Oct 16

WOODLANDS (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, plus handchimes, 1 , Level 3+)octave

The hymn tune WOODLANDS was written by Walter Greatorex in 1919. It’s a melody of grandeur and joy, and has been paired with texts such as Tell Out, My Soul and Filled with the Spirit’s Power. We present our new arrangement for three to five octaves of handbells, plus one octave of handchimes!

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of His Word;
In God, my Savior, shall my heart rejoice.
Timothy Dudley Smith (1961)

Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing the single copy version grants permission to print and maintain one copy. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Oct 10

We have a new flute part for our eight-bell Blessed Assurance!

Getting to work with talented musicians is a great privilege! We recently shared a concert with Gary and Martha Matthews, and decided to add a flute part to our accompanied arrangement of Blessed Assurance. You, of course, can play the original accompanied eight-bell score on its own, but adding the new flute part makes the arrangement even more exciting.

Here’s pre-concert recording with Gary on piano and Martha on flute:

Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment/instrumental score(s), if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Oct 07

PSALM 22 – for sixteen handbells

PSALM 22 is a sixteenth-century hymn from the Genevan Psalter. The referenced psalm starts with “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”, declaring King David’s remorse after sin. The text was spoken centuries later when Jesus died on the cross, accepting the punishment for our failure to live up to God’s perfect standard.

It’s sung during Lent, and one of the texts married to PSALM 22 is When We Are Tempted to Deny Your Son. Here’s our arrangement of this hymn for sixteen handbells.

Purchasing this 16-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to eight copies for your handbell group – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Find Larry and Carla on Facebook!

Sep 29

Amazing Grace – for twelve handbells

John Newton’s famous hymn about being set free from the prison of being a slave trader is known worldwide for the message it brings. Here’s our arrangement for twelve bells.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Sep 26

Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise (ST. DENIO) – for twelve handbells

Hymns have long been a means of trying to understand the unfathomable nature and Person of God. Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise, to the tune ST. DENIO, speaks of how God is beyond our comprehension who reaches to us from His throne. Here is our new arrangement for twelve handbells.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might:
Thy justice, like mountains high soaring above,
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
Then wither and perish, but naught changeth Thee.

Thou reignest in glory, Thou dwellest in light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Sep 22

It’s Our Anniversary!

Today is our tenth anniversary! Not Choraegus (we celebrated 26 years at the end of last year), but OURS, as in Larry & Carla. From God making it possible for us to meet on the Handbell Community Online, to Facebook, to Skype, and through the Bay View Week of Handbells, where we met and got engaged, to moving to California and subsequently Holland, MI to become West Michigan’s Smallest Handbell Choir, we’re celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary today!

We invite you to celebrate with us! Just use the coupon code ANNIVERSARY to get 15% off all purchases through September 29th (US Eastern time), and enjoy playing more of our music for six, eight, twelve, and sixteen handbells as well as pieces for full handbell choir, small ensembles, and soloists. This is also an opportunity to get a discounted price on the Bass Ringer’s Notebook, an HMA-recognized volume about bass handbell ringing.

Happy Ringing!
Larry & Carla
West Michigan’s Smallest Handbell Choir

Aug 29

Away in a Manger (CRADLE SONG) – for twelve handbells

Away in a Manger is sung to several melodies; among them are CRADLE SONG/KIRKPATRICK, MURRAY, and NORMANDY. It’s our pleasure to introduce you to our new twelve-bell arrangement of CRADLE SONG by William Kirkpatrick!

Our new arrangement of this Christmas song for twelve handbells has versions in Bb major (C5-G5) and C major (D5-A6), so be sure to use the BUCs on the webpage to verify that you have all of the bells you need.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Aug 18

Go Tell It on the Mountain – for twelve 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. It’s our pleasure to present our new twelve-bell arrangement!

Our new arrangement of this Christmas song for twelve handbells has versions in Bb major (C5-G5) and C major (D5-A6), so be sure to use the BUCs on the webpage to verify that you have all of the bells you need.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth
rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior‘s birth.

Down in a lowly stable the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Jul 25

Faith of Our Fathers (ST. CATHERINE) – for twelve handbells

The Christian faith is all about continuity. God has made the Church so that it grows and lives by believers telling other people about His infinite grace and the salvation they can have. Many of us can trace a bit of our “spiritual lineage” through those who made it possible for us to come to faith.

We realize, though, that “fathers” means more than “male parents”, because some of the well-known saints became what they are through their mothers and other people!

We hope you enjoy playing our new twelve-bell arrangement of Faith of Our Fathers!

Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious Word!

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
How sweet would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!

Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Jul 11

Good Christian Men, Rejoice – for twelve handbells

Rejoice! Rejoice! The Christ Child is born!

We have a new twelve-bell arrangement of Good Christian Men, Rejoice that’s exciting, and fun, and joyful. Do take a look, and think about how it might enhance your holiday services!

Our new arrangement of this Christmas song for twelve handbells has versions in Bb major (C5-G5) and C major (D5-A6), so be sure to use the BUCs on the webpage to verify that you have all of the bells you need.

Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ was born today.
Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.