Jul 06

Beach Spring – for six handbells plus piano accompaniment!

The Sacred Harp from the nineteenth century has been a popular source of music for American hymnody. Dozens of hymn texts have been set to the tune BEACH SPRING, such as Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy and What A Friend We Have in Jesus.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
full of pity, love, and power.

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Beach Spring 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.

Jul 02

To the Hills I Lift My Eyes ([HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL] GUIDE) – for eight handbells

The text for this hymn is based on Psalm 121, and it speaks of our reliance on God to lead us through life’s path. There is no other Guide who can and will watch over us so wonderfully. We hope you’ll enjoy playing our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn!

To the hills I lift my eyes; / whence shall help for me arise?
From the Lord shall come my aid, / who the heav’n and earth has made.
He will guide through dangers all, / will not suffer thee to fall.
He who safe his people keeps, / slumbers not and never sleeps.

Jun 29

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (EBENEZER)

The name Ebenezer means “stone of help.” Jesus is the Rock of Ages, and our Eternal Rescuer; He is the One to whom we must turn for salvation.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (tune: EBENEZER) 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.

Jun 25

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me – for eight handbells

This spiritual is a prayer for the Lord to stay with us. Well… it’s just as much a prayer that we’d be walking with Him, too! Here’s our eight-handbell arrangement.

Jun 22

Song of Hope/Canto de esperanza (ARGENTINA) – for six accompanied handbells

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the hymn tune ARGENTINA (usually sung in English as Song of Hope 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.

Jun 18

He Leadeth Me (AUGHTON/HE LEADETH ME) – for eight handbells

Making progress in the Christian life isn’t about hacking our own path through the jungle; it’s about following the path God lays our for us. Our eight-handbell arrangement of this long-beloved hymn is perfect for Good Shepherd Sunday!

He leadeth me: O blessed thought! / O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be, / still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, he leadeth me; / by his own hand he leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be, / for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, / sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o’er troubled sea, / still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Jun 15

Holy Manna – for six handbells with piano accompaniment

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Holy Manna 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.

Jun 11

“The Ants Go Marching” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” – for eight handbells

We have not just one, but two new eight-bell pieces to present today. That’s because they use the same tune. You may remember singing The Ants Go Marching as a child. It’s not about a marauding horde of insects; rather, it’s a band of friendly little critters doing cute little things. Our eight-bell arrangement about these ants is not-quite-easy, but not overlay challenging. If you slow it down at first, it should be easy enough to work it up to full speed.

The other arrangement is the actual original source for The Ants Go Marching. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”, written in 1863 by Frank Gilmore/Louis Lambert. Our new eight-bell arrangement of this well-known wartime song has a lot of challenge for the intrepid eight-bell ensemble, and will be great fun to learn and perform!

The Ants Go Marching:
 When Johnny Comes Marching Home:

Jun 03

Morning Has Broken – for six handbells with piano accompaniment

The traditional Gaelic tune BUNESSAN is better known to most of us as the music to the popular hymn Morning Has Broken (popularized by Cat Stevens in the 1970s).

Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the hymn tune BUNESSAN 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.

Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

May 28

You’re a Grand Old Flag – for eight handbells

(American) Independence Day is coming soon, so we have an arrangement of this George Cohan patriotic tune for eight bells.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.