Recordings: Overview

All selections on the online Marketplace can be streamed several time before having to purchase. Easy access links to recordings available from online marketplace is provided on Store Access.

Summaries of our recordings are provided below in order by when available, and then in Alphabetical order within when available.

More details about individual recording are available by clicking on the dropdown submemu in the upper left, then clicking on the recording you want to know more about.

Released

Album: Hymns & Songs of My Mother - Vocal version

(Other versions to follow)

Vocal digital version released 6/20/2024 for download.

CD released 9/20/2024.

This is a premier recording, both in interpretation and audio fidelity. Produced by professionals in professional sound studios, with multiple instrumental accompaniments. The results speak for themselves!

This is a very extensive (almost 78 minutes in length) collection of 27 historic, nostalgic, traditional hymns and songs. It provides truly great interpretations and superior sonic fidelity for these congregational hymns and songs, performed by professional vocalists and instrumental accompaniments. The growth in popularity of newer Praise and Worship hymns caused these hymns to largely disappear from many hymnals, and from the hymns many churches choose for singing during services.

The impetus for creation of this Hymns and Songs album was David's father's death in late 1996. Subsequently, in Spring of 1998, (some months before his mother also would die that August) she requested TortoiseClimbing Audio™ create a quality recording for public release of selections from their favorite hymns and religious songs. David and his mother selected the wide ranging list included on this album.

All the hymns came from hymnals David's parents had collected over the years. The religious songs are drawn from a variety of sources and is a homage to both of them.

1. There are 21 widely ranging hymns selected from hymnals his parents collected over their lives as their respective churches replaced older hymnals with newer hymnals, plus
2. There are 6 religious songs selected from several sources:
   • The first are two benediction, or service songs, from the backs of the hymnals;
   • Another is the 4^th song from Dvorak's 10 Biblilcal Songs, whose lyrics are a translation of verses from the beginning of the 23^rd psalm, and
   • Two religious songs used in weddings, both harkening back to baroque music from J.S.Bach's era.
   • Another is a folk style Contempory Christian song written for the funeral of his mother's sister by a granddaughter of his mother's sister, Ms. Kathy Brigman Haupt;

A number of professional musicians were involved, both instrumental and vocal, bringing a wealth of experiences and skills to this magnificent recording. Credits for each participant musician and vocalist are included on individual webpages, grouped by the recording phase they participated in.

This magnificant interpretation of the old hymns is performed by a number of outstanding trained singers and instrumentalists 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. The Congregational origin of these hymns is deliberatly honored by singing them as printed in the hymnals, but in a variety of vocal combinations and different accompaniment arrangements, including:

• Solo;
• Duet;
• Multi-part harmony (a number including descants), and
• A cappella,


• A variety of accompaniments are used, including:
  • Orchestral ensemble;
  • Piano;
  • Pipe organ;
  • Celtic harp;
  • Shuttle pipe (baby bagpipe);
  • Acoustic guitar;
  • String bass;
  • Handbells;
  • Various percussion:
    • Cymbals
    • Glockenspeil (orchestra bells)
    • Electronic Timpini
    • Tubular bells/chimes
    • etc.

All 21 hymns, except lyrics for "Morning Has Broken" are now public domain. Lyrics for 1 song ("Be Thou with Them") are also still under copyright. Plus, there is the unpublished Contemporary Christian song ("Welcome Home"), written and composed by Ms. Kathy Haupt. (She gave TortoiseClimbing Audio™ permission to arrange and make this 1^st recording of her song.)

Titles and timings of hymns ane songs included are found at Simple Playlist. A more detailed version is available as an Annotated Playlist. Lyrics for all hymns and songs are available both from this website and the online store for all hymns and songs. (See Lyrics.)

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 also purchase and:

1. Digitally download the album, or
2. place an order for the CD to be mailed.

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.

You can link to the online audio Marketplace to listen and purchase by going to Store Access.

-- Future Versions of Hymns and Songs of My Mother --

The plan is to add 3 additional versions of this album as soon as circumstances allow:

• Instrumenatal version for Easy Listening, with no vocals;
• 2 versions for use as minus 1, custom (karaoke) professional backing tracks to sing along with:
  1. Version minus the vocal lead for soloists, with other vocal harmony parts; and
  2. Version minus all vocal parts for choirs, but with the descants.

Album: The Crucifixion, Annapolis High School Choirs, 1959

Version 1 of the restored and mastered album was initially released 1/20/2023;

Version 2 was further mastered, and for easier reference seperated into the 15 numbers in Stainer's score (released 10/6/2024) - FREE for download to your computer. (NOTE - If you want access to unlimited mp3 streaming of this album from the online Marketplace, they charge $1.00.)

The Crucifixion - by John Stainer

The original vintage, historic, monaural, private LP record of these performances was made in 1959 from tapes of the two 1959 live spring performances by the 3 Annapolis High School choirs in the then AHS (now Maryland Hall) auditorium in the spring of 1959. The performances present a magnificanlty unique arrangement, created by the choir director. Participating were Mr. Kunkle's: mixed chorus; two women's choruses; and limited number of student soloists from the mixed chorus. Members of the choirs were in graduating classes of 1959, 1960 and 1961.

