders.

What's the name of the composer?

8. Quite a few of our pieces this Spring talk about the longings for love. But which one is based on an award-winning poem from 1918 by Sara Teasdale?

• I love my love, 
• Say love if ever, 
• I am not yours, or 
• Farewell dear love.

9. This French composer was a close friend of Camille Saint-Saëns, was invited to Buckingham Palace in 1908, was given an unprecedented national musical tribute in 1922...his musical style influenced many 20th Century composers.

Who was he?

10. There are various arrangements of Fauré's Requiem, Offertorium. What makes Pierre Massie's arrangement (premiered this Spring) a special one?

11. Can you give us the name of the German composer who was an expert in designing organs and who developed a clockwork organ later sold to the Emperor Rudolf II?

ANSWERS
(drum roll)

1. Thomas Morley.

2. It is from Luke 24, when the two disciples invite Jesus to stay with them : « Abide with us, for evening shadows darken, and the day will soon be over... »)

3.  The composer is trying to express the emotion contained in each line of a celebrated poem. A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras.

4. My Bonny Lass. Dance-like rhythms and the Fa la la refrains typical of an Italian balletto.

5. Roland de Lassus, 1530-1594.

6. In the Renaissance era. By Pierre Certon 1510-1572

7. Jacques Arcadelt.

8.  I am not yours.

9.  Gabriel Fauré 1845-1924.

10. It is an all a cappella arrangement - no instrumental parts.

11. Hans Leo Hassler.

Quiz created by Kristina, soprano :) Photos by Holly, alto

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.

Kristina's Perspective, Part TWO

PART ONE HERE
Nos répétitions dans les églises nous donnent l'opportunité de pratiquer les chiffres romains...

We also get to see some cool doors... par exemple, cette jolie porte à Ottawa..

Un moment de sérénité avant un de nos concerts. Blue like...peaceful :)

Colourful stained glass at the St. Joseph d'Orleans church (made by Dutch artist Gerry Mesterom)

Neat mural painting in the basement of the St Columba church, in Manor Park.
Saviez-vous que cette église a été construite par un ancien officier de l'armée de l'air, John Devris?

Busy preparing for the concert receptions...ici, notre chanteur ténor Andrew, en charge du café.

The Stairwell Carollers also enjoy pub nights -de belles discussions autour d'un verre de bière!

Cool clocks from around the world, in the Clocktower Brew Pub...

Finishing with a fun quote by Paulo Coelho :
"Rien n'est complètement faux dans le monde. Même une horloge arrêtée réussit à être à l'heure deux fois par jour!"

PART ONE HERE

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Please DONATE to support our 40th year workshops! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

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

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

Dans les Coulisses des Chanteurs Stairwell Behind the Scenes - Part One

From Kristina's perspective PART ONE - PART TWO HERE
Are you curious about what our choir is up to between concerts?

Come on in and see!

Here are photos of some special moments from the past few months :)

October 2017 : a choral workshop with Mark Sirett -compositeur et chef de choeur canadien.

A few of us also got to hear Rajaton sing...un super ensemble a capella finlandais.

December 2017 -getting to meet Dominion Carillonneur, Andrea McCrady.

...and seeing / hearing the bells from up close. Saviez-vous qu'il y a 53 cloches au parlement?

Our official photographer and PR representative, Holly, is always capturing new scenes ;)

During our Christmas concert season, we come across various musical instruments...
Reconnaissez-vous cet instrument de musique? Savez-vous à quoi servent les trois pédales? :)

À Bientot!

PART TWO HERE

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Au sujet des Chanteurs Stairwell:

C'est en 1977 que notre ensemble vocal naît de l'initiative de Pierre Massie, un étudiant en musique à l'Université d'Ottawa. En tant que lauréats des concours de l'Ontario Music Festival Association de 2010 et 2013, nous pouvons affirmer que nous nous classons parmi les meilleures chorales de l'Ontario.

Nous sommes un organisme de bienfaisance canadien enregistré et les recettes de nos concerts, de la vente de CD, de téléchargements et de streaming nous permettent d'aider notre communauté. Ainsi, depuis 1997, nous avons remis plus de 143 800 $ en dons à des organismes caritatifs locaux et en bourses d'études.

John Rutter Youtube Playlist of Stairwell Caroller performances PLUS HOW TO EMBED YOUTUBE VIDS

A thrilling event coming up in the spring besides Stairwell Caroller concerts is John Rutter's visit to Ottawa. Our director, Pierre, has always had a soft spot for Rutter's work - thus, we have been singing Rutter's compositions and arrangements for many years now.

Here is a Youtube playlist I made of some of the pieces the Stairwell Carollers have sung by the British master composer, John Rutter.
Enjoy!

YouTube - like everything has changed. There used to be an option on the playlist page to embed a playlist, but that seems to have disappeared in the change-up. If you found it please tell me in a comment below. They now have a tiny tutorial HERE to embed videos and playlists. I couldn't make it work, so I went to my old embeds to find a simpler path.

