Stairwell Caroller Christmas carol CDs and MP3s make wonderful gifts

 

@stairwell_carollers

O Holy Night on our Laudemus cum armonia ##CD. 💿 ##stream or buy it from our website. Mp3 too😉 ##charity ##christmas ##gifting ##choralmusic ##xmascarols

♬ O Holy Night / Minuit, Chrétiens - The Stairwell Carollers

 Buy Stairwell Caroller Christmas carol CDs and MP3s directly from the choir through our Official Stairwell Carollers Square online store!

Net proceeds benefit local charities.

The Stairwell Carollers remember Gord Atkinson - a Bright Ottawa Light Winks Out

 We were so very sad to learn of the passing of Gord Atkinson - long time mentor and friend to The Stairwell Carollers - Monday, April 26, 2021. He will be sorely missed. 

So many memories...

Our connection to Gord began in 1984 when his wife Elaine heard us carolling at Bayshore Shopping Centre. Right there, he invited us to sing LIVE on CFMO for their Christmas Exchange Telethon. Before the broadcast, he asked "what should I call you folks - what's the group's name?" 

We didn’t HAVE a name. 

After an awkward moment Dawn (soprano) piped up -- "The Stairwell Carollers".  I was dumbstruck. It was perfect. Our new name was forever cast in radio history as Gord introduced us for the first time ever over the airwaves.  

(I wish I had a photo - the pic below is from a later Christmas exchange broadcast from the Ottawa Citizen building)

Gord claimed us as his "Discovery", welcoming us into his musical cadre alongside Paul Anka, Elvis and Rich Little. We sang for The Christmas Exchange Broadcast on CFMO and CFRA for many years and were even treated to a wee float with our name on it in the 1987 Santa Claus parade . 

Pierre and I kept in touch with both Gord and Elaine, always looking forward to their Christmas card newsletter, always with a special note added just for us.

In 1986, Gord and CFMO produced our first recording, a vinyl album which raised over $53,000 for Ronald MacDonald House.

Gord and Elaine attended many of our concerts and, though he always said he was just a fan, we knew better. Gord Atkinson provided the choir countless opportunities that led to the professional development of The Stairwell Carollers.

He had the most generous heart. I miss him from the bottom of mine.

We send our sincere condolences to his wife Elaine and their family at this difficult time.

Gord Atkinsons Obituary : https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/gordon-atkinson-1082194642

 

CTV news https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/legendary-ottawa-radio-broadcaster-gord-atkinson-dies-at-94-1.5402971

Global news https://globalnews.ca/news/7813330/ottawa-radio-gord-atkinson-obituary/

Ottawa Citizen https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/egan-from-bing-to-the-king-radio-man-gord-atkinson-had-legendary-career

40 Years of Stairwell Carolling Revealed!

Our Founder and Director, Pierre Massie, started our group in 1977 - where we sang Christmas carols in the stairwells of residences at the University of Ottawa during exam time.  The eight of us would start at the top of the residence stairwell and work our way to the bottom. Students came out from their rooms to listen to the carols and would follow us as we went down from floor to floor, our voices helped out by the echo of the stairwell.  We sang throughout our hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - in malls, for parking lot attendants, and even on buses. We had a great time carolling in the Byward Market and on Sparks street too - lots of amazing memories.

In the early 80's, we were carolling at Bayshore shopping center and Gord Atkinson - then the voice of CFMO radio - heard us. Right then he asked us to sing live on CFMO for their Christmas Exchange Telethon.  It was during this first appearance on radio with Gord that our group got its name. Right before the broadcast, he asked us "what should I call you folks - what's the group's name?" Up till then, we were only ten Christmas Carollers with no name.  Dawn, soprano, piped up with "The Stairwell Carollers" and the name stuck.  Personally, I love our moniker since it harks back to the choir's beginnings - singing in the residence stairwells for fellow U. of Ottawa students.  

In 1986, Gord - with CFMO - produced our first real recording, a fundraising vinyl album in aid of Ronald McDonald House. an initiative which raised over $53,000.

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 tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

A Virgin Most Pure - featured on Catholic Culture Podcast! Youtube video

The Catholic Culture Podcast is featuring our performance of A Virgin Most Pure in Episode 59 - The Glorious English Carol. Thanks to Thomas V. Mirus for honouring us with this inclusion. 

Our carol is at 36:02 in the podcast.

The carol is on our O magnum mysterium Christmas CD, available through our website in both CD and MP3 format.
Here it is our live concert video on Youtube

The podcast episode is a wonderful overview of the English Carol with many other carol examples included, such as (from the podcast episode description):

Erik Routley, The English Carol https://www.amazon.com/English-Carol-Erik-Routley/dp/0837169895

Andrew Gant, The Carols of Christmas https://www.amazon.com/Carols-Christmas-Celebration-Surprising-Favorite/dp/0718031520

All music in this episode used with permission from the recording artist and/or label.

