Here’s some music that requires “just” sixteen bells. You can play it as a four-in-hand quartet, or as an octet with each person having two bells, or anything in between.
And if you have a suggestion for a piece that might be great with just sixteen bells, please suggest it below and we’ll think about it!
Here’s a quick compilation of our scores for sixteen handbells. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Accompaniment available All Creatures of Our God and King LASST UNS ERFREUEN All Things Bright and Beautiful ROYAL OAK Blest Be the Tie that Binds DENNIS Come, Thou Almighty King ITALIAN HYMN Day …
All Creatures of Our God and King reflects on the various aspects of the life that surrounds us. Each verse comes to same conclusion: Regardless of where we are or what happens, we are called to praise God for His greatness and goodness. All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and …
Cecil Frances Alexander wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful in 1849. The joyous text and its happy melody are perfectly matched! All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. Each little flow’r that opens, each little bird that sings, He made their …
The greatest blessing of Christian faith is our everlasting tie to God. With that comes an equally long-lived bond with other believers. The nineteenth-century hymn Blest Be the Tie that Binds speaks of this earthly bond which one day will be perpetuated in heaven. Blest be the tie that binds / Our hearts in Christian …
Come, Thou Almighty King is a grand hymn about our need for the Lord to have our loyalty. The tune ITALIAN HYMN was written in 1769 by Felice de Giardini, who had a thoroughgoing musical career as a violinist and commposer. Come, thou almighty King / help us thy name to sing / help us …
God isn’t just interested in what happens in our lives; He pays attention to every moment of every day we live. That’s why we can rely on Him completely in all circumstances and situations. Here is our arrangement of the hymn Day by Day. Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find …
The sixteenth-century English tune Ding Dong, Merrily on High is quite popular at Christmas. It reflects the joy of the season, and invites us to share in the joy of heaven at the birth of the Son of God. Ding dong merrily on high, In heav’n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky …
This joyous Puerto Rican Christmas carol From a Distant Home fits beautifully into sixteen bells. Spanish: De tierra lejana venimos a verte, nos sirve de guia la estrella de Oriente. Oh brillante estrella que anuncias la aurora no nos falte nunca tu luz bienhechora. Gloria en las alturas al Hijo de Dios, Gloria en las …
Gaudete! is a Christmas song dating back to at least the sixteenth century. You’ll find this sixteen-bell arrangement exciting and fun to play! Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus Ex Maria virgine, gaudete! Tempus adest gratiæ Hoc quod optabamus, Carmina lætitiæ Devote reddamus. Deus homo factus est Natura mirante, Mundus renovatus est A Christo regnante. Ezechielis …
God Be With You Till We Meet Again is a popular benediction song in churches. It wishes the congregation well as they leave to face a new week, and reminds then that there’s another time of worship coming soon. It also looks forward to the day when we shall “meet at Jesus’ feet” in the …
Christmas is a time for angels, who received the very special musical assignment of singing about the birth of the Messiah. This 16-bell arrangement will add to your celebration! Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King: peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join …
Holy, Holy, Holy has been a window into the throne room of the transcendent Lord for many believers. The text reminds us that He is perfect and unapproachable because of our sinfulness, but it also tells us that God allows those who have put their eternal trust in His perfect gift of salvation to enter …
Judson Van DeVenter, the writer of I Surrender All, shared a heartfelt message that Christians have expressed time and time again for centuries. All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, …
The story behind this hymn by Horatio Spafford and Philip Bliss – look it up – testifies of the incredible peace God gives through our faith in Him, and how He continues to give that comfort to believers today. It’s amazing how one man’s experience and faith can touch the hearts and lives of so …
Just a Closer Walk with Thee probably dates from the nineteenth century, but has an unknown composition date. Regardless, this prayer seeking closeness to God has helped many believers as they’ve struggled through difficulties. The simply-stated, yet profound message reminds us that we can stay close to Him in this life as we anticipate the …
Lead On, O King Eternal is a marching song of the faith. Ephesians 6:12, however, tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The battle is spiritual, and it’s for the eternal kingdom …
The spiritual My Lord, What a Morning reflects on the glory and power of God. Although the lyrics have been explained in different ways, the conclusion remains the same: God still maintains control over the universe, and Christians have deep reasons for rejoicing in that fact. Refrain: My Lord, what a morning; My Lord, what …
