Welcome to TortoiseClimbing's™ new website.
NOTE. This entirely new website replaces the original, built in 2004. (The old site is still online.) Thus, this new version is currently hosted under a different URL (TortiseClimbing.net.) The plan is to eventually migrate this new site to our .com URL (replacing the original website built in 2004.) When migrated, we will automatically redirect this URL to the .com URL. Thus, any references you establish to this URL will continue to access the new website after it is migrated.
The online Audio marketplace is operational. See Store Access for links to products available and coming on the Online Audio marketplace pages.
This composition about the Easter passion was performed by the 3 combined Annapolis High School choirs in 1959. It includes David in the part of Jesus (his first recorded performance before voice training.)
The use of 2 womens choirs singing most of the recitatives and arias makes this a significantly more choral performance than scored by John Stainer.
Free (Easy access link to online Marketplace found at Store Access page.) - Digital file download of version 2 (released 10/6/2024) of the restored and mastered digital file of this historic, 1959 amateur, monophonic recording, performed by Annapolis High School choirs. Updated version 2 contains:
(NOTE - If you want unlimited mp3 streaming of the digital file from Bandcamp, they charge $1.00.)
(Copyright note. TortoiseClimbing Audio™ is allowed to provide these restored and mastered copies because the score became public domain beginning of 2023.)
At Cost ($4.00) - Individually burned CDs for delivery by mail.
At the online marketplace you can:
{FYI - Free download of Version 1 digital file is available from this website. See Version 1 download process.}
This album of 27 hymns and songs is almost 78 min. (A maximum length for a CD.) After the death of his father, David's mother requested he record their favorite hymns and songs. They jointly selected which to include from their favorite old traditional, nostalgic hymns and songs. See listings at either Simple Playlist or Annotated Playlist. She too died shortly after, during recording Phase I of this marvelous recording.
- The vocal version of this album was released digitally on 6/20/2024. (Selected numbers are available for streaming from the annotated playlist.)
- CD format was released 9/20/2024.
- Easy access link to online Marketplace found on Store Access page. The online Marketplace allows you:
We will shortly add the following to our online marketplace:
Coming next year
1. Use by soloists, with other accompanying vocalists included; and
2. Use by choirs with all vocalists, except descants, removed.
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TortoiseClimbing Audio™ is pleased to provide Free downloads of the digitally restored and mastered version 2 from the unmixed and unmastered historic, amateur, monaural, private LP recording from 1959.
The older mastered version 1 is available from this website. The newer version 2 is available from our online audio Marketplace. Easy link to audio Marketplace is Store Access. (Version 2 includes additional mastering and restoration, separation into 15 performance numbers of score, plus addition of lyrics to the online album store.) (If you want unlimited mp3 streaming of the digital version from Bandcamp, their cost is $1.00.)
(FYI, this vintage album contains the first recordings of David as a high school soloist before voice lessons.)
The original vintage, historic, monaural, private LP record was made in 1959 by editing together the best of from the amateur raw tapes of the two 1959 live spring performances by the 3 Annapolis High School choirs in the then AHS (now Maryland Hall) auditorium. The performances are a unique arrangement, achieved by using 2 womens choirs to sing most of the recitatives and arias of John Stainer's The Crucifixion, achieving a dramatically more choral presence. (Hymns in the score are omitted. About 41 minutes in length.)
NOTES
TortoiseClimbing Audio™ is pleased to digitize, restore and master these performances from the monaural, private LP record of those live performances.
Note. The recording fidelity is subject to limitations of late 1950's consumer quality audio equipment technology. However, because the choral director somehow obtained that equipment, this truly unique and wonderful performace was preserved. It is an uncommon, much more choral arrangement, created by the choral director, Robert Kunkle.
Note. The Online Marketplace free download includes a copy of the lyrics, but it does Not include a copy of the score. The score is only available from this website.
For more details about this project, click on The Crucifixion.
This album provides an opportunity to re-live your memory of these historic, traditional hymns and songs. Link to the online audio Marketplace for ordering at Store Access.
Titles and timings of playlist are available at Simple Playlist. Selected hymns from the vocal performance version are available for streaming from this website (see Annotated Playlist).
Limited streaming of all tracks of the vocal version are available from the audio online marketplace product page (see Hymns and Songs of My Mother). At the online audio Marketplace you can purchase and 1) digitally download the album, or 2) place an order for the CD to be mailed.
