Did you hear that….? Those sounds far off in the darkness? That beautiful melody leading you on? Are those lilting strains the plucks of a tortured soul, a winsome witch-call, a shudder of delight or a ghoulish mumble? If you’re like me, you will follow those sounds to their source, and enjoy every moment of musical mischief you find. Please sample these 31 gathered tunes, I hope they hold you spellbound…
It is just three months until Hallowe’en 2022 and with the retail side in full swing already…(yikes or yay!?!?)…some might wonder if seasonal burnout is possible………not!! I absolutely adore that the season is edging into end of Summer, all the better for replacing watermelons with pumpkins and trading firecrackers for candlelight. If you are looking to get ahead on your Fall cards, may I suggest these from 1canoe2? Just click pic for link and enjoy sending out a reminder to friends and family to seek out the sweets of the season.
This is an amazing creation by artists Matthew Kirscht, Greg Rozeboom with music by Jack Hylton and His Orchestra and written by Montague Ewing. Click any pic to link to YouTube site and enjoy!
Ooo the sights and sounds of Hallowe’en approach.
There is something about the heightened senses we have in the dark, when our ears catch the slightest murmur, whisper or groan.
We all listen for that far-off cry of the werewolf, the howls under moonlight, the shuffle of a zombie approach or the soft fluttering of darkened wings overhead.
This season calls for musical mise-en-scene, those rhapsodic melodies to indulge our cravings, tempt our secret soul and evoke fond recollections and surprised delight.
I humbly offer these thirty-one collected tunes to enchant your ears.
Cauldrons leave you maudlin?
Can’t handle coal or candle?
Is there perhaps, no craft in your drafts?
On tenterhooks from bulky books?
Got no notions of potions, perplexed by a hex?
In pains from tisanes, simples just too complex?
Whether extract, elixir, infusion or tipple,
tonic or essence or tincture or ripple.
She fixes your mixes, she’ll simmer and stew,
she’ll bubble your troubles away in her brews.
Do pesky beaus bother? Do grey hairs persist?
A cure for ague that you wish to resist?
Is it romance you seek, is it fortune you crave?
Her prowess is awesome, her customers rave.
Her prices are steep, but your problems she’ll heed
with skill and discretion – results guaranteed.
(Excerpt from The Apothecary Witch, by A.E.)
I have always been fond of Friday the 13th, and as today is the only remaining one of 2021, I thought perhaps it would be prudent to make the most of it and make a witch-wish of the Season ahead. It is now 78 days until Halloween, I see decor and display going up – though the Summer sun still beats a loud thrum. As though the very act of adornment would truncate the heated weather and summon the cooling wisps of autumn through the trees. Well, I suppose it’s a “gather ye pumpkins while ye may” idea. I don’t mind – it’s lovely to see and experience, as it is lovely to anticipate and propagate. I wish you all well in your lead-up to Fall, and if you pass by a fountain or well, make a wish of your own…
If you are an Edward Gorey fan (and if you are into Halloween it’s hard for me to think you aren’t) then you probably know about his long habit of illustrating novels and doing book cover art for his own published works as well as for various and sundry in what was an amazing career (alas, gone too soon!). This year I was fortunate enough to come across a copy of The Dwindling Party (Random House, September 1982), about the visit of the MacFizzets to Hickyacket Hall – and was quick to purchase as it seemed in good condition (a birthday present to myself). Did I mention it was a pop-up book? It is a beautiful example of his stylings and wit and is fun to read aloud as one flips through curious and clever pages of the artist’s hand. If you haven’t come across one yourself, do check out online, it’s not to be missed. If you are fortunate enough to come across a good copy, don’t hesitate to pick one up if pocketbook allows. I won’t tell more and spoil the sneaky surprises it offers and I beg your indulgence for not giving up spoilers, I will simply post a couple pics (cover and one of the fold-outs) to tempt you…
As you prepare for an evening filled with the resounding rustle of bonfires…be wary…keep safe…take solace in solitary sojourn…steal strength from fear and take power from sorrows, a powerful mix to fuel our tomorrows. AE
(Image by Abigail Larson, click graphic to link to artists site.)
Something to think about…first, apologies for lack of posts recently, I am in Southern California and when the blowing winds aren’t causing power shut-downs which means no computer, and often when power is up, no internet, there are evacuations caused by fires. It’s been difficult to get to posting and now we are at the end, though, thankfully, even with the fire line in sight, there are still trick or treaters up and down our streets, a calming vision of contentment amidst chaos. When you all close your doors this evening and reflect on the nights frivolities, follies and frights, keep in mind the resplendence of such simple pleasures as to be found on the other side of a door knock, the catharsis of carving a jack o’ lantern, the pleasurable problem of wondering if you’ve bought enough candy. Tomorrow will bring a new set of challenges and I for one will be grounded by tonights event. For those of you wishing to extend the season that bit longer, may I recommend for your perusal the book Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kroger and Melanie Anderson, a 2019 Quirk Books publication. Pick it up anywhere online or brick and mortar, downloadable or hardcover, but be sure to treat yourself to its spirited illustrations, lively writing, and deadly wit. To Countdown to Halloween and its fearless leader J.R., please accept my sincere gratitude for all you have done these many years past for your wonderful site which helps to connect Halloween bloggers. For all of you out there in the dark, please accept my great hope that your Halloween is both mirth and monsterful!
If you find yourself with nothing better to do this weekend than staring longingly at that bowl of candy you’ve purchased (so as to beat the crowds, wink wink) or you’ve done your pumpkin shopping early and while the lure of freshly roasted pumpkin seeds is calling, you know you must stay your knife-hand another 13 days and you find the hours in between now and then taxing your patience to its limits, stress no more! Take up your writing/drawing implement of choice, scour your abode for an envelope of any size, fix yourself in a comfortable chair at your favorite kneehole desk, play some apropos music and muster imaginings of “uncomfortable creatures” and draw! Why? Well, why not? If you require further prompting, consider this:
Deadline: Postmark by Monday, October 21st, 2019
For an entry form, click any pic for link to contest page.
The Edward Gorey House is now accepting original artwork from artists of all ages for their 2019 Halloween Envelope Art Contest. An Edward Gorey-inspired decorated envelope decorated with the theme of Uncomfortable Creatures is what they are looking for this year. There is no entry fee and not a particularly big prize but winning entries, runners up, and very-close-to- being -runners up will all be displayed in the Edward Gorey House, on their website, and on their Facebook page. Winners will be notified and results will be announced on Wednesday, 10/31/19.
Mail entries to:
Edward Gorey House
8 Strawberry Lane
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
USA
Tell your friends!
…..and perhaps these images of past submissions will help you along, mind that deadline 😉
