Author's posts

My Lord, What a Morning (BURLEIGH) – Sixteen handbells

The spiritual My Lord, What a Morning reflects on the glory and power of God. Although the lyrics have been explained in different ways, the conclusion remains the same: God still maintains control over the universe, and Christians have deep reasons for rejoicing in that fact. Our new arrangement for sixteen handbells will be a …

Continue reading

New video for “Ding Dong, Merrily on High” for sixteen handbells!

We promised a video of our sixteen-bell arrangement of the Christmas carol “Ding Dong, Merrily on High”, and here it is! We hope you enjoy it!

The Star-Spangled Banner – Twelve handbells

Francis Scott Key wrote the words for “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814 after seeing the American flag raised over Fort McHenry in celebration of victory. The modern rendition (most often at patriotic and sports events, with biennial playings at the Olympics) usually consists of just Key’s first verse. All four of his verses, as kept …

Continue reading

Hark! the Glad Sound – Twelve handbells

The hymn Hark! the Glad Sound, arranged for twelve handbells, anticipates the Savior’s coming. It speaks of the triumphant kingdom He will establish, and is suitable for Advent or Palm Sunday. Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes, the Savior promised long! Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song. He comes …

Continue reading

It only seemed quiet this week!

I apologize for the apparent lack of activity at Choraegus this past week! The real-life picture involved more than just sitting around; we participated in the Bay View Week of Handbells. BVWOH happens in the first half of August each year in Petoskey, Michigan. The “Bay View” part comes from the Bay View Association, a …

Continue reading

Nocturne (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 2+)

Nocturne is an original work for three or five octaves of handbells (and three octaves of handchimes). I composed it as an entry in a composition contest, with the conditions being that it had to be Level 2 or 3, and be less than 4’30” in duration. I think you’ll like – or maybe love! …

Continue reading

A new video for “Meditation”!

Meditation, an original composition, has been in our catalog for some time. In case you haven’t gotten familiar with it, we have versions for 2-3 octaves and 3-5 octaves of handbells. Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble of Nevada made the handbell video which we have on our site. Carla wanted to know how Meditation would sound on …

Continue reading

Sleigh Ride (Mozart, Drei Deutsche Tänze, No. 3) – Sixteen handbells

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the exceptional musical geniuses of all time, started composing music when he was just four years old, and has had a lasting influence ever since then. He composed Drei Deutsche Tänze (“Three German Dances”) in 1791; the third dance in this suite bears the nickname “Sleigh Ride” (not to be …

Continue reading

Greet the Morning (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, plus handchimes, 1 octave, Level 3-)

Greet the Morning, an original work for three to five octaves of handbells, draws a picture of waiting for the sun to rise. The night vanishes gradually as the light of dawn overcomes the darkness. It increases in brightness until all of a sudden, the sun peeks over the horizon and starts the day. This …

Continue reading

Walking Home (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 3-)

Walking Home, an original work for three to five octaves of handbells, brings to mind that feeling you have when the time to leave work or school has arrived. The special feeling of knowing that you’re headed back to your safest place goes with you and inspires your walk – and the melody in your …

Continue reading