In 2013, we published eight eight-handbell arrangements of selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. That was an exciting time for us, because we were preparing to do preshow for a local ballet company, and wanted to give them a nice surprise. Yes… they were surprised!
This time, we have a surprise for you! Nikolay Bernard, the editor of the music magazine Nouvellist, comissioned Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a suite of twelve piano solos. They were released, in turn, each month of 1876. Because of the year-round theme, the pieces in this collection were entitled The Seasons, and they have remained gems in the piano repertoire.
These delightful works are now available as two-octave handbell arrangements. They’re challenging (Level 3 to 5+), so if you have seven to twelve intrepid ringers who want to stretch their wings, they’re going to have lots of fun mastering them. We’ve made them available separately – that way, you can test the waters by buying one arrangement. There also are two collections-of-six (January-June and July-December) that give you six pieces for the price of five.
Featured below is June: Barcarolle, one of the most familiar (and easiest) of the collection.
