The Tavern Livestream: Discussing my new Tudor themed album and more!

 
Cheers and Huzzah!
 
Welcome to The Tavern (which is what I'm going to be calling these livestreams!).
In this livestream, I discuss my new Tudor England themed music project along with a few other things I have planned for 2021. I also want to know how your holidays were!

And I apologize for the text messaging noise that happens at one point (people seem to love texting me when I'm livestreaming).


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WINTERS BLESSINGS GIVEAWAY, DAY 2!

Day 2 of Winters Blessings!


For today only until Midnight EST, three of my singles (which tend to be favorites among listeners) will be available free of charge at my online store!


Simply click on the link below and download Greensleeves, She Waits Upon the Shore, and Scarborough Fair (Acoustic Version).

GET THE FREE DOWNLOADS!

I also hope you'll come hang out with me for a bit at my Facebook page at 7PM EST when I'll be livestreaming. I'll be talking about some of my plans for 2021 and asking you about yours.

 




 

 

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Thanks for reading!  Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
 
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Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Fireside Nutcracker

Greetings fellow adventurer and time traveler!

First, Happy Holidays from the Bonfires, Castles, and Time Traveler Webzine! 

With much of our typical holiday entertainment being closed, I wanted to present you with this option. One of my fondest memories is going to the ballet to see the Nutcracker (I might have even been in a couple productions of the ballet as I was growing up dancing) and I was very much looking forward to it this year.

Unfortunately, seeing it in person just isn't an option this year, so the Pittsburgh Ballet is offering a virtual production of the ballet for free!

I took it in the other night and very much enjoyed it.

Me watch Fireside Nutcracker with a cup of tea and a candle by Mythologie Candles

 

The Pittsburgh Ballet website will be offering the free streaming until Sunday, December 27 (I may actually watch it again!). All you have to do is visit the link below, sign up, and you should have immediate access!

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Fireside Nutcracker

Have yourself a beautiful holiday!




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The Holly and the Ivy (featuring Chuck Owston)

 

Re-release of The Holly and the Ivy, featuring Chuck Owston.
This song is a traditional English carol. The song itself can be traced back no further than the early 19th century, though there are many correlations between holly and Christmas that date back as far as medieval times.
There a couple different melodies to which the lyrics have been set, but of course, I chose the version that sounded the most medieval to me. :D

My friend Chuck Owston and I performed this song for one of my Living Room Sessions a couple years ago, and I've also performed it live at a couple Living History Christmas events. I hope you enjoy the re-release of this song and video!
It is one of a few Winters Blessings surprises that are to come. :)

LYRICS:
Loreena McKennitt
The holly and the ivy
When they are full grown,
Of all the trees in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly wears a blossom
As white as any flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our Saviour.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do sinners good.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To redeem us all.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly and the ivy,
When they are full grown,
Of all the trees in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.


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The Parting Glass (Traditional Scottish Folk Song) (A cappella)

 
This evening, I did a livestream and live living room session. My song of choice was the traditional Scottish song (which is also quite popular in Ireland), The Parting Glass. I have performed this song before, once in a previous living room session with Chuck Owston, and I've also performed it live, both in my own shows as well as well as with the Wayward Companions. And since I've been hinting at a new surprise recording coming up, a version of this song just might be appearing on it. We'll see... Until then, hope you in enjoy this (sort of) impromptu living room session!
 
LYRICS:
Of all the money that e'er I had 
 I spent it in good company 
And all the harm I've ever done 
Alas, it was to none but me 
And all I've done for want of wit 
To memory now I can't recall 
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be to you all
So fill to me the parting glass 
And drink a health whate'er befalls 
Then gently rise and softly call 
Good night and joy be to you all
Of all the comrades that e'er I had 
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had 
They'd wish me one more day to stay 
But since it fell into my lot 
That I should rise and you should not 
I'll gently rise and softly call 
Good night and joy be to you all 
Fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call 
Good night and joy be to you all
 
******* Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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MUSIC REVIEW: FAIRE MAY'S VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT COCKAYNE FARMSTEAD

Greetings fellow adventurer and time traveler!

One of the many things that I enjoy about the holidays is the music that comes with this time of year.

