People in England treasure their gardens, and many of them have one that’s truly fine. Country Gardens relates some of the wonders of having a truly glorious one! How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in an English country garden? We’ll tell you now of some that we know; those we miss you’ll surely pardon …
Category: Handbells
Sep 26
Mu Süda Ärka Üles
The Estonian handbell ensemble Campanelli visited the eastern United States in 2017, performing in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. We had the privilege of tagging along with them for the week, and enjoyed their company and friendship. When we all went to the Malmark factory for a tour, Inna, their director, had us join …
Mu Süda Ärka Üles (Awake, My Heart) (handbells, 4-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, and optional handbell duet, Level 3-)
We had the privilege of tagging along with Campanelli, an internationally-known Estonian handbell ensemble, for a week in 2017. This song, Mu Süda Ärka Üles (“Awake, My Heart”), was a high point for us because there was an eight-bell part added onto their full-choir arrangement by Susan T. Nelson. This is our eight-bell arrangement of …
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 …
