During development, this new website is hosted under the separate URL: TortiseClimbing.net. The new website will be migrated to the original .com URL. When it is migrated, this URL at TortoiseClimbing.net will be automatically redirected to the .com URL for a trouble free conversion.)
Current products being finalized:
Recording - Hymns and Songs for Living. In final stages of mixing. Plans for distribution are expected to include CDs, online download, and streaming accesses;
Publication - History Through 26 Hymns and Songs. Content in final editing. This is an extensive summary of history told through the perspective of the 26 hymns and songs on the companion Hymns and Songs for Living recording. The purpose of the histories is to provide a perspective into why the hymns were written as they are.
Next step is to put book into publication format. Because of its length, plans for distribution are expected to be an ebook. To accomodate the large number of footnotes throughout, it likely will be a fixed format ebook. An audio book version is planned as a next step.
See Publications for other planned publications accompanying each recording.
Other Information on Website
Background story about how TortoiseClimbing came to be, including why each of these projects, current in process and future plannned ones 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.
There Are Drop Down Submenus on Most Webpages
Many webpages also contain a dropdown submenu in the top left that provides access to additional webpages related to that page accessible via each dropdown submenu. 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 1/6/2022
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 to study and practice lead.
11/18/2021, requested studio time to record lead.
Handbells and Baby Bagpipe:
On 9-11 & 12, 2020 worked with Wayne Morrison, and Westminster Ringers offsite in Westminster to record:
Interlude for Amazing Grace with baby bagpipe (Shuttle Pipe);
Interlude for Amazing Grace with HandBell/HandChimes;
Additional HandBell/HandChimes for accompaniment on last verse of Amazing Grace.
HandBell/HandChimes for part of accompaniment to augment othewise A Capella Just A Closer Walk with Thee on the last verse/refrain.
On 10-8-2020, recorded:
Cello parts being used for an introduction to Amazing Grace; melody and harmony lines.
On 11-12-2020:
Using newly acquirted 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 have focused on completing mixes of the most complicated hymns with many parts. We are completing those numbers.
Website 1/6/2022
Continuing to make occassional updates and revisions. There are several credit pages for musicians who are part of creating the Hymns and Songs album that still need feedback 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 - November 2021:
Initial 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, going 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.
Plan to record last part of the 26th song, Welcome Home mid January 2022.
Post production on existing vocals completed and provided to recording engineer.
Moved cello parts in Amazing Grace to become intro.
Exchanging draft audio mix files and providing detailed notes of suggestions for final tweeks to recording engineer.
Prepared detailed notes as guide for working sessions with engineer to mix final versions of hymns.
Reviewing options for distribution of recording, as CD, Streaming, etc.
Book
New copy editor identified.
Sent draft final the 1st of 2022.
Anticipate work with copy editor to produce final version will progress rapidly.