This 2023 digitally restored and mastered file is developed from the 1959 private, limited edition, monaural LP made and sold to choir members and families. (The LP was a raw, unmixed and unmastered version of the performances.)

That 1959 performance was a unique, much more choral arrangement than specified in the score. (The score calls for soloists to sing perhaps half of the performance.) In this arrangement by Mr. Kunkle, the 2 women's choirs are assigned to sing almost all the numbers scored as recitatives and arias for soloists, creating a dramatically more choral performance. As a result, you are treated to the wonderful sound of womens' choirs on those recitatives and arias.

As indicated in the score, Mr. Kunkle included the few limited, short solos Stainer's score shows as coming from members of the choir, plus several short recitatives. They are sung by student members of the mixed choir. (David is one of those student soloists, singing the part of Christ, including one of the Recitiatves. FYI - This is the earliest recording of a young David.) (Hymns in the score are omitted. About 41 minutes in length.)

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 at PDF of The Crucifixion Score (58 pages).

For more details about this project, click on The Crucifixion.

To order your FREE copy, click on Store Access.

If you want ulimited streaming of the mp3 from our online Marketplace, Bandcamp charges $1.00.

Coming Soon

Mini-EP: "Welcome Home" - by Kathy Brigman Haupt

This is a folk influenced Contemporary Christian song. An arrangement of it is included on the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother. Although It is very different from the rest of the hymns and songs on the album, mother loved this song written for her sister's funeral by her sister's grandchild. Because of its beauty and appeal as a CCM song, it is provided separtely as a Mini-EP.

It includes the author and composer's 1998 recording of her song, plus the arrangement created for the album. The EP will be available later in 2025 for streaming from our online marketplace. (See "Welcome Home").

Many thanks to Ms. Kathy Brigman Haupt, the composer and author of "Welcome Home" for granting TortoiseClimbing Audio™ permission to create an arrangement and make the 1^st public recording of her song, "Welcome Home".

This song became a favorite of David's mother when Kathy wrote and performed this original Contemporary Christian song for the funeral of Kathy's grandmother. As a result, David's mother wanted this song included as part of this collection. With Kathy's permission, TortoiseClimbing Audio™ facilitated creation of an arrangement for:

• Solo,
• Duet with the author,
• Women's chorus, and
• Acoustic accompaniment.

Nostalgic Love Songs:

This is planned as a series of EPs, mostly beginning from the early 20^th century to the 1980's about values that make life worth living. It includes songs about: love; loss; sorrow; bereavement, dedication; and needed social change.

EP - Vol 1

This is the 1^st of a series of EPs of nostalgic love songs. Post Production Processing of the 7 songs included in this 1^st EP is complete. Work by our audio engineer of further digital post processing, mixing and mastering is underway. Target for release as a digital download is fall of 2025. Titles in alphabetical order include:

• Chattanooga Choo Choo
• Ebb Tide
• I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You
• Laura
• Star Dust
• Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
• There I've Said It Again
• Unchained Melody

This 1^st set of nostalgic love songs were included in the 1^st private album produced by TortoiseClimbing Audio™ in 1993, titled Solo Collection. It was Privately released on cassette for family and friends. They were recorded with piano only. In keeping with the upgrade in quality that came with producing Hymns and Songs of My Mother these songs have been digitally upgraged, remixed and remastered. We are evaluating whether to augment the piano only accompaniments, now or later.

Other Songs

The following are unreleased songs previously recorded with friends around 1991, before TortoiseClimbing™ was established in 1993. They are upgraded so their quality conforms with our upgraded mission, including: post production processed, remixed, and remastered. Initial versions are available on this website for streaming from Duets with Terry.) (They will subsequentally become part of one of the EPs of Nostalgic Love Songs.)

Song: "And So It Goes" - by Billy Joel (about 3:40 in length)

This song was recorded at Bias studio during1991-1992, prior to beginning work on Solo Collection, which preceded recording the Hymns and Songs of My Mother album. This is a multi-part harmony version of this haunting © 1989 song by Billy Joel. It's simple accompaniment emphasizes both the poignacy and the vocal harmonies. It was recorded with friends Terry (see Duets with Terry) and Heidi Gerber-Salins. (Ms. Gerber-Salins was subsequently the Phase I Producer of Hymns and Songs of My Mother (see Heidi Gerber-Salins - Producer, Phase I). This is a wonderful, introspective exploration of a lost love. This song will become available for purchase:

• Initially as an individual download; and
• Later as part of one of the Nostalgic Love Songs EPs.

This is available for streaming from Duets with Terry.

For more details about this song see "And So It Goes".

Song: "I Am the Starlight" - by Amanda McBroom

This was the first song recorded with Terry at Bias in 1990-1991, before beginning Solo Collection. Similar to "And So It Goes", this song will become available for purchase:

• Initially as an individual download; and
• Later as part of one of the EPs in the Nostalalgic Love Songs series.

