Category: Handbell Ensemble

I Saw Three Ships – Eight handbells

I Saw Three Ships is an English Christmas carol that, traditionally, speaks of the story of the ships which delivered the relics of the Magi to Cologne Cathedral in the 12th century. I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day; I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas Day …

Continue reading

Still, Still, Still (AUSTRIAN CAROL) – Eight handbells

The Christmas lullaby Still, Still, Still us that the Christ Child sleeps, and that He sleeps under the watchful eyes of the angels of heaven. Still, still, still, One can hear the falling snow. For all is hushed, The world is sleeping, Holy Star its vigil keeping. Still, still, still, One can hear the falling …

Continue reading

Amazing Grace (AMAZING GRACE) – Eight handbells

Amazing Grace is one of the best-known hymns of all time. John Newton wrote it in the eighteenth century, and from then till today it still brings forth the message of soul saved and life changed. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am …

Continue reading

We Three Kings (KINGS OF ORIENT) – Eight handbells

We Three Kings tells of special visitors on the first Epiphany. Well… in actuality the Bible doesn’t say precisely how many wise men visited the Christ Child in the Bethlehem manger. But it does record that they brought three special gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – so that seems to hint that there might …

Continue reading

Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (HURON CAROL) – Eight handbells

This is the oldest known Canadian carol. Gitchi Manitou is Algonquian for “Great Spirit”, the Native American name for God, and the lyrics tell the Christmas story as it might have told been near the Great Lakes. ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel …

Continue reading

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (PICARDY) – Eight handbells

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is an ancient Greek hymn that was translated to English by Gerard Moultrie in the nineteenth century. Its antiquity indicates that it was first sung as a chant (imagine how it would sound within the stone walls of a monastery!). This hymn tune, PICARDY, is the one most frequently …

Continue reading

O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) – Eight handbells

The Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem reflects the quiet joy of the Savior’s birth. This arrangement is of the hymn tune FOREST GREEN, the melody more often used for Phillip Brooks’ lyric. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go …

Continue reading

Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus (GEVAERT) – Eight handbells

Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus is a gentle French Christmas carol. The lyric is simple, short, and sweet, yet profound in its contemplation of what it was like to behold the Christ Child in the manger. Lying amid the oxen mild, Sleep, sleep, sleep my Holy Child. Heavenly cherubim, hosts of seraphim Hover all …

Continue reading

Larry and Carla’s First “Surprisingly-Easy”™-Eight-Bell Christmas Collection

Welcome to our first collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell Christmas pieces! We’d been sharing our four-in-hand duets with our family and friends, and started getting questions about whether we had some easier arrangements that would work well with younger/newer ringers. We took a look at what we had, and realized that some of our repertoire …

Continue reading

Savior of the Nations, Come! (NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND) – Eight handbells

Advent is when we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ in human form. Savior of the Nations, Come is a plea for the Savior to descend from heaven to set our world to rights. Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, That the Lord chose …

Continue reading