In the bleak midwinter, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
And for those who'd like to hear the Sumer Canon (in both English and Latin), here it is:
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
Sumer is icumen in / Perspice Christicola, Anonymous 13th-century English, sung by Quire Cleveland
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
May 2, 2026 at 1:03 PM
And for those who'd like to hear the Sumer Canon (in both English and Latin), here it is:
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
if you like Riu Riu Chiu may I interest you in these other villancicos from the Cancionero de Uppsala? www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVwb...
and www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68q...
and www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68q...
Dadme albricias, from the Cancionero de Upsala (1556)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
if you like Riu Riu Chiu may I interest you in these other villancicos from the Cancionero de Uppsala? www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVwb...
and www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68q...
and www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68q...
Wonderful, lush pervading imitation, all with four voices in canon. I did it with Quire Cleveland years ago. Faster than most other performances. youtu.be/b9evln5P3OA?...
Nesciens mater, by Jean Mouton
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Wonderful, lush pervading imitation, all with four voices in canon. I did it with Quire Cleveland years ago. Faster than most other performances. youtu.be/b9evln5P3OA?...
If you're interested, here is my version of the original Sumer Canon (with both English & Latin lyrics) sung by Quire Cleveland in 2017. Blue Heron also recorded it for Tom Kelly's 'Capturing Music' book in 2014. (Unfortunately, I don't think that's online.)
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
Sumer is icumen in / Perspice Christicola, Anonymous 13th-century English, sung by Quire Cleveland
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
May 3, 2025 at 3:35 PM
If you're interested, here is my version of the original Sumer Canon (with both English & Latin lyrics) sung by Quire Cleveland in 2017. Blue Heron also recorded it for Tom Kelly's 'Capturing Music' book in 2014. (Unfortunately, I don't think that's online.)
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
youtu.be/LPauypfqhdU?...
The thirteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is the short but sumptuous low-voice motet, Magi veniunt ab oriente, by Clemens non papa.
youtu.be/SxMpHXj62gE?...
youtu.be/SxMpHXj62gE?...
Magi veniunt ab oriente, by Jacobus Clemens non Papa
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 22, 2024 at 3:17 PM
The thirteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is the short but sumptuous low-voice motet, Magi veniunt ab oriente, by Clemens non papa.
youtu.be/SxMpHXj62gE?...
youtu.be/SxMpHXj62gE?...
The fourteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Jingle Bells, by James Lord Pierpont, in a very clever, very jazzy arrangement by Ben Parry.
youtu.be/JftWWgVRbpk?...
youtu.be/JftWWgVRbpk?...
Jingle Bells, by James Lord Pierpont, arr. Ben Parry
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 23, 2024 at 3:21 PM
The fourteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Jingle Bells, by James Lord Pierpont, in a very clever, very jazzy arrangement by Ben Parry.
youtu.be/JftWWgVRbpk?...
youtu.be/JftWWgVRbpk?...
Third in a series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos: The lively Gaudete, from Piae Cantiones, printed in Finland in 1582. The lyric is printed there, and a 4-voice musical setting for the refrain. I reconstructed music for the verse to match the refrain.
youtu.be/gLhR9dffPFo?...
youtu.be/gLhR9dffPFo?...
Gaudete, from Piae Cantiones (1582), arr. Ross W. Duffin
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 12, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Third in a series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos: The lively Gaudete, from Piae Cantiones, printed in Finland in 1582. The lyric is printed there, and a 4-voice musical setting for the refrain. I reconstructed music for the verse to match the refrain.
youtu.be/gLhR9dffPFo?...
youtu.be/gLhR9dffPFo?...
The composer Palestrina's birthdate is usually reckoned to be during the year starting on 3 February 1525, so this marks the beginning of the quincentenary of his birth! Such a wonderful composer! Here is one of his most famous motets, with QC under guest Jameson Marvin.
youtu.be/TiEfUEf36u0?...
youtu.be/TiEfUEf36u0?...
Sicut cervus, by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
February 3, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The composer Palestrina's birthdate is usually reckoned to be during the year starting on 3 February 1525, so this marks the beginning of the quincentenary of his birth! Such a wonderful composer! Here is one of his most famous motets, with QC under guest Jameson Marvin.
youtu.be/TiEfUEf36u0?...
youtu.be/TiEfUEf36u0?...
The sixth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos returns to more recent repertoire: There is a flower, by John Rutter, setting a 15th-century poem. The soloist is Margaret Carpenter Haigh. This video was chosen by the composer for his own Advent carol list one year! youtu.be/nB6mEwS94Zg?...
