Slumber Songs (3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement I) text: John McCrae music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis I Sleep, little eyes That brim with childish tears amid thy play, Be comforted! No grief of night can weigh Against the joys that...  moreSlumber Songs (3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement I) text: John McCrae music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis I Sleep, little eyes That brim with childish tears amid thy play, Be comforted! No grief of night can weigh Against the joys that throng thy coming day. Sleep, little heart! There is no place in Slumberland for tears: Life soon enough will bring its chilling fears And sorrows that will dim the after years. Sleep, little heart! II Ah, little eyes Dead blossoms of a springtime long ago, That life's storm crushed and left to lie below The benediction of the falling snow! Sleep, little heart That ceased so long ago its frantic beat! The years that come and go with silent feet Have naught to tell save this — that rest is sweet. Sleep, little heart. http://www.choirplace.com/profile/Nathaniel Matthew Curtis https://choraltracks.com/  less

Arrangement of an old English folk song for three voices (ATB) The keeper did a-hunting go (run away) and under his cloak he carried a bow (run away my dear) all for to shoot at a merry little doe among the leaves so green oh. Jackie boy! ...  moreArrangement of an old English folk song for three voices (ATB) The keeper did a-hunting go (run away) and under his cloak he carried a bow (run away my dear) all for to shoot at a merry little doe among the leaves so green oh. Jackie boy! Master? Sing ye well? Very well! hey down, ho down derry derry down among the leaves so green oh with a hey down down with a ho down down hey down ho down derry derry down among the leaves so-green oh The first doe he shot at and missed the second doe he trimmed he kissed the third doe went where nobody wist among the leaves so green oh Oh run away my dear!  less

Dedicated to Awegechew Teshome, Melaku Worede and John Martin -- my three biodiversity mentors -- who introduced me to the "radical" idea that farmers, seed-saving farmers, have been humanity's ingenious plant breeders and nurturers of biodiversity from t...  moreDedicated to Awegechew Teshome, Melaku Worede and John Martin -- my three biodiversity mentors -- who introduced me to the "radical" idea that farmers, seed-saving farmers, have been humanity's ingenious plant breeders and nurturers of biodiversity from time immemorial. 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 capella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 27 years. And I would like to acknowledge the Boston-based Blue Heron Ensemble for introducing me to the haunting music of Guillaume Dufay, which served as a major inspiration for this piece. 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 contact me ...    less

An SATB arrangement of Victor Hugo's remarkable poem "La coccinelle" -- the narrator looks back on a moment in time when, as a teenager, he was preparing to kiss a girl. Unfortunately, a ladybug lands on her neck, however, which distracts him. He then rem...  moreAn SATB arrangement of Victor Hugo's remarkable poem "La coccinelle" -- the narrator looks back on a moment in time when, as a teenager, he was preparing to kiss a girl. Unfortunately, a ladybug lands on her neck, however, which distracts him. He then removes the ladybug, but sadly the kiss flies off forever! If you enjoy this musical trip down memory lane, then I invite you to consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada or an Alzheimer's support group in the area where you live. Thank you! https://alzheimer.ca/ Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choraltracks.com) for recording "La coccinelle", which is dedicated to Emma. NB: choirs interested in obtaining copies of the score can contact me at rain@magma.ca. 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. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their inval...    less

Dedicated to my dear cousins Gigi and Raven. Since first singing the medieval song "All and Some" in the mid 1990s, I fell in love with the Middle English and Latin lyrics, and one day I got inspired to create my own setting of this poetic gem. NB: ...  moreDedicated to my dear cousins Gigi and Raven. Since first singing the medieval song "All and Some" in the mid 1990s, I fell in love with the Middle English and Latin lyrics, and one day I got inspired to create my own setting of this poetic gem. NB: choirs interested in obtaining copies of the score can contact The Leading Note at 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 25 years. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey.  less

"There Will Come Soft Rain" by Jonathan Adams for SSAATTBB Chorus. Performed by Matthew Curtis.

http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Scott_Villard From Three Sacred Love Songs for SATB (2012)

Gospel style setting for 2 or 4 voices, 2 flutes, double bass, guitar and tambourine of my evangelical poem about Christmas. This is not typical of my usual style, but it's an interesting excursion into the evangelical music of mid-70s Oxford, where I ...  moreGospel style setting for 2 or 4 voices, 2 flutes, double bass, guitar and tambourine of my evangelical poem about Christmas. This is not typical of my usual style, but it's an interesting excursion into the evangelical music of mid-70s Oxford, where I was studying.  

With the Night (3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement II) text: Archibald Lampman music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis O doubts, dull passions, and base fears, That harassed and oppressed the day, Ye poor remorses and vain tears, That shook ...  moreWith the Night (3 Canadian Nocturnes, movement II) text: Archibald Lampman music: Nathaniel Barnes singer: Matthew Curtis O doubts, dull passions, and base fears, That harassed and oppressed the day, Ye poor remorses and vain tears, That shook this house of clay: All heaven to the western bars Is glittering with the darker dawn; Here with the earth, the night, the stars, Ye have no place: begone! http://www.choirplace.com/profile/Nathaniel Matthew Curtis https://choraltracks.com/