CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS - #15

Counting down from #15  "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

"God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen" was audience choice #15 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS - #14

# 14 "The First Nowell" arr: Sir David Willcocks

"The First Nowell" was audience choice # 14 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #13

# 13 "We Three Kings of Orient Are"- arr: Pierre Massie


"We Three Kings" was audience choice # 13 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

I Saw Three Ships arr: Sir David Willcocks

St. Columba stained glass window Ottawa

 #11 "I Saw Three Ships" - arr: Sir David Willcocks 

I Saw Three Ships arr: Sir David Willcocks stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca/2010/12/christ… #Christmascarol #Xmasmusic #choral #choirmusic
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) September 23, 2012

"I Saw Three Ships" was audience choice # 11 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.   

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #12

 #12 "Patapan"

"Patapan" was audience choice # 13 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.   

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #10

# 10 "O Come All Ye Faithful" - arr:Bellefeuille/Willcocks/Llewellyn


"O Come All Ye Faithful" was audience choice # 10 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.   

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS - #9

 #9 "Joy to The World" - arr: Pierre Massie


"Joy to The World" was audience choice # 9 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.   

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #8

 #8 "Ça Bergers assemblons nous" - arr: Pierre Massie


"Ça Bergers assemblons nous" was audience choice # 8 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.  

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #7

#7 "What Child is This" - arr: John Rutter


"What Child is This" was audience choice #7 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #6

#6 "Noël Nouvelet" - arr: J. Rutter / P. Massie

"Noël Nouvelet" was audience choice #6 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS -- #5

 # 5 "Les anges dans nos campagnes" - arr: John Rutter

"Les anges dans nos campagnes" was audience choice # 5 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS #4

 #4 "Carol of the Bells" - arr: Peter Wilhousky

"Carol of the Bells"was audience choice #4 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS #3

 #3 "Il est né le divin enfant"- arr: Pierre Massie

"Il est né le divin enfant" was audience choice #3 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS #2

#2 "Stille Nacht"-Trad; "O nuit de paix"- arr: M Dela; "Silent Night"- arr: J. Rutter

"Silent Night" was audience choice #2 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at our "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- 15 TOP CAROLS #1 !

#1 "T'was in the Moon of Wintertime" - arr: John Rutter

 
 "T'was in the Moon of Wintertime" (the first CANADIAN Christmas Carol) was audience choice #1 in our countdown. It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.    

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- SECOND ENCORE -- We Wish you a Merry Christmas

 

Second Encore -"We Wish you a Merry Christmas" - exclusive arr. for the Stairwell Carollers by: Sir David Willcocks

"We Wish you a Merry Christmas" - second encore performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009, Saint Charles Church. 

The Stairwell Carollers are an a cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.
Buy our CDs!!! They make great Christmas gifts and they help local charities.

CHRISTMAS CAROL COUNTDOWN -- FIRST ENCORE -- Deck the Hall

First Encore piece -- "Deck the Hall" - arr: John Rutter

"Deck the Hall" first encore performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009, Saint Charles Church at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.

DA CAPO -- Stairwell Caroller History -- "Christmas for the Children" charitable compilation CD

Way back in 2001, we provided a track for this fund-raising CD for the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund.

Christmas for the Children CD

CBC radio played it the other day, and I've had a number of emails from people who thought they made an error attributing it to this CD. Nope -- here it is. I did a search and the CD was a limited edition -- no longer available (unless you are lucky to come across a secondhand copy).

Obviously, CBC owns a copy :)

A compilation CD of Ottawa artists, many names have gone on to further acclaim. Sneezy Waters, Mike Easton, The Radio Kings, Scott Paterson, Johnny Vegas & Dick Maloney, Terry Tufts, Ted Daigle, Byron, Johnny Reid, Joan Harea String Quartet, Colleen Peterson, 5 Man Electrical Band, Manon Seguin, Charlie Major,
Tom McMahon contributed bass guitar on a track or two.

