We’ve wanted to have an eight-bell arrangement of Silent Night for some time. If you count your way through the score, you’ll find that the melody has eleven notes. Since eleven is a lot more than eight (to two four-in-hand handbell ringers), we couldn’t initially figure out how to make it into one of our …
Category: Eight-Bell
Silent Night (STILLE NACHT) – Eight handbells
Franz Gruber’s lovely carol has enchanted people for two centuries. In case you happen to visit Oberdorf von Salzburg, Austria, you can see the original Silent Night Chapel there. Or… if you’re in the Great Lakes region, you can see the Silent Night Chapel modeled after it in Frankenmuth, Michigan! Silent night! Holy night! / …
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (WEBB) – Eight handbells
The Bible tells us that there’s a definite spiritual conflict for us. The two Georges (Duffield and Webb) who wrote Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus captured the essence of victory wonderfully. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross! Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory …
Sep 10
New Eight-Bell Music! Hooray! Hooray!
It’s been a while since we released a stack of eight-bell pieces, so we’re excited to share nine new Christmas arrangements! Take a look! Creator of the Stars of Night De Zak van Sinterklaas (Santa’s Bag) Go Tell In on the Mountain Hoe Leit dit Kindeke (Cold is This Little Child) How Great Our Joy …
Go Tell It on the Mountain (GO TELL IT) – Eight handbells
The birth of the Christ Child has been an occasion for great joy for centuries. Go Tell It on the Mountain gives us both the command to proclaim the coming of the Savior as well as a song by which to declare it. Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go, …
How Great Our Joy (JUNGST) – Eight handbells
Joy is celebrated many ways. This “call and response” carol provides a special opportunity to show what’s possible with handbells, because of consecutive phrases that are alternately forte and piano. While by the sheep we watched at night, glad tidings brought an angel bright. How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, …
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (NOEL) – Eight handbells
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is sung to a couple of different melodies. The tune NOEL is the one more frequently used in England. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to …
Creator of the Stars of Night (CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM) – Eight handbells
The 7th century Latin hymn Creator of the Stars of Night was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1852. It’s a thoughtful plainchant fitting a quiet, clear Christmas night. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, And hear Thy servants when they call. Thou, grieving …
De Zak van Sinterklaas (Santa’s Bag) – Eight handbells
The legend of Santa Claus appears in many countries. In Holland, he’s known as “Sinterklaas”. The translation of the title of this song is “Santa’s bag”. “De zak van Sinterklaas Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas de zak van Sinterklaas o jongens, jongens ‘t is zo’n baas. Daar stopt hij, daar stopt hij daar stopt hij blij van zin …
The Cherry Tree Carol (CHERRY TREE CAROL) – Eight handbells
Here’s an eight-handbell arrangement of this medieval Cornish carol. The words tell of how the cherry tree willingly gave of its fruit to the Christ Child. Joseph was an old man, / An old man was he; He married sweet Mary, / The queen of Galilee. As they want a-walking, / In the garden so …
