Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers perform "Dans cette étable"

Stairwell Carollers 2011 Xmas concert at St. Columba, Ottawa

"Dans cette étable" Trad. French, arranged by Pierre Massie.  

The Stairwell Carollers are a non-profit organization, who raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Visit our blog
or our website  for updates.

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 17th, 2011.
Videographer: Andrew Mason.
Editing: Pierre Massie

Buy our CDs and help out needy charities!!! 

This version of "Dans cette étable" is available on our "Laudemus cum armonia" CD. 

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers perform "Dans cette étable" nblo.gs/BuDGW

— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) August 29, 2012

Here is The Little Door, a modern Christmas carol by Herbert Howells

Packed audience at St. Columba 2011 Xmas concert

                    Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers perform "Here is The Little Door" by Herbert Howells

The Stairwell Carollers, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie, has earned the distinction of being ranked amongst the best of Ottawa choirs by choral critics.
A non-profit organization, we raise funds for local charities through concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Buy our CDs and help charities reach their goals!!!

Visit our blog
or our website

Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 17th, 2011.
Videographer: Andrew Mason.
Editing: Pierre Massie

Here is The Little Door, a modern Christmas carolby Herbert Howells nblo.gs/BuwO5
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) August 29, 2012

Recording a CD -- Cantate Domino -- Part 2 - Success -- sort of...

St. Barnabas, James Street -- exterior brickwork

               Our second recording session Saturday, May 12th went from 1:00 pm to 9:00pm.

 We got "Exultate Justi"  recorded right away (ha) -- after forty-one takes of separate sections. We were spot on -- the problem was all the honks, muted roars and backfires at the beginning middle and end of each take.  For "Miserere" we did twenty-three takes of one section.

Pete testing the first notes  -- Rex's piano is used strictly for tuning, as we always sing a cappella

Then Pete gave up.

We broke for dinner.

not a product placement

I guess I should explain.

St, Barnabas' natural soundproofing brickwork was trumped by Ottawa's construction "season". 

The normally pristine recording venue was as noisy as a Bank street eatery. (Not that I don't love Bank street -- and the food there).





TWEET THIS POST!

#Recording a #CD -- Cantate Domino -- Part 2 - Success -- sort of... nblo.gs/AXSig #choral #choir #Ottawa #renaissance
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) September 15, 2012

All to the tune of James street = detour = constant traffic, leaving St. Barnabas echoing and rumbling.

To be honest, (for once), the sound was barely audible, but Jay's fabulous microphones picked it up.

Recording setup for Cantate Domino

Start again...

Feet tired from standing

After dinner we did thirty-two more takes to get a clean recording without the rumbling, honking and braking.

And then it was 9:00 pm.

Listen for the birdy tweets, there are some in there for sure.

Part 3 --  HOW-TO have a SUCCESSFUL recording session...

You can pre-order Cantate Domino HERE.

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

Cantate Domino will be pressed in October -- 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, or at our live concerts.

 Recording a CD -- part 1