Dec 24

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Choraegus

The snow started falling this morning at our place. Millions of tiny bits of ice surround us, and we’re safe and warm inside. Shoveling awaits…

It’s the end of 2020, and as we’ve had a fairly wild December, we’ve decided to take a break from our rather manic two-a-week publication pace and get a little rest.

Perhaps some of you feel the same way after the year you’ve had. You’ve figured out how to prerecord and livestream church services, meet on Zoom (or similar app); communicated by email, txt, and maybe even old-fashioned – “classic”? – phone calls; and uploaded more files than you ever imagined possible. The pandemic has made us jump-shift violently in so many ways.

But you’re reading this, so you’ve achieved some level of adaptation. Congratulations, and good for you – that means you’re a survivor. We hope that God will continue to sustain you and yours as we persevere together.

We at Choraegus (Larry and Carla, West Michigan’s Smallest Handbell Ensemble – both of us! 😀 ) thank you for giving us the privilege of providing music for you to play in this crazy time. We’ve been thrilled to know that we have a resource that has kept your handbells ringing through the summer, on through Christmas, and into the new year. We thank you for being so kind as to add credits to your videos, not merely because it’s a responsible thing to do, but much more because doing so has enabled us to share in your services and concerts.

We’ve been amazed to see how you have started playing duets, trios, and quartets from the safety of your homes. Some of you were experienced ringers, and some of you were picking up a handbell for the first time. Our great joy has been to see you growing not only in your ringing skills, but even more as families. We’ve loved seeing that as you continue to make new videos – keep ’em coming!

Thank you to the full-sized church and community ensembles that have considered our music worthy of your attention. We know that social distancing may have made performance of your normal repertoire impractical or impossible. We’ve been amazed by your resourcefulness on behalf of your congregations and audiences – and are overjoyed to have been part of the solution you sought.

Many other composers have had to make rather drastic changes in their writing to provide music to the world. COVID-19 has changed their world as much as anyone else’s. We’re humbled that God put Choraegus here years in advance of the current need.

Onward into the new year! We wish you the best, and plan to continue offering new music that you’ll find artistic, challenging, and just plain fun to play. That, after all, is our calling.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Choraegus. See you soon! 💙

Dec 10

Away in a Manger (MURRAY) – Twelve-Handbell Version

We’ve been having fun recording some of our twelve- and sixteen-handbell arrangements so that you can see and hear them with actual bells. Here’s our twelve-bell arrangement of Away in a Manger (the hymn tune most often heard in the USA, by James Murray).

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six 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.

Dec 07

From a Distant Home – with video now!

We’ve been revisiting some of the twelve- and sixteen-bell scores that we didn’t manage to record earlier. One of them is From a Distant Home for sixteen handbells. We had lots of fun putting the video together!

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.

Dec 03

Angels, from the Realms of Glory – Twelve Handbells

Just in time for Christmas, we have a new twelve-bell arrangement of Angels, from the Realms of Glory (tune: REGENT SQUARE) for those who need a bit more in the way of holiday handbells. It’s challenging, so be prepared to have fun!

Angels from the realms of glory / Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story / Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six 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.

Nov 30

The First Nowell – for sixteen handbells, reissued!

We took a look at our sixteen-bell arrangement of The First Nowell, and decided to revise it. The result of this work is a score that’s more elegant and, we think, “Christmassy” than the old version. This also gave us a chance to reformat it into a “dual-range”™ package as well, with one version in the range C5-D7 and the other in Bb4-C7; you’ll note that the latter makes it doable with a standard three-octave set.

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.

Nov 27

As with Gladness Men of Old (DIX) – Twelve-Handbell Version

Here’s our twelve-bell arrangement(s) of the nineteenth-century Epiphany carol As with Gladness Men of Old, sung to the hymn tune DIX!


Nov 24

Once in Royal David’s City – for six handbells and piano

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 that we know and love.

Historical footnote: Mrs. Alexander wasn’t a one-hit wonder… she also wrote the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful!

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little child.

Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the Christmas carol Once in Royal David’s City provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.

The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.

Nov 19

St. Anthony Chorale – for eight handbells

Joseph Haydn wrote this chorale in the 18th century. Our arrangement for eight handbells is quite accessible, and will be a welcome addition to any church service.

Nov 16

Marvelous Grace – for six handbells and piano

This was one of my favorite hymns as a teenager. The message is timeless, and the singing was always strong and glorious. Our arrangement for six handbells and piano will be a great addition to your repertoire!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.

Nov 12

Somos del Señor (SOMOS DEL SEÑOR) – for eight handbells

This gentle Spanish-language hymn reflects on the fact that no matter what may happen to us, we belong to God. We hope you’ll enjoy this eight-bell arrangement!

Pues si vivimos, para El vivimos
y si morimos para El morimos.
Sea que vivamos o que muramos,
Somos del Señor, somos del Señor. 		If we live, we live for Him,
and if we die, we die for Him,
Whether we live or die,
We are the Lord’s, we are the Lord’s.