I have dedicated this song to health care workers and other courageous COVID-19 workers around the world. THANK YOU! "Where then could pain find a hold?" is a musical plea for reconciliation addressed to those (individuals, groups, nations) who find t...  moreI have dedicated this song to health care workers and other courageous COVID-19 workers around the world. THANK YOU! "Where then could pain find a hold?" is a musical plea for reconciliation addressed to those (individuals, groups, nations) who find themselves in conflict. I would like to acknowledge pianist Fred Hersch whose magical playing of Billy Joel's "And so it goes" in the middle of an Ottawa winter inspired me to start working on this piece. I would like to thank my Ottawa singing friends in the "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. I would also like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 27 years. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey. NB: choirs interested in obtaining copies of the score can conta...    less

This song is a wedding present for my daughter Salima and my son-in-law Tarik Talundzic. As a boy chorister I can remember singing Healey Willan's setting of "Rise up, my love", a true gem. The beautiful imagery of this text drew me to write my own s...  moreThis song is a wedding present for my daughter Salima and my son-in-law Tarik Talundzic. As a boy chorister I can remember singing Healey Willan's setting of "Rise up, my love", a true gem. The beautiful imagery of this text drew me to write my own setting. Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choraltracks.com) for recording "Rise up, my love, my fair one." If you would like to obtain the sheet music for this song, please contact: info@leadingnote.com. I would like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 26 years. I would also like to thank my friends in our "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey.  less

A trio arrangement of the old English folk song "Green Broom" about a young man who is sent out to work and finds a lady who wants to marry him. I have classified this as SSA but it is also possible for Soprano Mezzo and Alto Other lower versions are coming soon.

"Demain, dès l'aube" is dedicated to my dear friend Lillian Holowka and her partner Donald Bergen, who died less than a year apart in 2013 and 2014. Victor Hugo's heart-wrenching 1847 poem describes a walk he plans to take tomorrow morning ("Demain, dè...  more"Demain, dès l'aube" is dedicated to my dear friend Lillian Holowka and her partner Donald Bergen, who died less than a year apart in 2013 and 2014. Victor Hugo's heart-wrenching 1847 poem describes a walk he plans to take tomorrow morning ("Demain, dès l'aube") through the countryside to his daughter Léopoldine's grave four years after her tragic death in a boating accident, which also took the life of her husband Charles who had tried to save her. Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choraltracks.com) for recording "Demain, dès l'aube." To purchase the sheet music for this song, please contact: info@leadingnote.com. I would like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 26 years. I would also like to thank my friends in our "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and m...    less

Voices: ChoralTracks https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Gliding_O%27er_All_(Scott_Villard) #ChoralTracks #MatthewCurtis #AlexandraBurch

I dedicate this piece to my friends in the composer/singer collective, the Ad hoc Chorale, who tested out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offered valuable comments. "How heavy lies the heart" has drawn inspiration from the traditional F...  moreI dedicate this piece to my friends in the composer/singer collective, the Ad hoc Chorale, who tested out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offered valuable comments. "How heavy lies the heart" has drawn inspiration from the traditional French Christmas carol, "Quelle est cette odeur agréable", which John Gay also set as a boisterous drinking song in the Beggar's Opera, "Fill every glass, for wine inspires us!" In addition, the song draws inspiration from Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua. In early 2018, I applied to be a participant at one of the Vancouver Chamber Choir's Interplay workshops funded by the SOCAN Foundation and to my delight I was accepted. "How heavy lies the heart" was one of the pieces that this amazing choir sight read for me on the spot. VCC director Jon Washburn and choir members then provided me with valuable feedback, for which I am very grateful. I would also like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre M...    less

Voices: ChoralTracks https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/A_child_is_born_(Scott_Villard) #ChoralTracks #MatthewCurtis #AlexandraBurch

Performed by Matthew Curtis (multitracking) Parody of the traditional German folk song about the life of the farmer. In these versions the farmer takes advantage of many of the technological and biotechnical opportunities of science but the world change...  morePerformed by Matthew Curtis (multitracking) Parody of the traditional German folk song about the life of the farmer. In these versions the farmer takes advantage of many of the technological and biotechnical opportunities of science but the world changes strangely. Scores in English: Men's voices: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/20002321?aff_id=175705 Mixed choir: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/20002319?aff_id=175705 Scores in German: Men's voices: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/20002322?aff_id=175705 Mixed choir: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/20002320?aff_id=175705  less

Birds' Lullaby, 3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement III) text: Emily Pauline Johnson music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis I Sing to us, cedars; the twilight is creeping With shadowy garments, the wilderness through; All day we have carol...  moreBirds' Lullaby, 3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement III) text: Emily Pauline Johnson music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis I Sing to us, cedars; the twilight is creeping With shadowy garments, the wilderness through; All day we have carolled, and now would be sleeping, So echo the anthems we warbled to you; While we swing, swing, And your branches sing, And we drowse to your dreamy whispering. II Sing to us, cedars; the night-wind is sighing, Is wooing, is pleading, to hear you reply; And here in your arms we are restfully lying, And longing to dream to your soft lullaby; While we swing, swing, And your branches sing, And we drowse to your dreamy whispering. III Sing to us, cedars; your voice is so lowly, Your breathing so fragrant, your branches so strong; Our little nest-cradles are swaying so slowly, While zephyrs are breathing their slumberous song. And we swing, swing, While your branches sing, And we drowse to your dreamy whispering. http://www.choirplace.com...    less

Voices: ChoralTracks https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/O_sacrum_convivium_(2)_(Scott_Villard) #ChoralTracks #MatthewCurtis #AlexandraBurch