From the Stairwell Carollers Youtube vaults comes the sacred composition, O vos omnes, by Pablo Casals. A composer and conductor from Catalonia, he was also a cellist and lived from 1876 –1973.
This video includes behind the scene photos from our recording sessions for our many CDs.
A glorious contemporary piece, this music truly reaches for the heavens with the range of melody and minor strains.
Enjoy!
Audio: Tom Barnes. Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2015.
Videographer: Richard Auger
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie
About The Stairwell Carollers:
Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa U.
The Stairwell Carollers are proud to have won 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.
Looking again through our YouTube video vault for our videos with less views, I was surprised to find this one. The Ave Maria by Franz Biebl is simply glorious, and another one that is a joy to sing.
For those who may not know, Biebl was a contemporary German composer and, clearly, a genius.
Our CDs make wonderful gifts and represent a wide range of choral styles.
If you love our music, a donation would be very much appreciated.
You can DONATE to support our 40th Year goal of $15,000 for celebrations of our choir's milestone.
Audio: Tom Barnes.
Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2015.
Videographer: Richard Auger.
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie
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.
The Stairwell Carollers perform Suscepit Israel from J.S. Bach’s Magnificat. This arrangement is for the sopranos and altos alone.
Our director, Pierre Massie, normally gives the singers cues while he sings with the choir in the tenor section. This was a natural result of our beginnings as a small caroling group at Ottawa University during the 70's. Pierre always loved singing and in fact got a minor in music as part of his music studies at Ottawa U. He gathered a group of friends together (including me) to sing Christmas carols to fellow students in residence.
In a break from his usual style, he chose to direct this soprano/alto piece in a more traditional manner. A joy to sing this one, and fun to see our directors face for a change as we perform.
We are an a cappella chorus, 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.
Audio: Tom Barnes.
Recorded live in concert at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2015.
Videographer: Richard Auger.
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie
Another well-hidden secret from our YouTube vault. If you've never listened to Fauré, well, here is your introduction to a composer of the perfect music for spring!
Get ready for gorgeous - and our choir isn't too shabby either :)
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform O Domine from the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924) -- a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher.
The Stairwell Carollers 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.
Audio: Tom Barnes. Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 5th, 2015.
Videographer: Richard Auger
Editing: Pierre Massie
Photos: Holly Massie
We are an a cappella group, formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie. We were ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. Pierre continues to demand excellence from us and we are currently rehearsing the songs for our Spring Concert season. http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Concerts.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.
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Tu es Petrus by Hans Leo Hassler (1564 – 1612), a German composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras.
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.
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform O Domine from the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré (1845 – 1924) -- a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher.
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.
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Pater noster, by Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971), a Russian (and later, a naturalized French and American) composer, pianist and conductor.
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.
Stairwell Carollers are busy rehearsing for the 2016 Spring season!
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Jubilate Deo by Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594), a Netherlandish or Franco-Flemish composer of the late Renaissance.
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.
Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform "Lirum bililirum " - Rossino Mantovano (Rossino of Mantua) (fl. 1505-1511) an Italian composer of madrigals.
The Stairwell 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.
Buy our CDs!!! This version of "Lirum bililirum" is available on our madrigal CD, “Audite Nova”, released October 2009. All our CDs are available on our website in both CD form and as MP3 downloads.
A non-profit organization, we 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 St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 31st, 2014. Videographers: Gert-Jan van Heuzen, Kevin Millington.
Two tenors, She-Yang and Graham, adjust lighting for a concert
Here is a fun playlist of our TOP TEN VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE as of Tuesday, May 19th, 2015... 10 : The Wexford Carol, arrangement by John Rutter. Video taped live at our Christmas concert, Dec 8, 2000, St. Charles Church, Ottawa. This version was professionally recorded later for "Mourning Dove", our third Christmas Carol CD.
Manon, Josee, Nikki and Elise wrangle the coffee pot for the concert reception
9 : "Missa secunda" by Hans Leo Hassler (1564 - 1612), a German composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. This version of "Missa secunda" was professionally recorded for our Sacred songs from the Renaissance CD, "Cantate Domino", released October 2012. 8 : "Adoramus te" by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 or 1526 -- 1594), an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music. This version of "Adoramus te" was professionally recorded for our Sacred songs from the Renaissance CD, "Cantate Domino". 7 : "Patapan" is a French Christmas Carol from the Renaissance era and, as all our videos, recorded live in concert. This was 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. "Patapan" was audience choice number 12 in the countdown. This song was professionally recorded for our first CD, "Qui creavit celum", a collection of Christmas Carols, old and new.
Stairwellers enjoying a well- deserved Pub night
6 : "Past Three O'Clock", by Charles Wood and arranged by William Llewellyn. This version of "Past Three O'Clock" was professionally recorded for our "I Saw A Swete Semly Syght" Christmas Carol CD.