Agincourt Carol, Alamire https://www.amazon.com/Deo-Gracias-Anglia-Alamire/dp/B008L1GZUO

Nowell sing we both all and some, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2

Gabriel From Heaven’s King, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2

A Virgin Most Pure, Stairwell Carolers https://www.stairwellcarollers.com/en/o-magnum-mysterium/

Coventry Carol, Harry Christophers and the Sixteen, available on the CORO record label at https://thesixteenshop.com/

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 among 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.

Carols for Christmas CD and MP3 on iTunes - by the Stairwell Carollers

Even if you are a staunch Stairwell Caroller fan, you may never have seen these Christmas Carol CDs before.

Exclusive to iTunes and only available as digital downloads in MP3 format.

Songs can be purchased separately for .99 or by collection for 9.99.

Carols for Christmas Volume 1:

Ding! Dong! Merrily on High             French 16th c. melody, arr. C. Wood
Balulalow                                            Paul Johnson   Scottish traditional words
Dans cette étable                                  17th century French traditional
Ein Kind Geborn                                German 16th century carol
A spotless Rose                                  Herbert Howells 20th century melody; 14th century words

Laudemus cum armonia                      Composer, Pierre Massie, 2007

Les anges dans nos campagnes           French Traditional
I saw a swete semly syght                  (Old English)  Composer, Pierre Massie
All and Some                                      Anonymous
Dans le silence de la nuit                   French Traditional
Joy to the World                                  Words / Par. I. Watts; mus. Handel, arr. / harm. Pierre Massie
The Stairwell Carol                             Composer, Pierre Massie, 2008
Personent hodie                                  Piae Cantiones 1582, arr. Pierre Massie
Patapan                                                Provençal traditional
There Stood in Heaven a Linden Tree   15th German, arr. / harm. George Herbert Palmer 1842-1933
Dors ma colombe                                   French Traditional, arr. Pierre Massie
Deck the Halls                                      Welsh traditional carol

Venezuelan Carol                                    Venezuelan Traditional Carol

Once as I Remember                              17th c. Italian carol, arr. Charles Wood

Christe, Redemptor omnium                  Composer, Pierre Massie, 2006
O Holy Night / Minuit, chrétiens            Arr. Pierre Massie, 2006

Carols for Christmas Volume 2:

Hark The Herald Angels Sing                       Mendelssohn
Dans cette étable                                          French Traditional, arr. Pierre Massie
As I Lay Upon a Night                                  Anonymous
Resonet in laudibus                                  M. Praetorius , arr. for 6 voices, Pierre Massie
Away in a Manger                                        German traditional carol, words attributed to Martin Luther, arr. / harm. Pierre Massie
Du Noël(2)                                                 Anonymous 
Mourning Dove                                           Composer,  Pierre Massie
Sans Day Carol                                         Cornish traditional carol
Joy to the World!                                    G. F. Handel Words by I. Watts, after Psalm 98
Qui creavit celum                                   Composer, Pierre Massie
I Saw a Fair Maiden                                   Anon Medieval poem  melody by Peter Warlock

Ça bergers, assemblons-nous                     French Traditional, arr. Pierre Massie

Riu, riu, chiu                                            16th century Spanish villancio

Travellers Three                                    Composer, Pierre Massie, 2004

Past Three a Clock                                 Charles Wood 

Eia, eia, gaudeamus                               Composer, Pierre Massie, 2005

O little town of Bethlehem                    English traditional carol 

Entre le boeuf et l'âne                               French Traditional
We Three Kings                                           J.H. Hopkins, arr. Pierre Massie
Il est né, le divin enfant                               French Traditional, arr. Pierre Massie
We Wish you a Merry Christmas                 English traditional carol, exclusive arrangement by Sir  David Willcocks for The Stairwell Carollers

Please DONATE to support our 40th year events ! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie began 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 aid local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Presenting our NEW LIVE CD for Christmas 2017

This collection of carols started as a tiny gem of a thought.

For many years now, Tom Barnes has recorded our live concerts for us. His work is impeccable and after every season we would have this treat of  being able to hear our season at our leisure.

Pete uses these raw recordings to produce our YouTube videos.

End of story.
Or not.

Our 40th committee had an idea; why not take the Christmas concert recordings and see if our pro sound engineer, Jay Fee, could combine the best of them into a LIVE CD of Christmas Carols.

I had no idea it would sound SO BEAUTIFUL!

When the first edit came back to hear, I was in tears. New versions of favourite Xmas songs we sang in concert, NOT ON ANY OF OUR OTHER CDS, are now preserved and presented in the highest quality on a professionally produced CD.

Includes the Newly composed Rideau Carol in a recording debut for composer and tenor, David Rain!

