La Vie en Rose: A Time for Tidings

The spirit of Edith Piaf, “The Little Sparrow”, soars. Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk are the wind beneath the wings of “La Vie en Rose”, composed by Piaf (Edith Giovanna Gassion) & Louiguy (Louis Guglielmi):

A Time for Tidings

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/a-time-for-tidings

Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano & guitar), Vancouver Island-born, Newfoundland-nested singer-songwriter, pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Céline Sawchuk, born in Germany's Black Forest and now home on Salt Spring Island, BC to bring “Tidings” – music for the season & all-time.

"A Time for Tidings", cabaret-style live from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, stirs together traditional Christmas and holiday evergreens with year-round musical treats from English, French and German repertoire. It's an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul to reflect and refresh all our emotions.

Uniting a range of rich cultural traditions, Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk deliver real wonderment, solace and joy.

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day" – The Pique

"Be prepared to be amazed" – ChristmasReviews

Music recorded and engineered by Leif Henderson at "The Cultch". Thanks, as well, to Audio Archivist John MacMillan.

Album Art: Alick Tsui Photography + Mind Palace Design

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale! +

Best o' the season to you and yours!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Peace

Tochter Zion + Stille Nacht (Silent Night): A Time for Tidings

Celebrating this season with an Euro single – “Tochter Zion / Stille Nacht (Silent Night)” – Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk and a pair of traditional songs this Christmastime.

A Time for Tidings

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/a-time-for-tidings

Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano & guitar), Vancouver Island-born, Newfoundland-nested singer-songwriter, pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Céline Sawchuk, born in Germany's Black Forest and now home on Salt Spring Island, BC to bring “Tidings” – music for the season & all-time.

"A Time for Tidings", cabaret-style live from the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, stirs together traditional Christmas and holiday evergreens with year-round musical treats from English, French and German repertoire. It's an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul to reflect and refresh all our emotions.

Uniting a range of rich cultural traditions, Allison Crowe with Céline Sawchuk deliver real wonderment, solace and joy.

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day" – The Pique

"Be prepared to be amazed" – ChristmasReviews

Music recorded and engineered by Leif Henderson at "The Cultch". Thanks, as well, to Audio Archivist John MacMillan.

Album Art: Alick Tsui Photography + Mind Palace Design

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel! Buon Natale! +

Best o' the season to you and yours!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Peace 

O Holy Night - Day 29 on the Musical Advent Calendar

“O Holy Night” completes the Musical Advent Calendar for 2016. On Christmas Day Allison Crowe delivers this much-loved, traditional, carol – music by Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856) and words: Placide Cappeau, 1847 (Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle); translated from French to English by John S. Dwight (1812-1893):

(Hear the “Tidings” album version @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/o-holy-night)

Enjoy all 29 songs - sacred and secular, trad to modern - now open on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Silent Night (Stille Nacht) - Day 28 on the Musical Advent Calendar

“Silent Night” (“Stille Nacht”), first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818, is on the Musical Advent calendar now (Day 28) from Allison Crowe’s “Tidings” video session:

(The album version is @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/silent-night)

Each day through Christmas enjoy a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

What Child Is This (Greensleeves) - Day 27 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Musically manifesting power and glory – it’s Day 27 on the Musical Advent Calendar and Allison Crowe’s jazz arrangement of the traditional carol combo – “What Child Is This (Greensleeves)”:

Each day through Christmas celebrate with a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Ding Dong Merrily on High - Day 26 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Allison Crowe, the most original, vital – and versatile – voice of her generation in popular music rings in Day 26 on the Advent Calendar with this playful song off the all-a-cappella “Souling” album:

Written originally as a French dance tune in the 1500s, words were added to create “Ding Dong Merrily on High”, first published in 1924’s “The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, And Other Seasons”.

Enjoy a new song each day through Christmas open on Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Day 21 on Musical Advent Calendar

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” opens Day 21 on the Musical Advent Calendar. This traditional Christmas carol dates originally to 18th century England - and makes an appearance in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" almost 100 years later. In this new millenium, Allison Crowe delivers the song a cappella - on her album "Souling”.

Each day through Christmas celebrate with a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

The Wexford Carol - Day 19 on Musical Advent Calendar

From 12th century Ireland to here and now, Day 19 on Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar, “The Wexford Carol” brings tidings of comfort and joy - "Good people all, this Christmastime...":

Each day through Christmas enjoy a new song opening on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Allison Crowe's Music Welcome @ Santa Deugaw's GEST

Allison Crowe’s fresh recording of “Christmas in the Harbour” is nestled all snug – embedded @ "GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador" – while visions of sugar-plums dance in our heads @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/acrowe.htm

GEST’s Owner/Archivist Gery Deugaw is Santa Claus of a cultural NL Pole – sharing joys and riches of “composers and performers of Newfoundland and Labrador music, whether traditional or modern”. He dedicates much of his life to a site overflowing with history of artists and tunes, song lyrics, videos, midis, song charts, scores and more – documenting and, by so doing, celebrating the region’s musical heritage.

