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NOTICES
Updated 9-27-22

Final mastering of Hymns and Songs for Living

The mastering process began on September 20, 2022. Detailed comments for edits to the master and underlying mixes were subsequenlty prepared and sent. Work is progressing on those edits.

Free digital audio file download from the Annapolis High School choruses' 1959 performances of John Stainer's The Crucifixion

January 2023 is when the score for The Crucifixion becomes Public Domain. Digital mastering will be performed later this year (2022), after completing mastering of Hymns and Songs for Living. For more details, click on The Crucifixion.

See detailed status report below for updates on aspects of projects.

Advance Notice (First posted 5-27-2022). First ever mastered version of the 1959 performace of The Crucifixion by the Annapolis High School (AHS) combined choirs from classes of 1959, 1960 and 1961. This is now practical because the score for The Crucifixion becomes Public Domain the beginning of 2023. As a result, TortoiseClimbing™ Audio plans:

• Later this year, 2022, to convert the AHS LP record from those performances to a digital audio file;
• Perform digital audio mastering;
• Create several digital audio file formats (high-fidelity and lower fidelity-but smaller files- for both Apple and all other systems; then
• Beginning January 2023, make those digitally mastered audio files available as a free digital file download from this website's AHS download page.
• (Provision of a CD at cost is being researched.)

(See The Crucifixion.) Updates on progress will be added from time to time.

Status Reports:

• New Website;
• Hymns and Songs for Living recording;
• Annapolis High School Choirs' 1959 performance of The Crucifixion; and
• Companion History Through 26 Hymns and Songs book.

Updated 9/27/2022

Website

Detailed edits of content are continously made as updates/edits, revisions and expansions. There remain several incomplete credit pages for musicians who were part of creating the Hymns and Songs for Living album. Following completion of the master for Hymns and Songs for Living, it is planned to again follow up to hopefully obtain feedback from them to finalize their credit pages.

(9-27-22) Updated information about Annapolis High School 1959 choirs' performance of The Crucifixion. Obtained feedback for possible publicity in Annapolis about release of the mastered performance audio files.

(6-19&20-22) Added Google Structured Data information about the existing HTML breadcrumbs on every webpage to enable Google to incorporate the breadcrumb information into its index information.

(4-24-2022) Added new webpages describing the first ever mastering to be performed on the 1959 performances of the Annapolis High School choirs from the classes of 1959, 60 and 61 of John Stainer's, The Crucifixion.

(4-18-22) Completed sitewide upgrade as part of replacing web fonts. Various new capabilities added, including a new look-and-feel and mobile friendly.

Replaced all Adobe Edge fonts because Adobe announced they are discontinuing that service. The fonts selected from Google's Content Delivery Network (CDN) server for fonts are easier to read.

Added logo for TortoiseClimbing™ to all pages of website.

Updated and expanded most of the webpages by including a button at the bottom to enable users to easily initiate provision of comments about each webpage. That function passes the name of the webpage from which they initiated the comment, thus assisting in linking the comment to the webpage about which the user is commenting.

Prepared collaboration materials for online editing with Ms. Heidi Gerber-Salins (Phase I producer, et al) to gather her refinement inputs on webpages about her and her mom. Waiting on her to have time to work with me to review and comment.

(4-26-2022) Expanded capabilities of TortoiseClimbing™'s 404 Error message for Page Not Found. Added a link enabling users to go back to the previous page where they triggered that error message, and from that webpage initiate submission of a comment about the broken link.

Recording

Hymns and Songs for Living

Fall (9-27-2022) - Work is now ongoing on master of the Hymns and Songs for Living ablum.

Summer - Early Fall of 2022. Almost all efforts focused on completing quality mix of this album as quickly as possible to share with my terminally ill cousin, and her fellow residents at their assisted care home. Work on how to package this album for sale will begin after that later this fall.

(9-7&8-22) Expect to complete final mixes on the refined 1^st 1/2 and complete refined working mixes of most of the 2^nd 1/2 of the album.

(9-1-22) Completed refinements to almost 1/2 the rough drafts.

(8-22&23-22) Finished rough final mix of last hymns. Began process of detailed review to identify and work on refinements of mixes.

(8-10&11-22) As of the end of these sessions, all but one hymn is in rough final mix.

(7-27 & 28-2022) Update - Held next studio sessions preparing final mixes. As of the end of these sessions, approximately 3/4 of hymns and songs are rough mixed.

(7-14 & 15-2022) Update - Held next studio sessions preparing final mixes. As of the end of these sessions, approximately 2/3 of hymns and songs are rough mixed.

(7-8 & 9-2022) Update - Continued studio sessions preparing rough final mixes.

(6-27 & 28-2022) Update - First studio sessions held that began preparing rough final mixes. Working from extensive notes for desired audio edits, the Producer and Audio Engineer began final process of refining working draft mixes into draft final mixes. Completed final editing of 3 additional hymns and 1 of the songs. That is in addition to having previously finished final draft mix of "Amazing Grace." (Mixes will be reviewed again to determine if we missed anything that might need further tweeking before being declared final. Schedule it to complete before end of this year - 2022.)

