Archival

 

Producers: Ursula Kelly and Meghan Forsyth.

In 2018, Ursula A. Kelly and Meghan C. Forsyth published the most comprehensive collection of songs and stories from the logging industry ever compiled in this province in their book, The Music of Our Burnished Axes. This album features 21 songs from the book performed by artists from throughout the province.

With your purchase of the All Tracks download option or a hard copy mail order of this CD comes a 40% discount on the book from Memorial University Press (MUP). Find out more here:

https://memorialuniversitypress.ca/Books/T/The-Music-of-Our-Burnished-Axes 

 

Mentioned in Song: Song Traditions of the Loggers of Newfoundland and Labrador (2014) is the first audio compilation of songs about lumbering, logging, and woods work in this province. The CD includes 23 archival recordings and four new arrangements, representing diverse cultural communities and regions. The accompanying 90-page booklet explores the place of song in logging culture. Mentioned in Song presents a compelling account of the collective identity, cultural practices, and musical traditions of this distinct occupational group.

Mentioned in Song is produced by Dr. Ursula Kelly for the Back on Track series.

Praise for Mentioned in Song

“Shines light on expressive culture related to an important industry in the province, while also demonstrating the living nature of folksinging traditions.”—Ethnologies

“An invaluable contribution to the documentation of North American woods traditions.”—Journal of American Folklore

 

Doughboys and Molasses, Oh! Traditional Songs from the Gros MorneRegion offers listeners a new perspective on the musical heritage of this distinctive area of Newfoundland’s west coast. The disc features 23 carefully restored tracks originally recorded from local singers by folk song researchers in the mid-twentieth century. Also included are four new performances specially commissioned for this compilation.

The accompanying booklet explores the stories of the songs, the singers, and the collectors, as well as the role of singing in family and community life.

 thTTr

 

NOW AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY!

Welta’q – “It Sounds Good”: Historic Recordings of the Mi’kmaq(2009) features:

• 24 tracks showcasing the vibrant musical life of the Mi’kmaw people in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Québec 

• traditional Mi’kmaw songs; songs by the first Mi’kmaw powwow drum group; fiddle tunes and folksongs; hymns and anthems; a lullaby; and the story of Mi’kmwesu, the flute-playing trickster

• important archival recordings from institutions across Canada and field recordings from private research collections

• artwork by Mi’kmaw artist Jerry Evans

• 60-page accompanying booklet with textual and musical transcriptions of the songs; translations of Mi’kmaw texts; extensive notes contextualizing each selection; and discussion of Mi’kmaw musical instruments and dance styles

 

This page is for single songs that haven’t been previously released on CD. Watch for more of them to appear on this site, especially while we can no longer participate in live performance events. The songs and accompanying notes are listed below. Thanks to my brother Ray and sister-in-law Valda for the photos of their jukebox.