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.

May 21

Larry and Carla’s Fifth “Surprisingly Easy”™ Eight-Bell Hymn Collection

We present our fifth “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell hymn collection! Here’s what it contains (which you can order separately… but getting the whole collection is a better deal!):

May 14

How Firm a Foundation (FOUNDATION) – for eight handbells

Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which our faith is founded. How firm, indeed, is our foundation! Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement of this glorious hymn.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said, who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

May 07

Zeg Kwezelken, Wilde Gij Dansen? – for eight handbells

Here’s a fun-to-play nineteenth-century Dutch tune. This lively arrangement will keep you on your toes!

Apr 30

Het Roosje – for eight handbells

Here’s our new arrangement of a pretty Dutch song whose title translates “The Rose”.

The boy saw a rose
Rose on the heath.
“It was such a colorful dress,
He went quickly.
It was as if it both served him.
Rose, rose, rose red,
Rose on the heath.

Apr 23

I Stand Amazed (MY SAVIOR’S LOVE) – for eight handbells

This was one of my favorite congregational hymns when I was a teenager. The trend today is to sing this beloved hymn in a quiet, meditative style – but in past decades, it was more of a marching song for the Church – and our new eight-bell arrangement is written with that in mind!

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene,
and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain:
How marvelous, how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior’s love for me!

Apr 16

Alouette, Gentille Alouette – for eight handbells

Here’s our eight-bell arrangement of this French children’s song. We’re pleased to offer it as a freebie!

Apr 09

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (HAMBURG) – for eight handbells

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is a meditation on the Son of God who gave His life for us. Isaac Watts wrote this hymn which continues to draw us to the Savior. Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement for Holy Week.

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Apr 02

My Song is Love Unknown (RHOSYMEDRE) – for eight handbells

The tune for this hymn, RHOSYMEDRE, is named for the village where John D. Edwards, the composer, served as vicar for the last twelve years of his life. Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement of this melody.

My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me;
love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die?