Previouly finished:

1. (6-16-22) Great draft final mix of "Amazing Grace" (It employes a mix of instruments and vocalists throughout, including: Cello, String Bass, Pipe Organ, Shuttle Pipe, Handbells and vocalists.)
2. Working sessions scheduled in late-June for detailed final mixing of other hymns and songs.
3. Found a mistake on one phrase in the previously recorded lead vocal on "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." Will re-sing that phrase during late-June working session.
4. (6-5-2022) It became an immediate goal to quickly complete draft final mix of "Amazing Grace" to provide to relative whose husband died suddenly.
5. Completed initial post production of "Welcome Home" in mid February 2022 and provided electronically to recording engineer. Because of a volume issue that caused clipping with that version, in mid-April prepared a follow up version and sent electronically.
6. (Mid-April) Notified replacement equipment obtained and installed, but there are still a few missing software "plug-ins" to be located and obtained. Will schedule mixing session ASAP after all software is received and operational.
7. (March 2022) Final mixing and mastering sessions delayed by computer problems with vintage computer system used for this project. Replacement ordered.
8. (2-8-2022) Recorded vocal for verses of "Welcome Home." That is the final song of the 26 hymns and songs on the playlist.
9. Prepared detailed notes to use in working sessions as guide for further refinements in mixes to be made during working sessions with recording engineer to produce final mixes of hymns and songs.
10. Changed order within hymn "Amazing Grace" by moving cello parts from the interlude to become the opening intro.
11. Provided detailed notes of suggestions for revisions in draft mixes to recording engineer who has incorporated.
12. Reviewing options for distribution of recording, as CD, Streaming, etc.

Annapolis High School Choirs' performance of The Crucifixion

This section was added when TortoiseClimbing™ Audio became aware the score for this music would become Public Domain in January of 2023.

Webpages for this project were developed and added for advance notice in May-June of 2022.

Plans during fall of 2022 include:

• Master the recording;
• Augment the download page to add the capability for downloading the digital audio files and get the pages ready for public posting the beginning of January 2023; and
• Complete research on options for providing a CD version of The Crucifixion.

Book

Work on the book during this past summer of 2022 has been on hold while:

• The focus is on completing final mixes and mastering final for the companion album Hymns and Songs for Living;
• The editor is simultaneously preoccupied with a significant job for her employer.
• The expectation is to return to working on the book this fall, including any shaping appropriate for an audio book.

1. (April) Solicited comments/edits on history writeup from author and composer for "Welcome Home". Received feedback, finalized history and updated editors copy with revisions to that history.
2. As noted below, editor for final version identified.
3. Draft of book sent for planning purposes in early 2022.
4. Revised book incorporating expansion of story about "Welcome Home" sent to editor April 2022.
5. Hopefully when work refocuses on completing the book, work with editor will rapidly produce a final version of history book.

Older Historical Information

6/12/2021

The focus of earlier work was on recording the augmenting vocal harmony parts and completing mixes of the most complicated hymns with many parts. Those recordings are completed and pending detailed final mixing.

Additional Accompaniment Materials Added to Recording

Welcome Home:

1. First Draft of lead vocal recorded (2-8-2022);
2. On 10-13 and 10-21-2020, recorded vocal choral arrangement to refrains for "Welcome Home";
3. Practice tracks were sent to David to practice for recording vocal lead.

Handbells and Shuttle Pipe (Baby Bagpipe):

On 9-11 & 12, 2020 worked with Wayne Morrison, and Westminster Ringers offsite in Westminster at the Carroll Arts Center to record:

1. Baby bagpipe (Shuttle Pipe) as part of interlude for "Amazing Grace";
2. HandBell/HandChimes as part of interlude for "Amazing Grace";
3. HandBell/HandChimes for accompaniment on last verse of "Amazing Grace".
4. HandBell/HandChimes for accompaniment to augment last verse/refrain of othewise A Capella "Just A Closer Walk with Thee".

On 11-12-2020:

Used newly acquired audio editing software and successfully transposed key of shuttle pipe to key of "Amazing Grace" recording for use with the handbells in the interlude.

On 10-8-2020:

Recorded cello parts now used as introduction to "Amazing Grace" (both melody and harmony lines);

7-25&26-2019

Recorded replacement pipe organ for all but 1 of the electronic keyboard accompaniments from Phase I. That was done at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Ashland, VA. The church is part of Randolph-Macon College.

Book - History Through 26 Hymns and Songs

During September 2020 - January 2022:

• April 2022, sent updated version to editor.
• January 2022, found new person to become editor. Working with editor on initial planning for initiating a thorough editing process.
• Initial Copy Editor provided comments for edits on first draft of book;
• Worked with suggested revisions and made appropriate edits;
• Initial Copy editor received heart pacemaker in October of 2020 and afterward did not have stamina to resume work;
• Performed detailed rereads and further editing of entire book;
• Received overview comments from friend in February 2021 that led to:
  • New title for book, which slightly changed flavor of how some material presented;
  • Revised descriptor of my role from editor to author.
  • Performing another round of detailed editing.