There is a flower, by John Rutter
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 15, 2024 at 5:32 PM
The sixth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos returns to more recent repertoire: There is a flower, by John Rutter, setting a 15th-century poem. The soloist is Margaret Carpenter Haigh. This video was chosen by the composer for his own Advent carol list one year! youtu.be/nB6mEwS94Zg?...
One of my former hats was as artistic director of Quire Cleveland. Over the next several days I'm going to post favorite videos from past Xmas concerts, starting with the Holst 'In the bleak midwinter' (which just passed 750K views).
youtu.be/SE0aIQp9V4s?...
youtu.be/SE0aIQp9V4s?...
In the bleak midwinter, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 10, 2024 at 6:03 PM
One of my former hats was as artistic director of Quire Cleveland. Over the next several days I'm going to post favorite videos from past Xmas concerts, starting with the Holst 'In the bleak midwinter' (which just passed 750K views).
youtu.be/SE0aIQp9V4s?...
youtu.be/SE0aIQp9V4s?...
The fifteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is We wish you a merry Christmas, arranged by Phil Neuman for Pioneer Brass (lyrics added by Beverly Simmons). If you know my tuning book, you remember the cartoons. Same guy! With a fun surprise American ending! youtu.be/ancK0mpyil8?...
We wish you a merry Christmas, arr. Phil Neuman
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 24, 2024 at 3:31 PM
The fifteenth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is We wish you a merry Christmas, arranged by Phil Neuman for Pioneer Brass (lyrics added by Beverly Simmons). If you know my tuning book, you remember the cartoons. Same guy! With a fun surprise American ending! youtu.be/ancK0mpyil8?...
The ninth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is In dulci jubilo, by Michael Praetorius – not his usual arrangement (lovely though it is) but a fun one for eight voices in two choirs!
youtu.be/pHRFyYzOFNQ?...
youtu.be/pHRFyYzOFNQ?...
In dulci jubilo, by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 18, 2024 at 3:48 PM
The ninth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is In dulci jubilo, by Michael Praetorius – not his usual arrangement (lovely though it is) but a fun one for eight voices in two choirs!
youtu.be/pHRFyYzOFNQ?...
youtu.be/pHRFyYzOFNQ?...
The eleventh in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Judea – A Virgin Unspotted (1778), by the talented and prolific New England Singing Master, William Billings. "Then let us be merry, put sorrow away …"
youtu.be/o2FJgjxzgQw?...
youtu.be/o2FJgjxzgQw?...
Judea - A virgin unspotted, by William Billings (1746-1800)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 20, 2024 at 3:42 PM
The eleventh in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Judea – A Virgin Unspotted (1778), by the talented and prolific New England Singing Master, William Billings. "Then let us be merry, put sorrow away …"
youtu.be/o2FJgjxzgQw?...
youtu.be/o2FJgjxzgQw?...
The eighth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Wassail Song, Ralph Vaughan Williams joyful 1913 setting of the Gloucestershire Wassail. What fun!
youtu.be/05Bzbz-RXiA?...
youtu.be/05Bzbz-RXiA?...
Wassail Song, by Ralph Vaughan Williams
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 17, 2024 at 3:33 PM
The eighth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Wassail Song, Ralph Vaughan Williams joyful 1913 setting of the Gloucestershire Wassail. What fun!
youtu.be/05Bzbz-RXiA?...
youtu.be/05Bzbz-RXiA?...
Merry Christmas all! But since today's also the 1st day of Hanukkah: I'm spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica, by Tom Lehrer. He recently declared all his works free to use, but in 2013 gave explicit permission for this arrangement by Quiristers Beverly Simmons & Daniel Singer.
youtu.be/P5vHh4PNtZ4?...
youtu.be/P5vHh4PNtZ4?...
Hanukkah in Santa Monica, by Tom Lehrer
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 25, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Merry Christmas all! But since today's also the 1st day of Hanukkah: I'm spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica, by Tom Lehrer. He recently declared all his works free to use, but in 2013 gave explicit permission for this arrangement by Quiristers Beverly Simmons & Daniel Singer.
youtu.be/P5vHh4PNtZ4?...
youtu.be/P5vHh4PNtZ4?...
Merry Christmas! Gloucestershire Wassail is the best Wassail. Fight me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Bz...
Wassail Song, by Ralph Vaughan Williams
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2024 at 6:21 PM
Merry Christmas! Gloucestershire Wassail is the best Wassail. Fight me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Bz...
