Welcome to the rebuilt website for TortoiseClimbing.
During development, this rebuilt website is hosted under URL: TortiseClimbing.net. This website will be migrated to the original .com. When migrated, TortoiseClimbing.net site will automatically redirect to the .com website, for a trouble free conversion.)
Near term products include:
Hymns and Songs for Living recording. In final stages of mixing. Plans for distribution expected to include limited number of CDs, supplemented by online access;
Hymn History Stories publication. Content in final editing. This is a summary of history through the perspective of the 26 hymns and songs on the companion Hymns and Songs for Living recording. It provides the framework around which the hymns were written. Next step is to put into publication format. To accomodate the large number of footnotes throughout, presumably it will be a fixed format ebook.
Future planned products.
Background information on other recordings in various stages of planning and development; and
Background information on other publications envisioned to possibly accompany other recordings.
Other Information on Website
Background story about how TortoiseClimbing came to be, including why each of these projects, near term and plannned in future in the pipeline;
Contact - Form for submitting communications, such as questions, comment(s), etc. to TortoiseClimbing; and
Pet Care services available from K's Pet Care in central southern Prince George's county, MD.
Check Us Out
Check out the considerable information about these projects (including detailed credits for each person involved in making of the Hymns and Songs for Living recording).
Access each major category of information by clicking on the appropriate category on the master menu found along the top of each webpage.
Master Menu on Top of All Pages
Recordings;
Publications;
About;
Communicate/comment; and
K's Petsitting.
Drop Down Submenus on Many Webpages
Many webpages also contain a dropdown submenu in the top left that provides additional webpages accessible from that webpage. Click on submenu and a drop down list will appear of other related webpages you can access.
Status Report: Activities being completed on Hymns and Songs for Living
Updated 9/4/2021
Accompaniment Materials on Recording
Welcome Home:
On 10-13 and 10-21-2020, recorded choral vocal arrangements to refrains for Welcome Home;
First Draft of lead recorded;
Practice tracks sent to David for lead.
Handbells and Baby Bagpipe:
On 9-11 & 12, 2020 worked with Wayne Morrison, and Westminster Ringers for an offsite recording of:
Interlude for Amazing Grace with baby bagpipe (Shuttle Pipe);
Interlude for Amazing Grace with HandBell/HandChimes;
Additional accompaniment on last verse of Amazing Grace with HandBell/HandChimes.
Accompaniment for othewise A Capella last verse of Just A Closer Walk with Thee with HandBell/HandChimes.
On 10-8-2020, recorded:
Cello parts intended for interlude verse of Amazing Grace Melody with cello of melody and harmony lines.
On 11-12-2020:
Using new software successfully transposed key of shuttle pipe to key of Amazing Grace recording for use with the handbells in the interlude.
6/12/2021
We are focusing first on completing mixes of the hymns with the most complicated numbers of parts, and we are nearing completion on those numbers.
As part of evaluating mix of all possible instrumnents for the interlude of "Amazing Grace," decided it would be better to separate the cello parts and use them to become a separate introduction to the hymn.
That occurred as part of reviewing audio files and comments from recording engineer of draft mixes and providing comments for refinements.
Website 7/16/2021
Interim work on website wrapping up. For credit pages for musicians who are part of creating the Hymns and Songs album, still need editorial comments from a few to finalize their pages. Outreach to those with placeholder credit pages continuing.
Prepared collaboration materials for online editing with Ms. Heidi Gerber-Salins to incorporate her inputs on webpages that address her and her mom. Waiting on her to have time to review.
Book - History Through 26 Hymns and Songs
During September 2020 - September 2021:
Copy Editor completed first draft edit of book and sent back for review;
Reviewed suggested revisions and made appropriate edits;
Copy editor went to hospital for heart pacemaker last week of October and afterward has not had stamina to resume work;
Therefore, undertook detailed reread and further editing of entire book;
Sent revised version to friend for broad overview review and comment, in February 2021;
Went back to the top of the book and performed a complete detailed edit of every aspect, detailed rereading and editing.
Based on number of things found in last thorough edit, plan to go thru book again from top.
Decided on new title for book, which slightly changes flavor of how some material presented
Revised role from editor to author.
Status of Activities
Recording
All recording completed on 25 of the 26 hymns and songs on the playlist.
Post production on existing vocals completed and provided to recording engineer.
Additional string bass harmonies added to handbell/handchime accompaniments.
Preparation ongoing for recording lead solo verses for Welcome Home.
Exchanging draft audio mix files and providing detailed notes of suggestions for final tweeks to recording engineer.
Reviewing options for distribution of recording, as CD, Streaming, etc.
Book
Sent revised version to copy editor;
More recently sent revised version to friend;
Personally re-reviewed and edited from the top;
Preparing to perform another go thru re-review and edit;
Reviewing options for publication of book both online and in print; (Print likely too large to be practical.)
Seleted Adobe InDesign as software to use for preparing final "print ready copy" to use for fixed format ebook;