A Christmas album with a difference – all-Canadian: new music or new arrangements of old favourites, sung by eight great Canadian singers, recording music of Canadian composers in Toronto in the steamy summer of 2002. AND – check out the gorgeous album design by Toronto artist Eric Mathew (www.ericmathew.com).

A labour of love – our first album of Norman’s music and Catherine’s voice, some written just for her and some adapted later. The repertoire ranges from the plaintive Deep December Blues to the celebratory title tune – a fabulous new melody that sets off the traditional old spiritual to perfection.

Familiar words, altered just a bit to fit a melody that’s so organic it feels like one coming back from a childhood memory. But this little gem is a recent nod by a Finnish Canadian to the Irish in all of us.

Grief, loss and acceptance in one powerful melody, setting the potent lines of the Song of Simeon in an expansive, moving aria.

Norman’s milestone-birthday present to Catherine’s mother, the amazing Edith Patterson (Pat) Morrow – a woman of love, brains, and beauty – a loving sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend, and family matriarch.

Norm’s ode to summer love and our abiding love of Ontario’s natural beauty. That’s Norm on guitar with James at the piano – they both entrusted the beautiful tune to Catherine.

Written by Norman for his wedding to Catherine in September 2000, this was performed first by a splendid chorus with Monica Whicher on the tune. Here it’s for piano and one voice. A humdinger in any arrangement.

A central movement from Norman’s Requiem for the Innocents, written to honour children who have died in violence, this setting of the most comforting verses of the New Testament brings hope to the weary and lost.

A solo version of the title track from Norman and Catherine’s first album (for the stellar vocal group Chorona), this is a simple, straightforward setting of a beautiful new carol. A classic in the making.

A solo version of a sweet four-part piece commissioned by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. With simple, moving lyrics and a new tune evocative of Christmases from our childhoods, this carol is a reminder of what Christmas is to many as the years go by: a day to find joy with friends and family, and to remember, with love – and longing – those we’ve lost along the way.

Norman’s beautiful version of the 23rd Psalm, written in 1999 for the funeral of Dr. John Morrow and sung on the day by none other than Mary Lou Fallis, Monica Whicher and Catherine Morrow. This time, Catherine’s on her own – with James Bourne at the piano, of course.

A country / folk / love-song Norm wrote for Catherine and then turned over to her to sing. He’s on guitar, with James at the piano – both doing lovely stuff. Listen to the words. They’re a promise of love standing by, no matter what.

The first tune of Norm’s that Catherine ever heard and at first that’s all it was – a beautiful piano piece with a title. Words came later and Catherine helped. A tiny little bit. But they are in fact almost all Norm’s. This powerful song hits all of us who’ve ever felt left out of the festivities over Christmas — but there’s a stalwart sense of survival that goes with it. Just like the blues.

In the spare poetry of John Donne, the song sets the soul free – a moving melody evoking a life lived and a spirit ready to come home.

Familiar words set for Catherine and Norman’s wedding; check out the third verse: ’Come my joy, my life, my heart…’ Beauty.

Catherine asked for a spiritual one day. A while later, this one appeared – and it’s a stunner. With a nod to the immortal Marion Anderson, who made the original tune her own, this one sets the traditional spiritual lyrics in a vast, sweeping new melody.

This is a great piece for small ensemble (as here) or a bigger group with two melodies – one brand new (“The Night was Cool in Bethlehem”) blending seamlessly with the antique favourite “In Dulci Jubilo” – a perfect blend of Christmas past and present.

A brand-new twist on a timeless favourite.

Frank Nakoshima’s simple arrangement of the classic Appalachian carol. Check out the solos – Mel Clark, Catherine, and lo-and-behold! the fabulous basso of David Winegarden – as rare as it is beautiful.

This uplifting setting is by James Whicher – a lovely piece by a great musician, who happens to be Catherine’s mother’s baby brother, which makes him Uncle Jim. We were thrilled that he had this piece up his sleeve for our all-Canadian Christmas album.

Norman’s setting of the classic, delicate lullabye – with a killer descant, if we do say so.

This little carol is spun around and turned just a little sideways – those halls have been decked earlier in the day and the celebrating has begun!

Norm visits his family’s homeland with a lovely arrangement of a traditional Finnish carol. He wrote, conducted, and sang the solo on this one!

A traditional French carol with a distinctive Canadian flair in the arrangement by Norman Gabriel Nurmi.

Something a little different from singer-songwriter John Botten.

A beloved Christmas lullaby in an arrangement that pulls both traditional melodies into one unique blend…

This one has been picked up by a few choirs now – including the Toronto Mendelssohn’s Christmas CD a few years ago. Once heard, its new melody, which perfectly sets the traditional and much-loved lyrics, almost puts the first one (famously arranged by Healey Willan) right out your mind. For my money, the a capella verse is worth the price of the album. Solo is by the inimitable Susan Suchard. Enjoy!

It just does not get more Canadian than this – the classic, haunting melody in a lush, sinuous, complex arrangement that brings to mind the power of the Canadian wilderness under a still, starry night sky. Written ideally for a larger group, we show how 8 voices can sound like 16.

Our title tune for good reason – this is truly a modern classic – finding hope, peace, and love under the Bethlehem sky. Catherine has the solo tune and Susan Suchard soars gloriously on the descant.

When played on CBC, Jurgen Goth called it a nifty little arrangement. And it is! For choirs who want to throw their audience a gentle and cheerful little curve.

One example of the kind of song Norm dreams up for personal commissions – this one evoking the classic rock ‘n roll era of a lovely couple courtship.

A loving tribute to a great husband, dad, uncle, brother, friend, and colleague. Catherine’s Uncle Michael Gillis Hall left us much too soon, but we had a chance to celebrate his 80th first, with this homage to our favourite Newfoundlander.