Category: Church Music

Larry and Carla’s Second “Surprisingly Easy”™ Eight-Bell Hymn Collection

We’re still finding more and more music that can be played with eight bells, so we’ve decided to make a second collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell hymns. We think you’ll enjoy playing these as much as the first “Surprisingly Easy”™ Hymn Collection. You can play this music with two four-in-hand ringers… or you could have …

Continue reading

America the Beautiful (AMERICA/MATERNA) – Eight handbells

I think of America the Beautiful as a “wannabe national anthem”, because it says so much about what matters in the country where I live. O beautiful for spacious skies / For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties / Above the fruited plain! America! America! / God shed his grace on thee And …

Continue reading

In the Garden (GARDEN) – Eight handbells

In the Garden is an early twentieth-century Gospel song by C. Austin Miles. It’s about those solitary times when we find the Savior waiting for us in a peaceful place, and spend time rejoicing in His presence. This is one of the most popular hymns of all time! I come to the garden alone While …

Continue reading

What Wondrous Love is This (WONDROUS LOVE) – Eight handbells

Here’s a very familiar tune of American origin. It’s a thoughtful Holy Week selection, perhaps best matching Good Friday. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for …

Continue reading

We Praise Thee, O God Our Redeemer/We Gather Together – Twelve handbells

The hymn We Praise Thee, O God Our Redeemer, also sung as We Gather Together, was adapted from a sixteenth-century Dutch folk song, and endures in our hymnody as a glorious way for us to turn our hearts to God. We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator; in grateful devotion our tribute we bring; …

Continue reading

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (DIADEM) – Twelve handbells

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name is often sung at Easter, because it proclaims the greatness of our Lord and the salvation he has won for us. The lyric has been set to a number of hymn tunes; this arrangement uses the DIADEM melody. All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate …

Continue reading

All Creatures of Our God and King – Twelve handbells

All Creatures of Our God and King reflects on the various aspects of the life that surrounds us. Each verse comes to same conclusion: Regardless of where we are or what happens, we are called to praise God for His greatness and goodness. All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and …

Continue reading

Twelve-Bell Hymns

Kelvingrove (Handbells, 2-3 octaves, Level 2)

KELVINGROVE is an old Scottish tune. Where it appears in hymnals, it usually is under the title “The Summons”. Historically, though, it’s a love song sung by a soldier to his love as he strolls with her one last time before he heads to battle. Here are the first and last verses of the folk …

Continue reading

Beautiful Savior / Fairest Lord Jesus (ST. ELIZABETH) – Eight handbells

This song goes back more than a few years, dating to the Crusades. While we’re not into the militaristic part of that bit of history now, Jesus Christ is still just as wonderful and lovely as ever. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I …

Continue reading