One stocking, for example, you’ll find stuffed with lyrics and versions of Gary O’Driscoll’s song “Christmas in the Harbour”, including Allison’s new take @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/23/harbour.htm - even an helping of etymology to digest a lyric morsel - ‘jannying”. A sleighful of “Christmas Songs at GEST Songs Of NFLD” is @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/christmas.htm Rudolph guides us to Santa Deugaw’s main workshop @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld 

Allison Crowe foto

Christmas in the Harbour - Day 13 on the Musical Advent Calendar

“Christmas in the Harbour”, looking out Allison Crowe’s window – and music as immediate as the falling snow. This carol from songwriter Gary O’Driscoll’s first heard some 35 years ago – in an holiday special of “Up at Ours”, the NL television comedy-drama series created by actor, playwright+ Gordon Pinsent. It’s now a perennial favourite:

Each day through Christmas celebrate a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Foto by Allison Crowe

It Came Upon a Midnight Calendar - Day 11 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar radiates glorious songs. Here, on Day 11, is one that began life as a poem and has been ringing out for o’er 200 years: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”:

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Allison Crowe a cappella from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Each day through Christmas celebrate a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @

http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html 

Allison Crowe and special guests bring "Tidings" to the ACC Corner Brook in Concert - Saturday, December 10 at 8pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/578139959061288

The First Noel

“The First Noel” - a favourite from the traditional Christmas canon.



Late one afternoon, Allison Crowe took her place at the piano and performed the songs of “Tidings” live-off-the-floor – captured on film in real-time by director/producer Alex Postowoi and his crew: camera-persons Karen Duthie, Randy Rotheisler, editor Shirley Claydon and interviewer Steven Rosenberg. The audio’s recorded by Larry Anschell at his Turtle Recording studios in White Rock, BC, Canada.

Crowe's much-loved versions of carols alongside tunes from the popular songbook, by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles and more, have been viewed and heard by millions of people around the globe - every sex, race, religion and creed+ without boundaries or divisions.

It’s an historic session that nearly didn’t happen.

On the way from Vancouver to the studio near the Canada/US border, the large industrial van carrying the musician, film crew, and the lighting and camera gear broke down and had to be abandoned on the median.

Once bodies and equipment had been transferred into friends’ passenger vehicles, including a Volvo sedan so weighted down its undercarriage sparked as it grazed the tarmac, all arrived at Turtle late in the day for what had been booked for a morning call.

Engineer Anschell said had it been any artist other than Allison Crowe he’d have cancelled the session and looked to reschedule, as there was not the time available to set-up and film/record an album of song material. Knowing Allison, though, “Turtle” let things proceed – and, between sips of water and tea, she performed each song in a single, first, take. The full recording happened in the window it takes to enjoy these videos.

Soul Cake

An earlier form of carolling – and trick or treating, to boot - is the tradition of “souling” or “soul-caking”.


Soul Cake from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

As singers make the rounds, door-to-door, chanting ancient rhymes a welcome reward is a soul cake – for which there are a range of recipes.

Here’s one from Shropshire, a county in the West Midlands of England, that’s collected by Dorothy Gladys Spicer for publication in her 1960 book “Feast-Day Cakes from Many Lands”.

“INGREDIENTS

6 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

Cream shortening and sugar. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water to which a teaspoon of sugar has been added. Set aside. Scald milk and add to the creamed mixture. When cooled add yeast mixture and stir until thoroughly blended. Sift together flour, salt, and spices, and add gradually to other ingredients, kneading into a soft dough. Set sponge to rise in warm place in greased covered bowl. When doubled in bulk, shape into small round or oval buns. Brush tops with slightly beaten egg white. Bake in moderately hot oven (400° F.) for 15 minutes. Drop temperature to 350 ° F. and bake until delicately browned and thoroughly done.”

To join in the musical feasting, here’s Allison Crowe, with the first song track served up by her a cappella album "Souling": http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling-bonus-tracks-edition

Wassail Song

Like souling and caroling, (even the more sonorous of trick-or-treating), wassailing can involve a merry band of people going door-to-door and singing from porch-steps. (Though some go a-wassailing to the orchard where they can serenade the trees.) Fortifying such merriment may be a supply of cider, punch, mulled wine, or spicy ale.

Dipping anew into the bowl of this season’s traditional music, here’s Allison Crowe’s serving of the “Wassail Song”

Joy

Joy - from Allison Crowe - O Holy Night (Tidings)

Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Silent Night - from Allison Crowe's legendary "Tidings" solo sessions.

That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)

"That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)" is the third song track on "Souling":

Silhouette.animation by the amazing Lotte Reiniger, (whose 1926 creation of "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" is the first animated feature film), is seen here in an excerpt from "The Star of Bethlehem" (1956).

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music.

With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who’ll perform in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in  Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Joy for the child in us all – “Ding Dong Merrily on High”. Originally a French dance tune, "Branle de l'Official", by Jehan Tabourot (1519 – 1593), it’s published as a carol in the early 1900s with English lyrics by composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848 – 1934). In our time, it’s been recorded by a range of folks including The Chieftains and The Muppets… and, now, Allison Crowe on “Souling”.

The accompanying visual is an excerpt from “Christmas Comes But Once a Year”, a Fleischer Studios Color Classics animated short released in December, 1936.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music. With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

Once in Royal David's City

The words to "Once in Royal David's City" are written by Dublin, Ireland-born Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (1818-1895) and first published in her 1848 collection, "Hymns for Little Children". This text by C.F. Alexander, wife of the Bishop of Derry, was later set to music by English composer Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876).

Allison Crowe now tells the song's story:

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music. With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

This traditional Christmas carol dates originally to 18th century England - and makes an appearance in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" almost 100 years later. In this new millenium, Allison Crowe delivers the song a cappella - on her album "Souling".

The music's visual accompaniment is an excerpt from "Peace on Earth", a 1939 Academy Award-nominated cartoon directed by Hugh Harman.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music. With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.