Acts, the 3-Man Show tells the story of the earliest days of the Christian Church when it faced eradication on every side. This play opens with the stoning of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, and follows the unlikely spread of the faith throughout the Roman Empire to the very throne of its ruler, Nero. This official soundtrack embodies much of the story and journey that the characters travel through the show. Mingled with monologues from Peter and Paul are the voices of opposition in Herod and Nero. The music tracks are expanded versions of the music heard in the live production, and they flesh out the musical material and the atmosphere of the music. Many of the tracks feature the sound of the Duduk which is a nearly 2000 year old Armenian instrument. Its mournful wail has become the cinematic voice of the Middle East and of the ancient Western world. Related to the oboe, it has a unique, almost human-like, sound. For this recording, the renowned soloist, Pedro Eustache provided his talents and helps to take the listener to a much older world. His playing fills the world of the scenes in Jerusalem and surrounding areas. As the action moves toward the capital of the empire, the sounds of the lyre is evoked through the modern harp. Joining the harp is Los Angeles bassist John Hester whose eerie sounds help add a touch of insanity to the beautiful lyre. The music reflects the opulence and beauty of the Roman capital with the unpredictable violence and cruelty of its leader. The final piece from the show is an a cappella setting of an ancient latin translation of Psalm 51 performed by the Grace Community Church choir and conducted by Bill Brandenstein. The music intones 'Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness'. The latin form of this Hebrew prayer may well have echoed in the ears of the Apostles Peter and Paul as they awaited execution in Rome. The unaccompanied choir builds to a great moment of penance and faith in God and resolves with an 'Amen' as the sound of a church bells rings 7 times signifying the start of the church from the blood of these martyrs. Two additional tracks round out the collection with the first a solo piano arrangement of 'O Sacred Head' from a collection of piano works that follow the arc of the Christian classic allegory, Pilgrim's Progress. Initially written to accompany an upcoming release of an interactive iPad retelling from StudioIgo, this piece accompanies the moment when the Pilgrim approaches the cross and has his burden fall away. The second additional track, Song of Job, was originally released in 2007 on the album 'From Darkness Into Light'. Written for string orchestra, it is conducted here by Marcia LaReau leading the Hartford VIrtuosi. This piece opens with the sounds of frivolity and the chatter of daily life only to be unexpectedly interrupted by unforeseen devastation. Following the biblical account of Job, the world crashes down around as Job is filled with fear and despair. However, the music begins to build as Job comes to understand his experience as the work of a sovereign God of whom Job says, 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him'. From this point of faith, a hymn rises from suffering and leads to a musical treatment of the hymn 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty'. As the hymn unfolds, it mixes with the sounds of life from the opening as Job's faith begins to fill all aspects of his life. It eventually leads to a musical proclamation of the hymn 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past', and comes to a conclusion of hope and assurance.