Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming dates back to sixteenth-century Germany. Its lyric combines the image of Jesus Christ as the Rose of Sharon and the Root of Jesse, plus the traditional impression of celebrating Christmas in winter. It was translated to English by Theodore Baker in the nineteenth century. Lo, how a Rose e’er …
Category: Christmas
Deck the Halls – Eight handbells
This boisterous – yes… that seems to be an appropriate choice of words! – arrangement of a 16th century Welsh tune Nos Galan is tremendous fun to play. Fa la la la la la la la! Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa la la la la, la la la la Tis the season …
On This Day Earth Shall Ring (PERSONENT HODIE) – Eight handbells
On This Day Earth Shall Ring is a melody from fairly far back (1582, to be precise). It’s appropriate for Christmas as well as Easter, and we’ve even been in a church where the pastor made the request “Please play that again next year – it really doesn’t matter when.” On this day earth shall …
Jingle Bells – Eight handbells
James Murray wrote Jingle Bells in 1857. We understand that it actually was a Thanksgiving song for a children’s play at his church… but history has made it into a Christmas song. That probably makes sense since December is snowier than November in most areas (well… if you’re far north enough). Dashing through the snow …
Larry and Carla’s Third “Surprisingly Easy”™ Christmas Collection
Welcome to our third “surprisingly easy” Christmas eight-bell collection! We’ve been having such a wonderful time with our Christmas (and other) music that we thought you should have another set of pieces to play for the holidays! You can play this music with two four-in-hand ringers… or you could have four ringers with two bells …
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM) – Eight handbells
The chant DIVINUM MYSTERIUM dates back to the thirteenth century; we now recognize it by the lyrics: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”. You can imagine how it would resonate in a stone monastery far off in the hills! Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega; He …
Ukrainian Bell Carol – Eight handbells
Ukrainian Bell Carol was first known as “Schedryk”/«Щедрик» when Mykola Leontovych wrote it in 1916. And then… in 1941, Peter Wilhousky wrote the lyrics entitled “Carol of the Bells”, the title under which credit is usually given in the United States. We present our arrangement of Leontovych’s composition under its “more original” title. We hope …
Away in a Manger (AWAY IN A MANGER, James R. Murray) – Eight handbells
The melody in this arrangement of Away in a Manger by James Murray is the one most familiar to Americans. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head, The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on …
Larry and Carla’s Eight-Bell “Nutcracker” Collection
In 1892, Pyotr Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the music for The Nutcracker, a Christmas story about a girl named Maria and her magical gift from Drosselmeyer, a party guest and family friend. We’re thrilled to bring you a collection of eight of the pieces from this ballet: Miniature Overture March The Kingdom of Sweets …
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL) – Eight handbells
The Advent song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as we know it today, is adapted from a fifteenth-century French melody, but may originate from as far back as possibly the 12th century. It first appeared in English as translated by John M. Neale in 1851. It’s a prayer by those who hoped that the Christ …
