Although these are not great recordings, they will give you an idea of what we do.  To conserve disk space (and not force you to wait several hours to download), we have recorded the samples at 8000Hz in 8-bit mono.  We realize this will greatly reduce the sound quality, but it was necessary.  The quality of the recording itself is not what we call stellar either.  We are a charity, so we don't have high-end equipment to work with - actually not even middle-of-the-road.

The initial recordings were made on a portable stereo with its built-in microphone sitting on the floor of the church during live concerts.  We will add more recordings or change them as time and availability permit.  Click on each title to download the WAV file.  You can then listen to it using your media player of choice.

Overture - arranged by Wagner
This is a piece consisting of 12 famous overtures.  They have been put together with the creative flair Wagner is famous for.  Can you identify all 12 overtures?  Here's one hint: one overture is played twice in the piece (but different parts of it are played).  If you really give up, here is the answer.

Greensleeves - arranged by Alfred Reed
Reed's influence is easily detected as the melody moves fluidly from section to section throughout the ensemble.  As with typical Reed pieces, the music seems to almost "breathe" with its complex layering.  This is a traditional piece you typically hear around the Christmas season.

Legend has it that Henry VIII wrote it for Anne Boleyn during their courtship (circa 1530). This has never been substantiated and is probably not true.

Shortly after the Civil War William Chatterton Dix wrote the Christmas carol "What Child is This" to the tune.

A reading of the lyrics shows it is not a sweet, innocuous love song, but a plea from a 16th century gentleman to his bored mistress. There are countless versions of the lyrics, including fourteen Cavalier songs.  John Gay wrote lyrics to the tune for "The Beggar's Opera" and there are countless verses.

Dorian Overture - by Maurice Whitney

The Dorian form of music made is appearance and was at its peak from approximately 500BC through the fourth century.  Ancient Greeks (specifically Plato and Aristotle) believed exposure to this style fostered the virtues of temperance and courage and should be listened to by those being trained to govern.  Our current (western) music is based on the Ionian (modern major) scale and the Aeolian (modern minor) scale.  In our modern major scale system, the tonal pattern is TTsTTTs (T = Tone, s = Semitone) and the minor scale tonal pattern is TsTTsTT.  In Dorian music the tonal pattern is TsTTTsT giving a unique "feel" to the music.

As a further point of interest - In our modern scale the C scale has no sharps or flats.  However, in the Dorian system the only scale which has no sharps or flats is D.

Summer of '42 - by Michel Legrand

The war rages overseas.  Triple-scoop ice cream cones cost 10 cents.  Bette Davis reigns at the Bijou.  And "love's mysteries" are found in the pages of a stolen medical book.  That's how things are for 15-year-old Hermie during the summer he spends at a New England beach colony.  By season's end, Hermie will never again experience the world in the same way.  "SUMMER OF '42" is the story of Hermie and lovely Dorothy, and of Hermie's frantic efforts to become a man.

Winner of an Academy Award for Michel Legrand's memorable score, "Summer of '42" is best-selling author Herman Raucher's warm-hearted story of the passage from innocence to experience.  A nation is caught up in a war that will forever change it. And Hermie is caught up in a passion that will forever change him: he's in love with 22-year-old Dorothy, whose soldier/husband is away at war.  To Dorothy, Hermie's simply the schoolboy who eagerly carries her groceries.  For Hermie, Dorothy is the woman of his dreams.  And how those dreams become a bittersweet reality shapes one of the most poignant love scenes ever filmed.

This piece of music is the setting for the now famous "Dear John" letter written to Hermie by Dorothy....

Dear Hermie,

I must go home now. I'm sure you'll understand. There's much that I have to do. I will not try to explain what happened last night because I know that, in time, you will find a proper way in which to remember it... What I will do is remember you, and I will pray that you be spared all senseless tragedies. I wish you good things, Hermie, only good things.

Always, Dorothy

Beauty And The Beast - by Alan Menken

Beauty and the Beast is the story of a prince who is magically transformed into a hideous beast by an old witch. In order to break the spell, he must learn to love and be loved.

This piece is a medley of favourites from the animated movie including "Be Our Guest", "Beauty And The Beast", "Belle", "Gaston" and "Something There".