The Crucifixion

by John Stainer

(For anyone interested, this recording contains the first recording of David as a very young soloist.)

Free download of this album is available from both this website at Begin Download Process, and from Bandcamp, see Online Store Access.

This monophonic recording preserves historic, amateur performances of John Stainer's The Crucifixion. The performances were given in spring 1959 by the Annapolis High School choirs (classes of 1959, 60 and 61). (About 41 minutes in length.) The limited edition, private, original 1959 vintage, historic, monophonic record was made by editing together the amateur raw tape recordings of the 2 live 1959 performances of this unique arrangement.

The truly wonderful, uncommon arrangement was created by the choral director, Robert F. Kunkle, by using two women's choirs, instead of soloists, to perform most of the recitatives and arias. The result is truly unique, creating a much more choral performance than scored by Stainer. (For additional color, Mr. Kunkle used a small group of students from the mixed choir to sing several small solos.)

Notes. Because this free amateur, monaural recording was made using then available 1950's consumer grade recording equipment, it's fidelity is restricted by capabilities of that era's consumer grade equipment.

In December of 2022, knowing the score would become public domain the beginning of 2023, TortoiseClimbing Audio™ had the 1959 monophonic record digitized. That enabled TortoiseClimbing Audio™ to master and restore this recording. Those processes included:

• Removal of lots of audience noises;
• Boosting volume of the several student soloists to better match volume of choruses;
• Eliminating volume differences between the 2 tapes edited together; and
• In passages where the bass Hammond organ notes were too loud for the soloists, reducing volume of the bass Hammond organ notes.

What is provided free, both from this website and TortoiseClimbing Audio's™ Online Store at Bandcamp are both:

• The digitally mastered and restored audio file from the 1959 performance by AHS choirs of this unique arrangement, nostalgic, historic, vintage, amateur monophonic recording; plus
• The lyrics, and/or score you can use to follow along. (Copy of the score is only provided from this website.)

For more details, click on The Crucifixion.

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