The quality is right up there with our other Christmas CDs and we are very proud that we can present Adeste Fideles LIVE to our audience for purchase!

Our new graphics guru, Terry, envisioned and produced a glorious CD cover and interior.
Now available for pre-order Online and will be on our CD table at our upcoming concerts.

Order now at the low price of $10.00 
plus shipping and handling

Carols list:

01    Adeste fideles - arr: Pierre Massie
02    Myn lyking - arr: R. Terry, P. Massie
03    Berger, secoue ton sommeil profond - Traditional french
04    Do You Hear What I Hear - arr: Pierre Massie
05    The Shepherd's Carol - Bob Chilcott
06    Allons, bergers, partons tous - arr: Richard Terry
07    Stille Nacht/Silent Night - arr: Pierre Massie
08    Rideau Carol - David Rain
09    Cherry Tree Carol - arr: Sir David Willcocks
10    Riu, riu, chiu - Spanish villancico
11    Away in a Manger - arr: Sir David Willcocks
12    Le bel Ange du Ciel - arr: Lucien Deiss
13    Balulalow - arr: Peter Warlock
14    Un flambeau Jeanette, Isabelle - arr: Pierre Massie
15    Ave Maria - Franz Biebl
16    Gower Wassail - Robert Frederick Jones
17    Gabriel's Message - arr: Sir David Willcocks
18    Dans le silence de la nuit - arr: Pierre Massie
19    El Rorro - arr: Je ffery Van
20    Patapan - arr: Pierre Massie
21    Up! Good Christian Folk, and Listen - arr: George R. Woodward
22    Sussex Carol - arr: Sir David Willcocks, Pierre Massie


Please DONATE to support our 40th year events! 

All Donations receive a charitable receipt.

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concerts and CDs !

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 among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

The BEST Christmas Carol Music CDS and MP3s are available online right here!

Searching for Perfection - Cantate Domino and bittersweet memories

We needed the perfect sound.

We needed a church in the Ottawa area in which to record our newest CD.  We needed a room with a depth, resonance, and the natural acoustics to satisfy our director’s vision for the perfect sacred choral sound.

We decided on St. Barnabas Anglican church, where we’d performed a concert of spring madrigals.  We booked it six months in advance.  Perfect.

Rain plagued the first recording session with Jay Fee from Conduction Mastering - Wednesday evening, May 9th, 2012.  There was no choice but to set the sound equipment up and wait, listening to the steady patter turn into a resounding watery drone that echoed through the church.  Less than two hours in, after many false starts while monitoring cellphone weather apps, we all went home --  to reconvene the following Saturday.

At the same time, roadwork turned James Street into a crucial detour.  Don’t get me wrong, St. Barnabas is renowned for its natural soundproofing, along with a preternaturally gorgeous set of acoustics.  Perfection.

Not quite.

Even the three-bricks-thick walls could not filter the steady traffic, and we painstakingly recorded around the beeping and backfires.

For our last session, the evening of Saturday, June 2nd, a huge construction crane actually BROKE just before we began, and blessed us with hours of silence.

Silence, counterpointed with our voices and marked by sound engineer Jay’s “thumbs-up” -- as take after take was a keeper – perfect timing.

Through the hours rehearsing, and the hours recording, everyone was patient and focused on the task.

The recording ordeal forged a strong bond between many of us.  Our small chamber choir of twenty-six felt a comforting sense of intimacy and comradeship.  We could do anything, as long as we were together.

For a session by session breakdown of Cantate Domino - from Recording to CD :

 Recording a CD -- part 1   part 2  part 3  part 4
part 5  part 6

We looked eagerly forward to Sunday, June 24th, 2012 - a performance at Festivale Mondial in Laval, Quebec.  The show was a joy, and the audience was warm and appreciative of the sacred repertoire Pete had chosen in anticipation of our upcoming CD release – a perfect moment.

Our celebratory mood was not to last.

The very next day, June 25th, 2012, Paul Churchill - one of our beloved tenors - passed away suddenly.  Well known in the Ottawa choral scene, Paul was also a tireless volunteer at his children’s schools and with the Nepean Hockey association.  He never got to see this effort come to fruition – to hear his own voice blended with ours, or hold the finished CD in his hands.

The shock of his passing has eclipsed our recent accomplishments; the memories of those rainy, traffic-noise-punctuated recording sessions are now precious and bittersweet.

At our yearly auditions, in the last weeks of August, I greet applicants at the church door.  This year we need tenors and basses.  This year, a new tenor will again stand in Paul Churchill’s spot -- in the back row, to my left.  Close enough – to overhear Paul’s perfectly wry comments.

Close enough -- to make me smile.

Holly Massie, alto (originally published in Dynamic - a Choirs Ontario publication)

Cantate Domino is dedicated to the memory of Paul Churchill, Tenor, whose voice and heart will be forever remembered.