There are many other artists on this collection -- feel free to comment and I will look up where they are now. Or you could help me out and hunt them up for me  :)

No copyright infringement intended by reproducing the images of this CD.This is for archival purposes only. All images are right protected and not copyable.

Final Concert this Saturday Dec 18th -- Somerset Wassail - arr: John Rutter -- sung by the Stairwell Carollers

Our final concert of the 2010 Christmas season is this Saturday, December the 18th at Église Marie-Médiatrice (Saint Frère André), 344 Cyr Avenue, Vanier, 7.30 pm.,

  for info call (613) 749-5652

 Tickets $15.00 at the door or in advance from Choir Members 

God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen - arr: Sir David Willcocks -- The Stairwell Carollers - YouTube

"God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen" was audience choice #15 in our countdown.

It was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at their "Carols à la Carte" concert, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25.

 The Stairwell Carollers are an a cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie.

A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.
Our CDs make great Christmas gifts and they help local charities. 

Laudemus cum armonia - Pierre Massie -- sung by the Stairwell Carollers

"Laudemus cum armonia", an original Christmas carol composed by our director, Pierre Massie, was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at St. Charles Church on Beechwood Ave.

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.
Buy our CDs :)  They make great Christmas gifts and they help local charities.

Da Capo -- Stairwell Caroller concerts in 2010

Zion Memorial in Carleton Place

"Thanks to you and the Carollers for a wonderful concert to welcome the snow in Dec., as usual. The silence during your singing and the rapt looks on all 250 faces told the whole story. It was magical!"

Dianne Clipsham, St Paul's Eastern United Church

Dors ma Colombe - arranged by our director Pierre Massie

Dors ma colombe was performed by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009.

The Stairwell Carollers are an a cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales. Buy our CDs. They make great Christmas gifts and they help local charities.

The Infant King - Basque Noël, arr: Sir David Willcocks

"The Infant King" was performed live in concert by The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009 at St. Charles Church in Vanier.

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Buy our CDs!!!  They make great Christmas gifts and they help local charities.

♫♫♫♫♫ NOTEable Mention ♫♫♫♫♫♫♫ Organizing the Choir – the KEY to our musical success

As anyone who's ever been a member of the Stairwell Carollers knows, rehearsals are as easy as ABC.  Pierre, our director, provides us with our music binder, packed full of glorious pieces, organized alphabetically -- and in concert order.  It includes an index of the pieces and a practice schedule, so that we know what we are to prepare for specific rehearsals. All pieces are copied for our use legally per arrangements with the music publisher.

Our responsibility is to organize ourselves to be ready for every rehearsal.  We have to be prepared; first, we have to work on the piece on our own.  This is FANTASTIC for people like me who doesn’t really read music.  Therefore, our director makes it as easy as possible for us to learn our parts ahead.  He gives us CDs, on which he has recorded the parts separately as simple mp3s.  If you're an alto, you get an alto CD.  If you're a tenor, you get a tenor CD.  And so on.

Obviously, Pierre chooses people to be in the choir on more than the basis of reading music.  Our personalities, our style of voice -- our whole demeanour needs to fit the style of the choir, thus he uses his excellent organizational skills to make it work if the perfect voice is not such a perfect reader.

What?  You don't read music either?  After thirty-something years with this choir, I can decipher the ants on the page (otherwise known as musical notes) roughly – realizing that when the notes climb up the staff, my voice is supposed to go up – and vice versa, but no one's perfect -- especially me.  

Did I mention the choir is really organized? 

Pierre writes lyrics, composes music, creates our webpage from the HTML up -- and formats and posts our You Tube videos; 

Andrea -- our incredible choir committee secretary -- also a fabulous soprano – prepares our music binders, posters, prints program booklets, and keeps track of attendance.

Susan is our treasurer, providing us with detailed reports of cd sales and other monies so we can maximise our charitable contributions.

Rene, our president coordinates all efforts.

Da Capo -- and..a bit of Stairwell Fundraising History...