The Advent song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as we know it today, is adapted from a fifteenth-century French melody, but may originate from as far back as possibly the 12th century. It first appeared in English as translated by John M. Neale in 1851. It’s a prayer by those who hoped that the Christ …
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus is sung to the hymn tune EBENEZER, which 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 …
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. …
Tchaikovsky wrote several ballets. They’ve had a long and wonderful life; in fact, his “Sleeping Beauty” was made into the famous Disney film. One of the well-known pieces from this work is the Sleeping Beauty Waltz. Sixteen Handbells, C5-G6 Score Package: $ US Practice track:: $ US Sixteen Handbells, F5-C7 Score Package: $ US Practice …
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the exceptional musical geniuses of all time, started composing music when he was just four years old, and has had a lasting influence ever since then. He composed Drei Deutsche Tänze (“Three German Dances”) in 1791; the third dance in this suite bears the nickname “Sleigh Ride” (not to be …
William Parker and Frederic Challinor joined forces to write this hymn in 1885. Many of Parker’s hymns were sung in schools in England. Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here: Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, Stories of …
Frances (Fanny) Crosby was one of the most famous American hymn writer. Despite being blind, the words she wrote showed that she had a spiritual sight far beyond that of most. Her passion was to know her Savior, and this hymn (tune written by John Sweney) is a prayer for deepening of that everlasting relationship. …
We hear that the tune for this carol was from W. Sandy’s Christmas Carols, published in 1833, and arranged by none other than John Stainer (who is well-known for his wonderful work “God So Loved the World”). The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In …
The God of Abraham Praise is a Hebrew hymn from before the 18th century. The lyrics offer a glorious picture of what it’s like to worship God where He is, and draw us to bow before Him in humility. The God of Abraham praise, / Who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of everlasting days / And …
Peter Lutkin composed this famous benediction in 1900. It’s a favorite farewell song at the Bay View Association, a Chautauqua institution located near Petoskey, Michigan. Our arrangement is written in the same key as the original, so your congregation or vocal ensemble can sing the SATB parts along with the handbells. The Lord bless you …
We’ve adapted the first (C major) prelude of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” to be played with just sixteen handbells. This is a great piece for learning teamwork, and for working on musicality. There are two versions available for the ranges C5-G6 and F5-C7. Sixteen Handbells, C5-G6 Score Package: $ US Practice track:: $ US …
Wexford Carol is a traditional Irish Christmas song from long ago (historians put its origin in the 15th or 16th century). It’s unusual in that the melody has some wonderful accidentals. This arrangement for sixteen handbells sets the melody line in mysterious, mildly (and pleasantly!) dissonant chords reflective of a lone singer wandering on the …
Haldor Lillenas wrote many great hymns of the twentieth century. Wonderful Grace of Jesus shares the message of salvation with uncommon depth and elegance. Our sixteen-bell arrangement is available in C5-G6 and F5-C7 versions. Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin; How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin? Taking …
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6 comments
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Hi!
I’m looking at your sixteen-bell music page, but there are no pieces listed. 🙁
Author
Hi Suzette!
I apologize for the “data gap”! We were hoping to get some videos together for our sixteen-bell pieces, but didn’t manage it, and so hadn’t made those pages public yet. What we’ve done, now, is to upload a few MP3s so that you can hear them. Please take another look – we hope you’ll like what you hear!
Oh… and if you make a video of you and your friends playing one of these, we’d love to see it!
Larry :)…
What level would you suggest these sixteen bell pieces to be?
Author
Hi Heather,
Prelude No. 1 from the Well-Tempered Klavier is about Level 3, The First Nowell is around Level 3-, and the Sleeping Beauty Waltz is approximately Level 3+.
That’s based on the assumption that there are eight ringers (two bells apiece). The challenge increases for four-in-hand ringers, since they have to handle four notes rather than two!
Hope this helps!
Larry
Hey Larry and Carla…I love your 16 bell music. Perfect for where we had to go to at church. My only issue is I am not in town and won’t have time to get music when I get back before my first rehearsal. When do you guys think you’ll have a download option?
Author
Hi Libbie,
All of our music is available by download. When you buy scores from us, you’ll be paying via PayPal, and the purchase confirmation page will have download links so you can download your music immediately.
If you happen to be out of town, I’d suggest downloading the music right away, and then printing it wherever you are. For instance, if you’re staying in a hotel at that moment, the staff there should be able to help you get your hardcopies by using their business center.
Do let us know if you have other questions!
Larry