As someone who performs quite a lot of traditional and early music, for me, it is naturally much of the older music that draws me in.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of taking in the Faire May Christmas Concert which was livestreamed from the Cockayne Farmstead in place of the farmstead's live Christmas tours.

Faire May is Max McGovern, Jacob Coughlan, Zac Gordon, and Jariel Henthorn

 I visited Cockayne on Halloween night during their Scarecrow Lane event, which can be viewed in this post and video.

A Time Traveler's Halloween

Scarecrow Lane at Cockayne Farmstead

The Cockayne Farmstead is comprised of a c1850 farmhouse and its original collection of over 3000 objects and 15,000 primary documents and it is open for tours Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm (which I highly recommend).

When it comes to Faire May, the band that specializes in Irish, Scottish, Bluegrass, 18th Century, Baroque (and you might even find a song or two from the folk singers of the 1960s and 1970s sneaking into their set lists) have been a main staple at a couple of the farmstead's events along with playing at a variety of venues and festivals through West Virginia and also venturing outside of their state. In the short time that they've been in the game, Faire May has been covering a lot of ground.

The musical act saw its beginnings with founding members Zac Gordon and Jariel Henthorn. The two met while performing with the bluegrass band Crandell Creek before stepping out on their own. In its original form, Faire May involved Jariel Henthorn serving as lead vocalist, along with playing guitar, bass, dulcimer and piano. Zac was lending his talents on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, whistles or bouzouki, and you might even catch him singing a song or two during a set.

 

While Zac and Jariel were having much success on their own, their sound was soon amplified and enhanced when Jacob Coughlan (banjo, some vocals, and some woodwind instruments-also performed with Zac in the band Gallowglass) and Max McGovern (guitar).

 

Now as a quartet, Faire May has gained even more momentum, including winning first place at a local event, Valleys Got Talent which took place at the Sycamore Youth Center. Between all of this and knowing some of the musicians from living history and reenactment events like Fort Henry Days, I was looking forward to watching their Christmas concert.

As I said earlier, the concert was a virtual presentation livestreamed from the parlour of the Cockayne home on the Cockayne Farmstead Facebook page. The Victorian era home was decorated in the visually beautiful way true to its time period and it created the perfect atmosphere and backdrop for Faire May and their holiday setlist.

Faire May with Cockayne Site Director, Kara Gordon after the Christmas Concert

Through the set, Zac did most of the song introduction, though there was also some banter between him and all the band members. Zac proves to be a rather charismatic "frontman" (and I use quotations as this band by and large seems to be an ensemble effort) though all the band members offer their unique personalities and talents to the stage. There was even an audience poll going on throughout the show with people voting on whether Jacob Coughlan should keep his 19th century sideburns (and for those wondering, the end result was him keeping the sideburns)!

Another notable feature to the sound that Faire May brings to the table is the singing of Jariel Henthorn. As a vocalist myself, I always am interested to hear another singer's approach to a song, especially if it is one that I have sung myself. For some reason, I was expecting her to have that ethereal Celtic Woman soprano sound that is often very prevalent in Celtic music and other similar styles. And while that sound is quite beautiful and enjoyable, I was pleasantly surprised when she instead came out with a more folkish, soulful alto voice. Natalie Merchant and Nora Jones were two singers that came to mind upon listening to Jariel and it offered something a little different from the type of vocals one might normally hear in this style of music.

Jacob Coughlan and Max McGovern also add a lot to the group with their fine playing and together with Zac and Jariel, the musical act is proving to be one that show much promise for future endeavors. In listening to them, it is easy to be taken back to times and places like the Cockayne house when West Virginia was nothing but a frontier. Their sound can really take you back to a time when families and friends sat out on their porch or around a bonfire, played instruments and sang into the night. That is the kind of sound and vibe that Faire May gives off, though with just enough polished professionalism. 

I very much recommend following Faire May on their Instagram and Facebook pages:

Faire May on Facebook

Faire May on Instagram

Also, if you missed their Christmas Concert, you can still purchase a ticket and watch it as the concert will be available for viewing until after Christmas.

Purchase Tickets to View the Faire May Christmas Concert

Last but not least, if you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift (for yourself or someone else!) Faire May has their own line of herbal teas as they have partnered up with Crooked Creek Herbals. These teas are available either at Faire May Concerts, or you can purchase them from the Crooked Creek Herbals website (I'm thinking of snatching up the Apples in Winter blend!).