If you love our music and appreciate the fact that we are a charitable choir that has raised over 40,000 dollars for needy charities – you should ask yourself – why haven’t I BOUGHT a cd or a cookbook yet?  They make terrific Xmas presents, can provide calming seasonal music at you home or workplace, AND provide funds directly to charity.  There was a long road we sang to where we are now....

The National Arts Centre 1986

Since 1977, the Stairwell Carollers overriding vision has been to bring the Christmas Spirit to anyone who would listen.  For many years, at the beginning, we eschewed collecting funds for any group. We would just show up and sing in spontaneous unexpected locations simply to bring the season's peace and joy to others. 

 In 1984, Gord Atkinson of CFMO FM radio discovered us at Bayshore shopping center.  The station went on to sponsor a recording which ultimately raised over $15,000.00 for Ronald McDonald House at CHEO -- here in Ottawa. This wonderful opportunity persuaded Pierre to aim higher with the choir.  We applied for charitable status and explored ways to raise funds with our music – first just concerts, then Cassette tape recordings and finally our lovely CDs.

Award-winning Choir raises $40,000 for local charities

November 1, 2010

For Immediate Release

(Ottawa) – It was once one of Ottawa’s best-kept secrets, but no longer. This has been a “break-out” year for the Stairwell Carollers, a 25-voice gem of a choir that performs without instrumental accompaniment (“a cappella”) year-round.

As the choir prepares for a 34^th season of bringing Yuletide joy to music lovers in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, it is proud to announce two major achievements.

This past spring, the Stairwell Carollers received both provincial and national recognition for artistic excellence, placing first in the Ontario Music Festivals Association choral competition and second in the national finals.

The Carollers are also proud of their humanitarian and philanthropic mission. Since 1997, they have raised $41,350 for dozens of charities through ticket sales and profits from their six CDs. 

At the season finale, on December 18, the choir will be making a donation to the Harvest House Ministries. The Carollers also sponsor an annual scholarship for students planning to pursue a music degree at a Canadian university.

The choir was founded and is directed by award-winning composer Pierre Massie, who is Head of Fine Arts at Glebe Collegiate High School. This season’s concerts feature three of Pierre’s original compositions and seven of his arrangements, including the beautiful “Iesous Ahatonnia” (the Huron Carol), which is the title of this year’s program.

2010 Christmas Concert Season

Fri, Dec 3:       Zion-Memorial United Church, 37 Franklin St., Carleton Place

Sat, Dec 4:      Woodroffe United Church, 207 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa

Wed, Dec 8:    St. Columba Anglican Church, 24 Sandridge Rd., Ottawa  (Manor Park)

Fri, Dec 10:     St. Paul’s Eastern United Church, 473 Cumberland St., Ottawa  (Sandy Hill)

Sat, Dec 18:    Eglise Marie-Médiatrice/Saint frère André, 344 Cyr Ave., Ottawa (Vanier)

All concerts begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the Dec. 18 season finale are available in advance from The Leading Note (370 Elgin St), as well as at the door, for $15 (admission is free for children 12 and under).  A reception will follow.

For further information about the Stairwell Carollers, please visit www.stairwellcarollers.com.

David Rain, Tenor

The Stairwell Caroller 2010 - 2011 brochure

Our 2010 - 2011 brochure -- Info and concerts

Away In a Manger, sung by Ottawa-based choir, The Stairwell Carollers - YouTube

The Stairwell Carollers perform the age old favourite, Away in a Manger at St. Charle's Church in Ottawa, On., Canada -- Christmas concert 2000

This song is available on Laudemus cum Armonia , the carollers newest CD.

All our CDs are available HERE.
Net proceeds from CD sales go towards helping local charities. 

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Lutebook Lullaby - William Ballet, The Stairwell Carollers, Ottawa

Giant tree at the National Gallery, Ottawa

Lutebook Lullaby by William Ballet, performed by Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009. 

The Stairwell Carollers are an cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

The Stairwell Carollers in Dynamic -- Choirs Ontario Newsletter

The Choirs Ontario Newsletter in PDF format. We are on page 11...

