Andrea McCrady, Dominion Carillonneur, to again perform Pierre Massie creations

I am so proud to announce that my compositions and arrangements are to be featured in a special noon hour Carillon Concert, Monday Dec 12, 2016! If you are in Ottawa, take a stroll to the Peace Tower, Centre Block, Parliament hill and have a listen!

To be considered a favourite composer by our Dominion Carillonneur, Andrea McCrady is truly humbling. She has created exclusive Carillon adaptations of my work for the Tower Bells.

What an amazing Christmas present -- a special Tower Bell concert of my music was the last thing I expected! Thank you Andrea.

Now,
if you were not aware that the music that rings out from Ottawa's Peace Tower is played live by a human being, you are not alone! In Ottawa, with technology at every turn, many take the ubiquitous Tower bell sounds for granted -- and assume that they are somehow a digital or machine powered creation.

Not so.

A diminutive artist "dances" on the keys of the Carillon -- playing almost every day -- to her unseen audience of Ottawa listeners. If you are within earshot of Ottawa's Parliament Peace Tower bells you will hear them strike the traditional clock chimes ( the only mechanised sounds the 53 bells play ).

Then, if you are very fortunate, you will hear Andrea McCrady  play -- and it is glorious!

Here is a playlist of some of her work -- check out her recent spot with Rick Mercer!

Ciao,

The First Noel - for SATB choir - new, fun arrangement

After years of singing traditional versions of The First Nowell, I felt it was a good time for a change.  

This arrangement has everything a choral director could want; lower voices singing a verse, upper voices singing another and a finale that ends with two choirs and a soaring descant.  

Have a listen and enjoy.  
Your choir will get a standing ovation every time with this one.

The sheet music for my original setting of this beautiful French Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press.

Visit my choir's YouTube channel for videos of this and some other of my works.

Ciao,
Pierre

I saw a swete semly syght - an original Canadian Christmas Carol by Pierre Massie

I saw a swete semly syght is an original composition I wrote in 1998, based on words from the 15th century Ritson's Manuscript. It became the title track on my choir's most popular Christmas Carol CD to date, "I saw a sweet semly syght".

The composition placed First in the Amadeus Choir International Carol Competition and premiered Dec. 5, 1999, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in Toronto. 

The sheet music for my original Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press. The hire process is easy, and you don't have to wait for the sheet music to arrive in the mail. View the sheet music and listen to a sample mp3 of my Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, singing this arrangement.

It was also broadcast across Canada on CBC radio on Christmas day. 

NOTE: When I did it with my choir, The Stairwell Carollers, I chose to use the Olde English pronunciation but it can also be sung in standard.

Visit my choir's YouTube channel for videos of my works

Ciao,
Pierre

New Canadian choral arrangement of Do You Hear What I Hear - for Xmas 2016

Choir directors...

I hope you enjoy my arrangement of Do You Hear What I Hear. 

This particular version is reminiscent of "The Little Drummer Boy" - with lower voices mimicking the sound of the drum.

I had long intended to do a choral setting of this piece,  and now -  with publisher's permission - here it is!

Unfortunately, the only audio sample I can provide is of my music software playing the arrangement.

It's a recent work for me and so my choir hasn't premiered it yet. Maybe your group will beat us to the punch!

The sheet music for my original setting of this favourite Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press

The hire process is easy, and you don't have to wait for the sheet music to arrive in the mail, since you print it directly from your digital download.

Ciao,
Pierre

My original composition, Eya, eya gaudeamus -- sheet music for choir now available

Eya, eya gaudeamus took first place in the 2007 Amadeus Choir International Songwriting Competition, where it was premiered by the Amadeus Choir under the direction of Lydia Adams.

Each line speaks of the joy and festive nature of the Christmas season. Like most of my original pieces, I couldn't explain where the inspiration comes from - it just does. And a few hours or days later, I have a song. It's a wonder and a mystery to me and I can't will it to happen. I have yet to do a commissioned piece -- it's tough to be inspired on cue.

The sheet music for my original Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press. You can view samples of the sheet music there and listen to an mp3 sound byte too.

Here is a concert recording of the piece sung by my choir, the Stairwell Carollers.



Ciao,
Pierre

Unique arrangement of Dans cette étable has a distinct drum-like background

The sheet music for my original setting of this beautiful French Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press.

The hire process is easy, and you don't have to wait for the sheet music to arrive in the mail. View the sheet music and listen to a sample mp3 of my Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, singing this arrangement.

My arrangement of Dans cette étable is underscored by the sound of drums performed by the lower voices. With each additional verse, more voices join in, creating intricate harmonies.

The piece ends with the repeat of verse one in half time - a strong ending that caps off the work with a bang.

Visit my choir's YouTube channel to preview more of my works.

Ciao,

Pierre

Original arrangement of Ça bergers, assemblons nous now available as digital download

Attention, choral directors!

My contemporary arrangement of Ça, bergers, assemblons nous has several sections providing variety from verse to chorus, unlike the Ernest Gagnon traditional version.

The piece opens with the chorus sung by the sopranos and altos first as a duet and then as a quartet. It is then repeated by all voices.

The sopranos and altos sing verse 1 alone. Tenors and basses only for verse 2 -- and finally -- the rousing full choir ending chorus, with a drum-like accompaniment in the lower voices.



This one is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

The sheet music for my original setting of this favourite French Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press

The hire process is very easy, and you don't have to wait for the sheet music to arrive in the mail.

You can view samples of the sheet music and listen to an mp3 sound byte too.

Ciao,
Pierre

Canadian arrangement of Away in a Manger now available

The sheet music for my original setting of this classic Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press. The hire process is easy, and you don't have to wait for the sheet music to arrive in the mail. View the sheet music and listen to a sample mp3 of my Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, singing this arrangement.

My Away in a Manger has a pure and traditional feel. The second verse is sung by only three high voices, giving it an ethereal quality.  

Since there are so many arrangements out there of the more common Kirkpatrick melody, I decided to use the John Hopkin's version which I find equals, if not surpasses, the more well known tune.

Visit my choir's YouTube channel to preview more of my works.

Ciao,
Pierre

NEW Arrangement -- We Three Kings of Orient Are

Calling all Choral directors!

I really enjoyed working my New contemporary choral arrangement of "We Three Kings of Orient Are" with my choir, The Stairwell Carollers, and now you can too. It has a modern feel with an Eastern aura, evoking ancient Persia and the Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus in the stable.



The sheet music for my original setting of this classic Christmas Carol is now available for digital download from SMP Press

The hire process is super simple, with no delay waiting for the sheet music to arrive in the mail. You can view samples of the sheet music and listen to an mp3 snippet too.

Ciao,
Pierre

Pierre Massie Compositions and Arrangements now available on Sheet Music Plus Press

Tenors in rapturous song -- The Stairwell Carollers

I am pleased to announce that my original Canadian Choral Compositions and Arrangements are now available for digital download from SMP Press, partner to Sheet Music Plus.

For many years now Sheet Music Plus has been one of my favourite sources for sheet music for my choir, The Stairwell Carollers.

I will keep you posted as I upload new pieces for your perusal.

Ciao,
Pierre