This is a dramatic baritone and tenor duet in a Rock Broadway Musical style, with synthesized orchestra, bass guitar and piano accompaniment. It is the strong motivational number from the 2^nd act of the musical, Starlight Express. This duet takes place between the protagonist, Rusty, and the mythical Starlight Express. Starlight gives Rusty the advice that the Starlight Express is within Rusty. Just believe in yourself and you can do anything! For more details about this song see "I Am the Starlight."

This is available for streaming from Duets with Terry.

Song: "The Rose" - by Amanda McBroom

This romantic song was also recorded in 1991-1992. It's accompaniment is mostly by my friend Terry on his guitars, with a touch of synthesizer. As part of remixing and remastering, we substantially revised the interpretation of this song.This song is about what is the meaning of love and its importance in life. It was used in the 1979 movie The Rose starring Bette Midler, and was a successful single release.

It begins with thoughts that some 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, we modeled the final mix 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 song will become available for purchase:

• Initially as an individual download; and
• Later as part of one of the Nostalgic Love Songs EPs.

For more details about this song see "The Rose."

Future

Other Versions of Hymns and Songs of My Mother

Several additional versions of the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother will become available later in 2025. The first is intended for relaxing listening to just instrumentals of the hymns. The next 2 are intended for use as background accompaniments in churches:

1. An easy listening instrumental version of the hymns (as soon as life's events allow).
2. Accompaniment for soloists, sometimes referred to as a "minus 1," meaning the lead vocal is removed so a church soloist can sing along with the recorded accompaniment.
3. Accompaniment for choirs, with all harmony vocals, except descants, removed so church choirs could use the accompaniment. The descant harmonies are left in the mix because music scores for the descants are not included in most hymnals, plus churches may not have sopranos in their choir who can sing that high.

Other Songs

Several additional songs:

1. All I Have to Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
2. The Twelfth of Never - Johnny Mathis
3. Till I Kissed Ya - Everly Brothers

• In the Ghetto - Elvis Presley
• Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens version

eBook

History Through 27 Hymns and Songs eBook (Target 2026): Publication as eBook

Note. The ebook publication, History Through 27 Hymns and Songs is the companion to the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother. (See Publications for details about this eBook.) The ebook will become available in the music store in two forms: 1) as part of an optional bundle with its companion hymns' album recording, and 2) as narrations of the eBook. The ebook will also be available to purchase alone for download from a different online publications store. Links to both audio and publications online stores are easily accessible from this website's Store Access page.

Audio files from The Companion eBook Publication

Two recording products will be created from the companion ebook. The following audio recordings will be made from the companion eBook:

Advanced Narrations (Shortly after completing eBook)

When the publication History Through 27 Hymns and Songs is finalized, TortoiseCimbing Audio™ will begin recording a series of advance audio narrations of the chapters from that book. Those advance chapter narrations will be available as:

• A subscription series. (When the series is completed, the audiobook will be made available for download for free by those who subscribed to the series of narrations), and
• Each narration will be available to purchase as an individual audio chapter from the eBook.

Audiobook (Target 2026)

When the series of narrations are completed, the complete audiobook will be assembled and made available. Target is 2025.

Album: Romantic Duets (TBD) (This will become part of the series of Nostalgic Love Songs releases)

Note. Following the private release of Solo Collection in 1993, TortoiseClimbing Audio™ began production of another album with the working title of Romantic Duets. That album was put on hold to produce Hymns and Songs of My Mother.

Work on the Romantic Duets album began late in 1993 after Mr. McElroy left Bias and Ms. Gerber-Salins became TortoiseClimbing Audio™'s lead audio engineer and co-producer. The duets included on the album are a selection of popular romantic songs, primarily from the 1970's through the early 1990's, largely in the style of ballads. All accompaniments were prerecored Karaoke tracks. They must be replaced:

• To meet our quality standards (use of karaoke tracks as accompaniments is no longer compatible with TortoiseClimbing Audio™'s mission, which now is to produce high quality recordings for public release); and
• To own performance rights to the accompaniments.

We have begun outreach to arrange for recording those replacement accompaniments.

For the next 4 years after completing Solo Collection, TortoiseClimbing Audio™ gradually recorded materials for that project. Thus, production of that album was ongoing at the time David's mother requested TortoiseClimbing Audio™ make a high quality recording for public release, i.e., the album Hymns and Songs of My Mother.

(As noted above, work on Romantic Duets was put on hold in 1998 to focus on the Hymns and Songs of My Mother.) The analogue materials from our master tapes for the Romantic Duets album have been decoded from Dolby A and converted to digital. Decisions on how to handle those draft recordings and prepare for public release are pending.

Work on replacing accompaniments to songs in this collection of duets will be fitted in with ongoing work on:

• eBook for History Through 27 Hymns and Songs (2026);
• Advance narration subscription series from eBook chapters (2026);
• Audiobook version of eBook following completion of narration subscription series (2026); and
• Creating the 1^st volume in the Nostalgic Love Songs series (2025).

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