Da Capo -- On our 30th year Celebration 2007

Pete directs at the rehearsal with returning Stairwellers for the 30th reunion celebration

 Da Capo  
-- celebrating the choir's past -- illuminating our present 
-- inspiring our future...

On our 30th year -- by David Rain, Tenor 
December, 2007

Single file, they stride purposefully up the deep stairwell and gingerly place themselves across the narrow church steps, resplendent in their hand-made green and red Christmas cloaks. A warm round of applause erupts as a goateed, golden-haired gentleman with heavy black shoes follows them into view and bows humbly in acknowledgement.

Dress rehearsal

From under his cloak, he deftly pulls out a shiny tuning fork and with a wide grin strikes it solidly across his right temple. “Do, so, me, do”, he can be heard chanting to the others, as he steps back to join them in line. Then, with a subtle lifting of his left eyebrow, the group responds as if one and suddenly the joyous strains of “Oh come, all ye faithful” are heard ringing through the pews, much to the delight of the gathered throng.

'Tis a scene repeated time and again each Christmas by one of Ottawa’s best kept secrets: the 24-voice Stairwell Carollers.

Ottawa U. stairwells

They’re a choir quite unlike any other. From their very humble beginnings in the stairwells of the University of Ottawa, this tiny group of singers has grown to become one of Ottawa’s premier a cappella choirs, with three Christmas CDs and one Renaissance madrigal CD professionally-produced this past decade.

The choir is led by their dynamic founder and director, Pierre Massie, a man of many hats. For 17 years, his day job has been music teacher with the Ottawa Carleton School Board, and he is currently Head of Fine Arts at Glebe Collegiate High School. He has also found time to indulge his passion of leading the Stairwell Carollers since their inception in 1977.

Our Director, Pierre Massie

He is renowned for his unusual style of conducting from within the tenor section itself, using everything imaginable within his reach to conduct with: his eyebrows and his eyes of course, not to mention his head, his music book, his nose, his ears and even his teeth.

Pierre is also an award-winning composer, twice having won first prize in the prestigious Toronto Amadeus Choir Christmas Carol and Chanukah Song Writing Competition, most recently this past November.

The Stairwell Carollers are not just about music, however. Right from the get-go they have been a true community choir in the best sense of the word; and their community has been a vast one indeed.

CFRA Xmas Exchange broadcast 1985

In addition to the hundreds of concerts they have performed in the Ottawa-Gatineau area itself, the choir ventures far afield 

TWEET THIS POST!

Da Capo -- On our 30th year stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca/2010/10/da-cap… #Ottawachoir #choralmusic #charitable
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) September 17, 2012

The Wild Wood Carol - John Rutter -- sung by the Stairwell Carollers

        The Wild Wood Carol - John Rutter, sung by Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers on Dec 18, 2009.

The Stairwell Carollers are an a cappella Ottawa choir, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie.

A non-profit organization, they raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Missa brevis - Antonio Lotti, The Stairwell Carollers, Ottawa

                          Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform "Missa brevis" a 17th century sacred mass by Antonio Lotti (ca. 1667 -- 5 January 1740).

Buy our CDs!

UPDATE

This version of "Missa brevis" is available on our new sacred songs from the Renaissance CD, "Cantate Domino", released  October 2012.

Visit our website

Audio: Tom Barnes.  St-Charles Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 8th, 2001.

Editing: Pierre Massie

LOOKING FOR A GOOD FUNDRAISER FOR YOUR ORGANISATION, PARISH OR GROUP?

                           Would you like to raise funds for your organization by selling Stairwell Carollers CDs?

Here’s how it works. Take some CDs on consignment, plus posters and information on our concerts. They make lovely gifts, and for each CD that you sell, you keep $5 for your group. 

There is a simple consignment agreement for you to fill out and sign. (We can tailor the agreement, the number and choice of CDs, even the form, to fit your fund-raising circumstances.) 

Interested? Please contact Susan Pullan by phone at 613-825-4261 

or by email at spullan01@gmail.com