Category: Handbells

Tripping Up the Stairs – Eight handbells

This Irish jig isn’t about falling down (well, or *up*) – it’s about fast footwork! Alternate titles: The Cocoon The Plains of Kilkorkery The Pride of Kildare Roscabury Sacho’s The Syracuse Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission …

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The Foxhunter’s Jig – Eight handbells

We’d like to hope that the fox gets to dance too (rather than becoming someone’s trophy)! Alternate titles: Nead A Lachan Sa Mhuta Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies …

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Grizzly’s Peak – Eight handbells

Here’s an Irish-American jig that you might happen to know by a different name… Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US AGO Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert with Angela Kraft Cross, January 23, 2015 Concert with Philadelphia Bronze, May 30, 2015 Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you …

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Barney Brannigan – Eight handbells

Historically, slip jigs (with three beats per measure) have been danced by the ladies after some female dancers showed the men they had footwork just as incredible as the men did! Alternate titles: ‘Twas On A Windy Night A New Gig Blewitt’s Jig Charming Judy Brallahan Master Tailor’s Irish Lilt Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: …

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The Boys of Bluehill – Eight handbells

Hornpipes are great fun even with just eight bells. This one is regarded as one of the most popular ever. Alternate Titles: Buachaillí An Chnoic Ghoirm The Lads Of North Tyne Mildew On My Mind Na Buacaillide Ua Cnoc-gorm Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ …

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Wassail Song / Here We Come A-Caroling – Eight handbells

The Wassail Song has a bit of history behind it. The Old English “Waes Hail” is a word that expresses hope for a good cider apple harvest… and so a wassail is a drink of hot mulled cider! Okay… maybe this isn’t completely consistent with many of the other Christmas carols we sing, but a …

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Sussex Carol / On This Night All Christians Sing (SUSSEX CAROL) – Eight handbells

This traditional English Christmas Sussex Carol is also known as “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”. The arrangement we see in our hymnals is almost certainly the one written by Ralph Vaughan Williams… but the unharmonized tune is far older than that. On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear what news those angels bring; …

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Once in Royal David’s City (IRBY) – Eight handbells

There are a number of hymns where the lyrics preceded the music by being written as a poem. Once in David’s Royal City was written by Cecil Frances Alexander, and a year after its publication Henry John Gauntlett composed the melody IRBY that we know and love. Historical footnote: Mrs. Alexander wasn’t a one-hit wonder… …

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O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES) – Eight handbells

The celebration of Christmas centers on the promise that God is always working toward His ultimate triumph. O Come, All Ye Faithful draws us not just to the manger, but to the everlasting future of Christ’s kingdom. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and …

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It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (CAROL) – Eight handbells

Edmund Sears wrote the words to It Came Upon the Midnight Clear in 1849, and it’s sung on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (just with different tunes). This arrangement is to the American melody, CAROL, composed by Richard Storrs Willis. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending …

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