Check out the code below, which is sized exactly like our playlist embedded above.

Simply replace OUR ID (in RED) with the ID of YOUR playlist. Copy and paste into your blog or website HTML. You can adjust the size simply by changing the height and width values (another option no longer available on YouTube)

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLrLOtu8KN9cVBbcvJRJOuIwr08vOBYaDp
" width="750"></iframe>

Please comment below - I would love to hear of your success with my work-around.

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.

Ten Years with The Stairwell Carollers - Contrasts #1

I’ve been pondering writing down some thoughts for a while, and what better time to get started than now? 

If I liken this musical journey to the long-established apprenticeship system, I suppose I’m currently a Senior Journeyman. Not yet a master – that will come with another few years of dedicated practice under the maestro, but I’ve definitely matured with my ten years in the Stairwell Carollers.

Can it really be ten years? It seems like just yesterday that I started… The audition process that seemed so daunting all those years ago served its purpose then, as it does now. Many very talented singers have auditioned for this choir, but not everyone with a lovely voice can be a true chorister.

There are several things I’ve learned over the past ten years, and I’d say that one of the most important things is balance. In most other choirs where I’ve sung, it’s quite easy to hear individual voices. The true ensemble leaves you wondering how many singers there are, since you can’t distinguish separate voices. 

This is a lot more difficult than most people understand. 

To be able to set your ego aside for the good of the group sometimes rubs folks the wrong way, and you have to buy into the ‘collective mind’ and develop an instinct for both pitch and blend 

(but not ‘pitchblende’, which is a radioactive mineral, and a cheap excuse to get in a pun about rocks and music). 

When I started this fantastic voyage, I thought I had a pretty good sense of pitch. The more I’ve sung with this group, the more I’ve learned that ‘pretty good’ is *nowhere* near good enough. There’s a great deal of skill involved in blending with other singers, and in being so aware of the pitch and the ensemble singing that you immediately know when you’re off pitch. 

In most choirs, you’ll be able to tell when you’re off by a half-tone, as that happens all the time  with a cappella singing, despite your best efforts. This is the generic nature of the voice, and many factors affect pitch (but that’s for another post). 

Our maestro, whose sense of pitch is probably the best I’ve ever seen in my life, will grudgingly allow us up to ten ‘cents’ before telling us that we’re flat. 

For those not familiar with the terminology, one semi-tone equals 100 cents. The discipline of bringing things back into pitch when it’s a *tenth* of a semi-tone out is one of the best things I’ve learned in my musical journey, and my admiration for a choir director who can impart that work ethic to all concerned is probably the main reason that I’m still here after ten years. 

I’m happy to say that this choir suits my psyche to a ‘T’. I’ll explain that in another blog post, but it’s time to get back to practicing – after all, there *is* another rehearsal coming up. 

Maggie Park - newly minted alto 1, formerly soprano 1 and/or 2  

PART 3 - Why I sing! - Singing with the Stairwell Carollers

(Kristina's perspective) PART 3 - Why I sing!    Read PART 1 and PART 2 first! - all photos below by Kristina Roudiy

Why do I love singing in a choir? And particularly the Stairwell Carollers? / Quelles sont les raisons qui font que j'aime chanter dans une chorale, et plus précisément celle-ci?

Because the music we sing together takes me on a beautiful journey -avec le répertoire de cette chorale, on est embarqué dans un voyage musical et poétique...

We get to travel back in time, as we sing musical pieces from different eras - avec par exemple des chants du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance.

We sing in solemn, sacred, places -and get to admire cool architecture too – la musique sacrée dans des lieux solennels et/ou historiques.

La musique est riche en couleurs et en histoires... Last Spring, I particularly liked "Earth Song" and this is the landscape it evoked when we sang : "through darkness, pain and strife, music shall be my light".

This Season is extra special, because all our music is Canada-themed... en raison des 150 ans du Canada et des 40 ans de la chorale, tout notre répertoire cet automne est sur le thème du Canada.

There is something special about singing music which was arranged or composed by local Ottawa composers. En plus, on chante des morceaux composés par notre chef de choeur, qui a déjà vu sa musique jouée dans la tour de la paix du Parlement d'Ottawa! :)

If the Stairwell Carollers had the opportunity to go overseas, here are the 3 places where I dream that we could perform together! Si la chorale pouvait voyager en Europe, voici les trois places où j'aimerais qu'on chante ensemble : sur la Dent de Vaulion (Swiss Mountain), dans la grande cathédrale d'Orléans (Orleans, France) et au pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct in Southern France).

But in the meantime, we do have some pretty great Christmas concerts scheduled here in Ottawa! En attendant de pouvoir voyager au-dessus de l'océan Atlantique...on va se contenter de la capitale Canadienne ^^.

Check the Stairwell Caroller's website to see the whole list of November-December 2017 concert dates -there is necessarily one that will work with your schedule?! Souhaitant à tous un très bel automne et de joyeuses fêtes de fin d'année!

Musically yours,
Kristina

 Read PART 1 and PART 2