Lyrics for all hymns and songs are available both from this website and the online store for all hymns and songs. (See Lyrics.)
This is an extensive (almost 78 minutes in length), very high-quality collection of 27 classic, traditional, nostalgic, congregational hymns and songs. Mother's concept was as a tribute to his recently deceased dad. They jointly selected the numbers to include on this recording.
A number of outstanding trained singers and instrumentalists join David in various vocal and instrumental arrangements. David sings lead on all but one hymn, where he provides accented harmony to an original arrangement of "Were You There" by the Phase I Producer, Ms. Heidi Gerber-Salins.Th Congregational hymn origin is honored by singing them as printed in the hymnals, but in a variety of vocal combinations and different accompaniment arrangements, including:
This collection is composed of 21 traditional, congregational hymns, and 6 religious songs. All the hymns came from hymnals David's parents had collected over the years. The religious songs are drawn from a variety of sources, including:
Except for lyrics to "Morning Has Broken," all hymns are now public domain, i.e., out-of-copyright. Lyrics to the wedding song "Be Thou with Them," are also still under copyright. We will be copyrighting the original folk-Contemporary Christian song "Welcome Home" on behalf of the author/composer, Kathy Brigman Haupt.
The plan is to add 3 additional versions of this album as soon as circumstances allow:
The following previously unreleased songs recorded with friends, from around 1991, before TortoiseClimbing™ was established in 1993, will shortly be released for sale and digital download. They are upgraded so their quality conforms with our upgraded mission, including: post production processed, remixed, and remastered. Initial versions of some are available on this website for streaming from Duets with Terry.) (They may subsequentally become part of an EP with additional songs.)
This song was recorded, likely in 1991-1992, prior to beginning work on the Solo Collection, which preceded recording the Hymns and Songs of My Mother album. "And So It Goes" includes portions with a multi-part trio harmony of this wonderful, introspective exploration of a lost love. It was recorded with friends Terry (see Duets with Terry) and the Phase I Producer of Hymns and Songs of My Mother, Ms. Heidi Gerber-Salins (see Heidi Gerber-Salins - Producer, Phase I). This song will be offered, both:
This lovely, poignant, romantic song of love lost was initially published by Billy Joel in ©1989 (about 3:40 in length). This trio version illustrates yet another dimension of TortoiseClimbing™'s repertoire.
This is available for streaming from Duets with Terry.
Like the poignant, romantic love lost song "And So It Goes" above, this song was the first recorded with Terry at Bias in 1990-1991, before beginning Solo Collection. Similar to "And So It Goes", this song will be offered, both:
This is a dramatic baritone and tenor duet, with synthesized orchestra, bass guitar and piano accompaniment. It is a strong motivational number from the 2nd act of the musical, Starlight Express. It is between the protagonist, Rusty, and the mythical Starlight Express, where the Starlight Express gives Rusty the advice that the Starlight Express is within us. Just believe in yourself and you can do anything!
This is available for streaming from Duets with Terry.
This romantic song was also likely recorded in 1991-1992. It begins with thoughts that some may say about the difficulties of love, but ends with a pronouncement that love is what brings meaning into life, and that the seed for love can always spring forth anew. This song was a major hit from end credits of the 1979 movie The Rose staring Bette Midler. Although the choral arrangement used for making this recording included multiple parts throughout, the final mix we created is modeled more after the the Bette Midler version, which begins and ends as a solo.
This is available for streaming from Duets with Terry, and subsequently will be available for purchase and download from our online marketplace.
This is the only Contemporary Christian song on the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother. It is also provided separately because of its appeal as a CCM song. My mother loved this song written for her sister's funeral by her sister's grandchild.
This is available for streaming from Annotated Playlist, and from our online marketplace via Hymns and Songs of My Mother, (scroll down to hymn 25).
This website. Provides a page of information about every artist involved in creation of both the Hymns and Songs of My Mother recording and the History Through 27 Hymns and Songs eBook. See Artists' Cross-reference.
(Note. There remain 3 vocalists who participated in recording Hymns and Songs of My Mother who have not provided bio materials. Additionally, the draft bio for the trumpeter is drawn from materials found on the internet, but are not yet commented on by the artist.)
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Check out considerable information about these projects, including detailed credits for each of the many persons involved in helping create each of the projects. The most expansive details are about making the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother recording.
Major categories are accessed by clicking the appropriate category in Top/master menu atop each webpage.
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