5 : "Carol of the Bells", composed by Mykola Leontovych with lyrics created by Peter J. Wilhousky -- from our "Carols à la Carte" concert at St. Charles Church, December 18, 2009, where the audience got to choose their favorite 15 carols from a list of 25. This popular song was audience choice number 4 in our countdown! This song was professionally recorded for our first CD, "Qui creavit celum", a collection of Christmas Carols, old and new. 4 : "Ay linda amiga" is a 16 century anonymous madrigal from Spain. This version of "Ay linda amiga" was professionally recorded for our Renaissance Madrigals CD, "Audite Nova".
3 : "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" performed by The Stairwell Carollers, joined by many Stairwell Caroller alumni on Dec 15, 2007 at our "30 Years of Song" celebration concert. This version of "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" was professionally recorded for our first CD, "Qui Creavit Celum".
Spectacular view of St. Columba -- where most of our CDs are recorded
2 : "Missa brevis", a 17th century sacred mass by Antonio Lotti (ca. 1667 -- 5 January 1740). This version of "Missa brevis" was professionally recorded for our Sacred songs from the Renaissance CD, "Cantate Domino".
1 : The top ten has changed a bit since I posted the videos individually last November. Surprisingly, and we cannot figure out why, "Come Again" still tops the list at Number One. YouTube analytics ( where you can see all sorts of viewer engagement statistics for your uploaded videos ) show that they all watched the song to the end -- so thanks for the love, people! NOTE: I update this playlist when the top ten songs change, so if you read this post in the future, you may notice the videos I have named here could be different than the embedded playlist. It will be neat (oops, showing my age) to see the changes. Current TopTen Stairwell Caroller Videos: Playlist
If you got our newsletter, you may be aware of some exciting changes to our repertoire this spring!
Pierre, our director, has decided to open up our musical selections to the contemporary scene and we are all super excited about it! Previously, we were self limiting to the Renaissance period for our spring programme, but with some pressure from the choir (me included) and suggestions from our good friend and Dominion Carilloneur, Andrea McCrady, Pete has chosen some spectacular pieces for us to perform this year.
My personal favourite, and OMGoodness, the hardest piece I have ever had to learn, is the modern Ave Maria by Franz Biebl. This will be our first performance of this piece, and we found an incredible version of it on YouTube performed by one incredible guy, Matthew Curtis.
In the green room at the National Gallery, photo -- Andrew Jones
By: Rae Payette, the newest Stairwell Caroller
I've begun living Wednesday to Wednesday. That's the night the Stairwell Carollers practice. A church gym, spare metal stacking chairs, 30-odd people, and a tuning fork.
And suddenly, the ceiling is ringing.
It doesn't get any purer than this - voices, only voices, tuning in to the harmonics that we feel resonating on our skin, to create a single, many-throated sound.
Everyone switches seats for another of Petes challenging singing exercises
These are my people.
Several (alright, many) years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend Canterbury High School, in the triple-credit vocal program. Along with science, math, history and English classes, I also sang two hours (and often more) each day. Not since then have I felt the passion, the sweat, the purity of concentration that that level of musical commitment demands.
Rae, soprano, stands in the second row third to the right
And then I joined the Stairwell Carollers.
Three grueling auditions later, (sight-reading in Latin -- on the spot -- along with a rotating series of strangers standing next to me -- listening to my every note -- was a wee bit intimidating,) I was in. It was worth it.
Rae's first concert with us -- at the National Gallery
I've had a rough year in my personal life, and being at choir, floating in the exquisite sounds at once within and all around me, has been such a blessing. It is helping me heal, and find my way back to peace. I feel nothing but gratitude and awe at this music we make together. The Stairwell Carollers have welcomed me, and I am home.
-------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for such a lovely "review", Rae. Sorry about the Latin -- believe me, most of us struggle with the pronunciation too! We all are so glad you found us -- and you are very welcome!
Come hear the first Stairwell Carollers concert of the 2015 Spring Season this Sunday, April 19, at 3:00 pm at the National Gallery of Canada.
We have a purely Sacred lineup of songs for you from the Medieval era through the Renaissance period to Contemporary, including original works by our director, Pierre Massie.
Pierre, busy composing
As part of their concert series, entrance to the performance is free with the purchase of a regular Gallery admission.
Stairwell Carollers in the Rideau Chapel at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
The Stairwell Carollers hold auditions regularly. For this coming Spring 2015 season, we are auditioning Sopranos only, to start in February for our spring repertoire.
This season we are doing a purely sacred music repertoire gleaned from ancient to contemporary sources.
To qualify, all you need is a solid voice, a good ear and a great attitude.
Reading music is an asset but not a necessity.
For more info, send us an email.
Don't delay! Contact us to book your audition slot for January 28, 2015.
Les Chanteurs Stairwell font des auditions régulièrement.Nous recherchons des sopranos pour février 2015.
Cette saison consistera de chants sacrés du 13ième siècle à nos jours.
Lire la musique est un atout mais n'est pas essentiel.
Les auditions se feront fin janvier.
Pour plus de renseignements, envoyez-nous un courriel. Les auditions auront lieu le 28 janvier, 2015.
If you live in the Ottawa/Hull area and love to sing, set up your audition with us now!
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 enbourses d'études.
Google