O Canada: Christmas Carols and Music from Canadian Composers
Compiled by R. Rojas
Updated: Jan. 15, 2024
Descriptions are the record label descriptions that may have been changed better reading.
Not all classcical or choral here, but some interesting album.s
Import exclusive compilation scheduled to include tracks from Matt Dusk, Diana Krall, Bryan Adams, Holly Cole, Jann Arden, Bruce Cockburn, & many more. Warner. 2004.
Label: Universal
Following description from Naxos:
O Holy Night
Although Christmas is primarily a religious festival, it is also a joyful celebration and a time for warm-hearted gatherings, when food, gifts and music mix with prayer. The musical repertoire that Christmas has brought about bears witness to the many different faces of this festival.
In Christmas music, the popular and solemn often mix, making it difficult to trace the real origin of many pieces. For example, Minuit, chrétiens (‘Midnight, Christians’) by Adolphe Adam, the author of the famous ballet Giselle, has become part of the French folk tradition, although written by a professional composer. La nuit (‘The Night’) was also written by a professional composer, Jean-Philippe Rameau. Allons, gay, gay, bergères (‘Let us go, merry shepherdesses’) was composed by Guillaume Costelley. The tune for Sainte nuit (‘Silent Night’) is famous in many languages. On the other hand, many composers have also been inspired by folk celebrations and music. Around 1890, Charles Gounod published a Christmas carol in English using Henry Farnie's text Bethlehem and the tune of Dans cette étable.
French religious folk songs or noëls were often inspired by pastoral songs. This genre originated in the twelfth century as songs for the Nativity.
Nevertheless, the true Christmas carol came from Provence and was written in this region's dialect, often using secular tunes. These noëls or carols became fully developed in the fifteenth century and soon after were compiled into books and published. This helped them spread in popularity thus becoming a deeply rooted tradition.
The Christmas carols in this recording are among those most frequently heard among the French-speaking people of Canada. Many of them came from across the Atlantic to become part of Quebec's regional tradition. According to the historian Ernest Myrand, 'the tune of the future Ça bergers ussemblons-nous (‘Shepherds let us get together’) was first sung by Jacques Cartier's sailors on the deck of their ship, the Grande Hermine in Stadaconé [now Quebec City] on Christmas Day of 1535.
Over the centuries, Quebec composers have tried to adapt or arrange the most famous carol while still maintaining the original character of this music'.
Composer and organist Raymond Daveluy, born in 1926 in Victoriaville, has arranged many of the most popular French Canadian carols. It is Daveluy's sense of harmony that makes him so suited to this task. His arrangements on this recording include Ah! Quel grand mystère! (‘Oh what a great mystery!’); Ça, bergers! (‘So, shepherds!’) and Dans cette étable (‘In this stable’).
The carol Il est né le divin enfant (‘The Divine Child is born’) was originally from Lorraine; its melody is probably borrowed from La tête bizarde, a hunter's tune from the eighteenth century. Les anges dans nos campagnes (‘Angels in our fields’) also dates back to the eighteenth century and comes from Languedoc while Le sommeil de l'enfant Jésus (‘The sleep of the infant Jesus’) comes from Anjou.
Another important musician represented on this recording is Donald Patriquin. Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1938, his works often show the influence of the stories and folklore of his native region. It is this cultural understanding which makes him such an ideal arranger and composer of this music for the Christmas tradition. His arrangements include Venez mes enfants (‘Come my children’); Quelle est cette odeur agréable? (‘What is this lovely perfume?’) and Tous les bourgeois de Châtres (‘All the people of Châtres’), a carol from the town of Arpajon.
This recording also includes a variety of non-French music sung in Quebec at Christmas time. These works come from England, continental Europe and the United States but have been adopted over time by French-speaking people. Adeste Fideles was composed by J.F. Wade. English by birth, Wade lived in Douai, France, and would have written this song between 1740 and 1745.
It was originally published in Latin but became popular through the English version O come, all ye faithful. The origin of Carol of the bells is unclear, though it is usually regarded as Ukrainian. There is a Flower arranged by John Rutter, and Yuletide Fires, are English in origin, although both are frequent visitors to Quebec Christmas celebrations.
Finally, the Huron carol, Jesous Ahatonhia, as arranged by the Canadian composer Healy Willan, is one of the first Christmas carols ever composed in North America.
All of the music on this CD was written to celebrate one event – the birth of Christ. If there is any other common thread in all of these carols, it is the importance of a music that is close to people's hearts. Over two continents and three centuries this need still exists – for simple, meaningful songs that speak to our faith and our hope.
Dominique Olivier
The last complete CD of the late Dr. Elmer Iseler has glorious Christmas carols and organ music from Canada's past chosen by the Canadian Musical Heritage Society. Features tenor Michael Schade and mezzo-soprano Norine Burgess. The Ottawa Citizen says it's "One of the most pleasing Christmas collections you're likely to encounter."
Label: Marquis Music
Described by the Halifax Chronicle-Herald as “one of the most radiant a capella choir CDs of this or any previous Christmas,” Halifax Camerata’s recording ‘Songs of the Stable’ has continued to be a treasure among classical music fans since its initial release more than 10 years ago. The album was recently featured on CBC’s nationally broadcast choral concert program and features a collection of Christmas music by Canadian composers.
1. Plain Course of Grandiose - Composer: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral
2. O magnum mysterium - Composer: Paul Halley
3. A poor place - Composer: Herbert O'Dirscoll Composer: Patrick Wedd
4. Legend of the Bird - Composer: Stephanie Martin
5. I sing the birth - Ben Jonson Composer: Stephen Chatman
6. Rejoice ye Peoples of the Earth - Composer: Martin Luther Composer: Zachary Windus
7. Sailor's Carol - Composer: Charles Causley Composer: Matthew Larkin
8. There is no Rose - Composer: Rupert Lang
9. The time draws near - Alfred Lord Tennyson Composer: Christopher Goddard
10. Not very long ago - Composer: Bramwell Tovey
11. I Syng of a Mayden - Composer: Kathleen Allan
12. Touch of Grandshire Triples - Composer: The Christ Church Cathedral Guild of Bellringers
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