Net proceeds benefit local charities and the annual Stairwell Carollers Scholarship.

Cantate Domino, recorded live in six sessions – a total of 27 hours -- at St. Barnabas church, Ottawa, is available at http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Purchases/Purchases7.html in both CD and Mp3 fomats.

For an audition, email info@stairwelcarollers.com. We are looking for tenors and basses for Fall 2017.

CD Spotlight -- O magnum mysterium - the Stairwell Carollers latest Christmas Carol recording

O magnum mysterium - our latest Christmas Carol collection,  released in 2015,  is available in both CD and MP3 formats.

Net proceeds benefit charity.

As with all our Christmas Carol CDs, the title track, O magnum mysterium, is a brand new Christmas Carol -- written by Pierre Massie just for this new CD!

Christmas carols old and new in many languages make this an extra special collection for the a cappella choir aficionado.

                        LISTEN TO SONG EXCERPTS

In Memory of Sir David Wilcocks

If  you live in the Ottawa area, you can purchase our CDs directly from choir members. 

You can also buy them at Ottawa area stores,  

online - also available as Mp3 downloads, 

 or at our live concerts.

Manor park Chronicle Newspaper -- This Jay sings in a different key

Jay Fee, Conduction Mastering records Stairwell Carollers CDs

Our latest CD for Christmas, o Magnum Mysterium

Our latest CD for Christmas, o Magnum Mysterium

Lit by the light of his Mac, Jay works intently

The Stairwell Carollers are proud to have worked with Jay Fee for all our CD and thanks to him, they all have the same high quality and sound production. He really understands the Stairwell Carollers sound and the detailed audio needs of an a cappella choir.

Jay Fee, Conduction Mastering

Jay's recording company is Conduction Mastering and he has worked with many up and coming independent musicians, producers and even Sony. His impressive list of credits is HERE .

We can't say enough to recommend him for your recording needs whether you are a solo musician, pop group, a cappella ensemble or choral group. He records us on location in church venues but a large proportion of his record work is done in studio.

Our full compliment of Christmas, Sacred and Renaissance madrigal CDs can be perished and purchased directly from us HERE.

Christe redemptor omnium - an original sacred piece composed by Pierre Massie

Pierre Massie, Stairwell Carollers director and choral composer

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Christe redemptor omnium - an original sacred piece composed by Pierre Massie.

This version of Christe redemptor omnium is available on our Christmas CD, Laudemus cum armonia. http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Purchases/Purchases6.html

Laudemus cum armonia cd

A non-profit charity, The Stairwell Carollers raises funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales. http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Purchases.html

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

All our CDs are available on our website in both CD form and as MP3 downloads. Buy our CDs and help Ottawa/Gatineau charities reach their goals.

Visit our blog or our website for updates.

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

Videographer: Richard Auger.

Editing: Pierre Massie

Photos: Holly Massie

Good King Wenceslas - Arr: Sir David Willcocks - The Stairwell Carollers

Icon detail, St. James Anglican Church, Carleton Place

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers perform the popular Christmas Carol "Good King Wenceslas”, arranged by Sir David Willcocks.

This arrangement of "Good King Wenceslas” is on our New Christmas Carol CD, “O magnum mysterium”, now available online, at our concerts, and from individual members of the choir, (CD format only.)

"O magnum mysterium" Christmas CD

All our other CDs are available on our website in both CD form and as MP3 downloads.

The carollers, an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie, has earned the distinction of being ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competition. We are a non-profit organization, who raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Buy our CDs and help Ottawa/Gatineau charities reach their goals!!!

Visit our blog or our website for updates.


Audio: Tom Barnes. Recorded at Knox Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 12th, 2014.


Videographers: Gert-Jan van Heuzen, Kolin Casagrande, Sam Sloan


Editing: Pierre Massie

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Suo Gân - Arr: Lawrence Wiliford - The Stairwell Carollers

Church door detail

The men of Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, sing the beautiful Welsh Christmas Carol, "Suo Gân”, arranged by Lawrence Wiliford.


This arrangement of "Suo Gân” is on our New Christmas Carol CD, “O magnum mysterium”, now available online, at our concerts, and from individual members of the choir, (CD format only.)

"O magnum mysterium" Christmas CD

All our other CDs are available on our website in both CD form and as MP3 downloads.

The carollers, an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie, has earned the distinction of being ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competition. We are a non-profit organization, who raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Buy our CDs and help Ottawa/Gatineau charities reach their goals!!!

Visit our blog or our website for updates.


Audio: Tom Barnes. Recorded at Knox Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 12th, 2014.


Videographers: Gert-Jan van Heuzen, Kolin Casagrande, Sam Sloan


Editing: Pierre Massie

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