Crooked Creek Herbals Faire May Exclusive Blends

Faire May Herbal Tea Blends

 


 

 

 

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Thanks for reading!  Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
 
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UNBOXING: Mythologie Candles The Lamp Post Candle (Narnia inspired candle!)

After a recording session, I decided to hop on and do a little unboxing from a recent purchase I made from Mythologie Candles. This candle company is a long running favorite of mine, with its non toxic formula and fantasy/history inspired themes. For the winter season, they launched their new candle line, Always Winter, Never Christmas which is inspired by the Narnia Chronicles (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, etc), which is a series I devoured as a kid and still love as an adult. So this candle line brings out the fangirl in be. :D

Hope you enjoy and do check out Mythologie Candle Company:
http://mythologiecandles.com


*******

Thanks for reading! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!

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FOOD REVIEW: Phannie's Phancies - "Boozy James and Jellies"

Greetings fellow adventurer!

Back in September, I did get to take my yearly trip to Gettysburg, something that due to the circumstances surrounding 2020, I doubted that I would be able to do. When restrictions lifted during the summer, I wanted to take advantage of any opportunity to travel. This year's expedition to Gettysburg ended up only being a day trip instead of a weekend event, but I was very grateful to have been able to go this year.

The Gettysburg adventure ended up being an episode of Dark Side of the Labyrinth and a post. You can check them out below:

Dark Side of the Labyrinth, Ep. 3: My Travels to Gettysburg

Gettysburgh 2020: More Photos and Anecdotes

While in Gettysburg, I had the pleasure of happening upon a rather charming tent setup, which also happened to be right next to the A Sentimental Journey Bed & Breakfast, set up with jars of homemade jams, jellies, and other cool and unique gift items. Adding to my already good impression of the vendor setup, the couple running it had some lovely Victorian era period clothing.

Needless to say, I was immediately drawn to stop and take a look at what they had going on.

Upon stopping inside the tent, I ended up meeting Phinn and Phannie, along with their small business, Phannie's Phancies or Phannie's Boozy Jams and Jellies.

Phannie and Phinn of Phannie's Phancies

While I talked with the business owners, I tried a couple samples of their jams and jellies. One aspect of the product that was definitely a win for me was the use of fresh local ingredients Many of their recipes also draw from those handed down from Phannie's grandmother (also a win with me). The old world recipes are then given a rather unique twist when local wine, beer, and spirits are added to the mix.

According to their website:

While the alcohol is cooked off during preparation, the aroma and flavor enhancing qualities of the liquor transforms these old favorites into something truly special! Think and Shop Local is very important to Phannie and we are proud to include the "Made in Gettysburg"  on every jar! Each offering is named after locations from the heroes of the battle!

In addition to all that, they also can make a custom label if specifically requested.

After the wonderful conversation I had with Phannie and Phinn, I ended up purchasing their Sweet Red Wine Jelly.


The Sweet Red Wine Jelly!

Now upon my purchase, I was given some suggestions on how to use such a jelly. These suggestions included putting it on roasted chicken and fish. Those of you that might follow me at my social media pages likely know that I am very much into health and fitness, meaning that meal prep is a big part of my life and anything that can be used to spice that up a little is always welcome.

My first time using the Sweet Red Wine Jelly, I ended up spreading it over some oven roasted chicken, and then again on another evening when I made salmon. In the end, my taste buds were definitely happy and the sweetness of the jelly, along with a slight bite from the wine mixed into the recipe, both contrasted and complimented the savory chicken and salmon beautifully.

The Red Wine Jelly has become a wonderful staple in my meal planning and I will definitely be looking into their other flavors along with ways I can incorporate them into my meal planning.


Roasted Chicken with cranberries and the Sweet Red Wine Jelly, 

quinoa, couscous, and vegetables

I am very glad that I  ran into Phannie and Phinn while in Gettysburg this year, aside from being awesome people, their product is amazing.

