Category: International Music

Eight-Bell Dances

We started exploring jigs and hornpipes as a possibility for new eight-bell music. Amazingly, we found them to be very well-adapted to our instrument, and have since then made quite a few arrangements. We’ve enjoyed playing them, having found the following: They’re fast. Jigs and hornpipes are happy, lively music, and are made for rapid …

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Jim Ward’s Jig – Eight handbells

Jimmy Ward was a tremendously skilled Irish banjo player who wrote this tune. We think you’ll have a lot of fun playing it! Alternate Titles: An Chéad Phunnann Clare, The Clare The First Sheaf Jimmy Ward’s Favourite Port Shéamus Mhic A Bháird Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based …

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The Blarney Pilgrim – Eight handbells

Kissing the Blarney Stone can be a somewhat scary experience. You climb to the top of Blarney Castle… easy. You lie down across the edge of the parapet… probably not easy. You bend downward below the level of the wall’s edge to kiss the stone, upside down… definitely not easy. And then you return to …

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The Whinny Hills of Leitrim – Eight handbells

Leitrim (pronounced LEE-trim) is in the north of Ireland. You can imagine the lovely green hills and the beautiful scenery! Alternate Titles: Cnoic Aiteannach Liadroma Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US This arrangement is also included in Larry and Carla’s Eight-Bell Jig Collection. Purchasing …

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Banish Misfortune – Eight handbells

Don’t you wish you could just play a song and make all the ills of your world go away? Here it is (of course, some of the other title for this tune are quite interesting…)! Alternate Titles: Díbir Anachain Díbir Mí-Ádh The Horse Under The Stairs The Humours Of Mullinafauna The Little Bag Of Meal …

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Morrison’s Jig – Eight handbells

The story of Morrison’s Jig was that it was a tune composed by Tom Carmondy, and that his fiddler friend Morrison played/recorded it for him. You’ll hear the fiddle playing the repeated motifs in the melody… dance the night away! Alternate Titles: Cry Of The Celtic Tom Carmondy’s Favorite Port Ui Mhuirgheasa The Stick Across …

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Chloe’s Passion – Eight handbells

Dr. Angus MacDonald is a piper and folk musician who, in real life, is a medical doctor in Scotland. Music clearly goes with science, and we are pleased to have received permission from Dr. MacDonald to offer this arrangement. Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ …

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The Swaggering Jig – Eight handbells

No, we don’t actually know what the “swaggering” in the title is about… but we can imagine happily walking arm in arm with friends on a nice night out! Oh… and this includes an optional return-to-the-beginning in case your Irish dancers need more music! Alternate Titles: Bellaghy Fair Give Us A Drink Of Water The …

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Eugowra Rocks / The Morning of the Fray – Eight handbells

Our Australian friends have songs commemorating some interesting events! Eugowra Rocks, a city Down Under, experienced the biggest gold heist in Australian history. The criminals got away – for a few years – with about £14,000 of the precious metal. That was in 1862, so their haul would be worth millions of dollars today. It’s …

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The Humours of Whiskey – Eight handbells

We’re not entirely certain as to which definition of “humour” applies, but perhaps the most apt is “state of mind” or “disposition”. Our arrangement of this happy jig comes with some fun twists (no pun intended…) – and quite possibly is a bit more challenging for a quartet of two-bell ringers than a duet of …

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