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

Allison Crowe's Diamond Jubilation at GMTF

Her eyes they shine like a diamond and her voice, piano and guitar-playing be just as crystalline pure in beauty. Musician Allison Crowe is a colleen welcoming all to delight, (not to beware), when she takes the stage this Monday, July 13 as part of this Summer’s “Who’s Darkening Our Door” concert series at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

 

Allison’s back home in Newfoundland following a triumphal concert series on Canada’s Pacific coast. Her performances – online and onstage - bring joy to millions of people. From her Corner Brook nest on this lovely isle she’s toured with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, appears in the newest Hollywood Superman movie blockbuster, and, each Summer, she returns to GMTF as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - the hit show conceived by Jeff Pitcher, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Artistic Director.

 

Join Allison for a rousing concert of favourites from Joan Morrissey, Ryan’s Fancy, Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, alongside modern classics by troubadours Gary O’Driscoll and Ron Hynes, her own internationally-acclaimed original songs and covers of the Beatles, Leonard Cohen and more.

 

Allison Crowe taps a vein of song that’s deep and wide as it is rich. Here’s one of the near 200 recordings she’s made – her take on the traditional “Black Velvet Band”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2C9qFAEHWI It’s a lively song popularly recorded on both sides of the Atlantic, including a version by the legendary 'His Nibs' Harry Hibbs - born on Bell Island.

This recording is from Allison's "Newfoundland Vinyl" LP, the 11th release (of 17 albums now) on Rubenesque Records Ltd. - http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/black-velvet-band

West Virginia-based folk+ music afficionado, Muruch, comments on an ever-present facet - whether it's rock, jazz, classical, Celtic, blues, folk or other genres Allison’s soul-mining: "What a voice, what a voice, what a voice!"

Hear Allison Crowe in full glory – 8:30 pm, Monday, July 13 - The Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, NL. For concert tickets please visit http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/whos-darkening-our-door-tonight-2015 or phone GMTF/TNL toll-free 1-877-243-2899.

Newfoundland Vinyl II

"Newfoundland Vinyl II", Allison Crowe's newest album, (and her third album globally released in 2014), comes out this week.

Right now, here's the front cover art of this album - which, as the title suggests, is another song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

TNL's Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher conceived the musical production and Allison Crowe has served as the show's Musical Director for three Summers now at GMTF.

 

Album cover photo by Allison Crowe

Here’s the flip-side of the album art for “Newfoundland Vinyl II” – Allison Crowe’s next album. The music and more will be released tomorrow – via Allison’s own music pages @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com plus iTunes and all online outlets.

 

John Lennon envisioned making records as immediate as newspapers. In these times, Allison is doing  that – figuratively and literally.

NV II track-list and more song tracks and videos to come… to join "The Water Witch" vid posted @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEM9DIRAGyk

Album photo/art by Allison Crowe

          

Between Two Trees

In 1976, Harry Hibbs, one of Newfoundland's favourite music-makers, most famously released "Between Two Trees" -- this song of love penned by Charlie McKinnon of New Brunswick, Canada.

It's revived in 2013 for the premiere run of "Newfoundland Vinyl". Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's hit show enjoys its third revolution this Summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival as "Newfoundland Vinyl: The 'C' Side". NV's conceived by TNL's Artistic Director, Jeff Pitcher, and its Musical Director is Allison Crowe -- who curates and arranges the songs for TNL's wonderfully talented and spirited cast and crew.

On her latest sensational European concert tour, Crowe carried with her music from home -- and in this bootleg video, she duets on "Between Two Trees", with Canadian musician and photographer Billie Woods.

Their performance delighted audiences, including here at Germany's Jazzhaus Freiburg, a storied venue that's soaked in the notes of such artists as Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Bill Evans, Archie Shepp, and Betty Carter -- and, for the first time, is serenaded with this sweet music from Atlantic Canada.

On the airwaves and online, passionate stewards such as DJs Rob Carnell, (of "Salt Water Music" on CFRC 101.9FM), and Wayne Tucker, (of CHMR 93.5 FM's "Newfound Records Radio Hour") share the musical riches of the region -- from the vinyl era to the latest tracks. A mother-lode for music-lovers and players is "GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador" -- a marvellous celebration of musical heritage @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld (at last count home to 3660 songs, 2462 videos, and plenty of midis, song charts and scores and more). GEST’s Owner/Archivist Gery Deugauw, in addition to his own channel, is caretaker of two wonderful YouTube collections built with great love and rare dedication – 'oldirishladdie' @ http://www.youtube.com/user/oldirishladdie and 'NLTreasure' @ http://www.youtube.com/user/NLTreasure (this latter channel created by Jim Yetman, whose video legacy lives on).

TNL's "Newfoundland Vinyl: The 'C' Side" spins each Tuesday and Friday from July 11 - August 29 at the GMTF -- The Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, Newfoundland A0K 2A0 (

http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-c-side-2014 )

On July 28, 2014 Allison Crowe Sings "Newfoundland Vinyl" and More - in GMTF's "Who's Darkening Our Door" Concert Series at The Warehouse Theatre, Main Street, Cow Head, NL. (For info on this performance and all GMTF shows - call 709-639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899)