I do recommend checking out the Phannie's Phancies website and Facebook page:

Phannie's Boozy Jams Website 

Facebook Page



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Skellig (Loreena McKennitt Cover) (Winters Night Living Room Session Concert)

 

Another one of the highlights from the Winters Night Living Room Sessions Concert that I livestreamed from my Facebook page on December 5, 2020. I was also very honored to have my friend Chuck Owston join me!

This selection is another song that Chuck wrote and I have performed it in one of my Living Room Sessions before. It was originally written and recorded by one of my favorite artists, Loreena McKennitt.

LYRICS:
O light the candle, John
The daylight has almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass
Sit here by my side
For the night is very long
There's something I must tell
Before I pass along
I joined the brotherhood
My books were all to me
I scribed the words of God
And much of history
Many a year was I
Perched out upon the sea
The waves would wash my tears,
The wind, my memory
I'd hear the ocean breathe
Exhale upon the shore
I knew the tempest's blood
Its wrath I would endure
And so the years went by
Within my rocky cell
With only a mouse or bird
My friend; I loved them well
And so it came to pass
I'd come here to Romani
And many a year it took
Till I arrived here with thee
On dusty roads I walked
And over mountains high
Through rivers running deep
Beneath the endless sky
Beneath these jasmine flowers
Amidst these cypress trees
I give you now my books
And all their mysteries
Now take the hourglass
And turn it on its head
For when the sands are still
'Tis then you'll find me dead
O light the candle, John
The daylight is almost gone
The birds have sung their last
The bells call all to mass

I hope you enjoy it and I will having one more highlight over the course of this weekend!





Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

*******

Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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She Waits Upon the Shore (Winters Night Living Room Sessions Concert)

 

One of the highlights from the Winters Night Living Room Sessions Concert that I livestreamed from my Facebook page on December 5, 2020. I was also very honored to have my friend Chuck Owston join me!

This selection is a song that Chuck wrote and I have performed it in one of my Living Room Sessions before. There is also a recording of the song available at my website and a gorgeous video put together by Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc:
https://youtu.be/vekaR3_Ij9Y
I hope you enjoy it and I will having one more highlight over the course of this weekend!





Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

*******

Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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We Will Go Home Across the Mountains (from the Winters Night Living Room Sessions Concert)

 

One of the highlights from the Winters Night Living Room Sessions Concert that I livestreamed on my Facebook page on December 5, 2020. I was also very honored to have my friend Chuck Owston join me!

This selection is a song from the film King Arthur (2004) and we performed it in a recent living room session this year.
I hope you enjoy it and we will be having two more highlights over the course of the next few days!

Land of bear and land of eagle
Land that gave us birth and blessing
Land that called us ever homewards
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
Land of freedom land of heroes
Land that gave us hope and memories
Hear our singing hear our longing
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
Land of sun and land of moonlight
Land that gave us joy and sorrow
Land that gave us love and laughter
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains
When the land is there before us
We have gone home across the mountains
We will go home, we will go home
We will go home across the mountains

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

*******

Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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A Winters Night Living Room Session Concert (Tiffany Apan & Chuck Owston...

 

I began my living room sessions with the intent of regular collaboration with some musician friends and to experiment with new material, music styles, etc. Plus, a great way to connect!

On Saturday, December 5, 2020, my friend and longtime Living Room Sessions collaborator Chuck Owston joined me for this Winters Night Living Room Sessions concert.

Setlist:
Greensleeves
Three Pale Queens
Rain and Snow
Skellig
We Will Go Home Across the Mountains (Song of Exhile)
She Waits Upon the Shore

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful holiday!

*******

Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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Buy Music at http://tiffanyapan.bandcamp.com

Scarecrow Lane at Cockayne Farmstead (Halloween Night!)

 

A bonus Dark Side of the Labyrinth video from Halloween night when I visited the Cockayne Farmstead for their Scarecrow Lane event.
If you enjoy historic homes from the Victorian era and antiques, definitely give the Cockayne Farmstead a visit!
http://cockaynefarmstead.com


*******

Thanks for watching! Go on a musical adventure with me through time where for five days I'll send you a new song or story, and a personal email from me!
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Music by incompetech.com
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A Monsoon Concert...Thunder, Lightening, and Music, OH MY! And some Pyrates too!

    Well hey there! I'm back after a long hiatus from posting here! It's been an eventful year as I'm prepping for some cool thi...