The twelfth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is A Spotless Rose, by Paul Mealor. Using the same 1869 Winkworth translation of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen as Herbert Howell's gorgeous setting, Mealor's is stunning with its angelic high sopranos and sepulcral basses.
youtu.be/2GCPaTU_thw?...
youtu.be/2GCPaTU_thw?...
A Spotless Rose, by Paul Mealor
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 21, 2024 at 3:18 PM
The twelfth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is A Spotless Rose, by Paul Mealor. Using the same 1869 Winkworth translation of Es ist ein Ros entsprungen as Herbert Howell's gorgeous setting, Mealor's is stunning with its angelic high sopranos and sepulcral basses.
youtu.be/2GCPaTU_thw?...
youtu.be/2GCPaTU_thw?...
The seventh in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos uses a lyric from a Mohawk-language manuscript at Georgetown Univ. in DC. Some lyrics have penciled title translations, including 8i8 Satannitenrascon (Conditor alme siderum). I harmonized its tune like a French noël.
youtu.be/0IUzjiHemxU?...
youtu.be/0IUzjiHemxU?...
8i8 Satannitenrascon, a Mohawk hymn, arr. Ross W. Duffin
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 16, 2024 at 3:42 PM
The seventh in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos uses a lyric from a Mohawk-language manuscript at Georgetown Univ. in DC. Some lyrics have penciled title translations, including 8i8 Satannitenrascon (Conditor alme siderum). I harmonized its tune like a French noël.
youtu.be/0IUzjiHemxU?...
youtu.be/0IUzjiHemxU?...
Next is my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is 'Quelle est cette odeur agréable', a noël from ca.1700 that I arranged. It appeared too late to be included in Charpentier's Messe de Minuit, but John Gay later used the tune for a drinking song. Lovely piece!
youtu.be/u3wTNb-ESes?...
youtu.be/u3wTNb-ESes?...
Quelle est cette odeur agréable, arr. Ross W. Duffin
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Next is my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is 'Quelle est cette odeur agréable', a noël from ca.1700 that I arranged. It appeared too late to be included in Charpentier's Messe de Minuit, but John Gay later used the tune for a drinking song. Lovely piece!
youtu.be/u3wTNb-ESes?...
youtu.be/u3wTNb-ESes?...
Like me, Dett was from Southern Ontario but lived most of his life in the US. Quire Cleveland performed his prize-winning motet "Don't be weary traveler" in 2014. The soloist is Brian MacGilvray.
youtu.be/bjY3lxT47ug?...
youtu.be/bjY3lxT47ug?...
Don't be weary, traveler (1920), by R. Nathaniel Dett (1882--1943)
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
February 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Like me, Dett was from Southern Ontario but lived most of his life in the US. Quire Cleveland performed his prize-winning motet "Don't be weary traveler" in 2014. The soloist is Brian MacGilvray.
youtu.be/bjY3lxT47ug?...
youtu.be/bjY3lxT47ug?...
The fifth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Christe redemptor omnium, by the great 15th-century Franco-Flemish composer, Guillaume DuFay. An 'alternatim' setting, it alternates the chant hymn with DuFay's polyphony. Lots of fauxbourdon!
youtu.be/qG9UF4KEZm8?...
youtu.be/qG9UF4KEZm8?...
Christe redemptor omnium, by Guillaume DuFay
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 14, 2024 at 3:43 PM
The fifth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Christe redemptor omnium, by the great 15th-century Franco-Flemish composer, Guillaume DuFay. An 'alternatim' setting, it alternates the chant hymn with DuFay's polyphony. Lots of fauxbourdon!
youtu.be/qG9UF4KEZm8?...
youtu.be/qG9UF4KEZm8?...
The fourth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Meklētāja cel̦š, the “Christmas Rose,” by the Latvian composer Andrejs Jansons (1938–2022), sung first in Latvian, then in English. Lovely piece, ending with a lilting 5/8 section!
youtu.be/KZdM3QQSW-0?...
youtu.be/KZdM3QQSW-0?...
Meklētāja cel̦š, the “Christmas Rose,” by Andrejs Jansons
YouTube video by QuireCleveland, 2008–18
youtu.be
December 13, 2024 at 3:12 PM
The fourth in my series of Quire Cleveland Xmas videos is Meklētāja cel̦š, the “Christmas Rose,” by the Latvian composer Andrejs Jansons (1938–2022), sung first in Latvian, then in English. Lovely piece, ending with a lilting 5/8 section!
youtu.be/KZdM3QQSW-0?...
youtu.be/KZdM3QQSW-0?...