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Solos

There’s a special breed of handbell musician that craves challenge. There also is another subdivision within the art of those who really enjoy showing that they can do it all. Put the together, and violá, you have a handbell soloist.

Our solo scores cater to that very special type of ringer. We have a number of treble solos that will hone your skill and impress your audiences. They’re not for the faint of heart, because we’ve aimed for the “higher challenge” end of the spectrum.

Bass ringers, we think, have spent a long time being a bit jealous of the treble soloists. After all, there are plenty of us who enjoy playing an entire octave of bells (usually C3-B3), because it can be done, and (borrowing the words made famous by Sir Edmund Hillary*) “because it’s there”. Envy no more – we have several bass handbell solos for you. Beautiful Savior/Fairest Lord Jesus is an easy one, and will give you that quick thrill that comes from the “reasonably achievable”. Danny Boy, however, will challenge your skills in weaving and malleting as well as your strength, stamina, and hand speed; when you perform that one successfully, you’ll feel as if you’ve accomplished something!

* Actually, George Leigh Mallory said them three decades before Hillary did…

List of Handbell Solos

Here’s a quick compilation of our handbell solos. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Comment All the World Available from Sonology Beautiful Savior/Fairest Lord Jesus ST. ELIZABETH Bass handbell solo Danny Boy/Londonderry Air Bass handbell solo Danza española No. 2 “Orientale” – Enrique Granados Treble handbell solo Malagueña Treble …

All the World – Handbell solo

Jad Johnson asked me to add an accompaniment to his arrangement of Jesus is All the World to Me. If you’re looking for an exciting solo that’s reasonably accessible, try this one! It’s available from Sonology as All the World.

Beautiful Savior / Fairest Lord Jesus (St. ELIZABETH) – Bass handbell solo

This song goes back more than a few years, dating to the Crusades. While we’re not into the militaristic part of that bit of history now, Jesus Christ is still just as wonderful and lovely as ever. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I …

Danny Boy / Londonderry Air – Bass handbell solo

Here’s our bass handbell arrangement of the more-than-well-known Danny Boy (set to the Irish tune “Londonderry Air” by Frederic Weatherly in 1910). It’s a solid test of strength, stamina, and precision that involves many of the aspects of solo ringing. Larry performed it at the 2004 Area 12 conferences. Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the …

Danza española No 2 “Orientale” (Enrique Granados) – Handbell solo

Enrique Granados, one of the great Spanish pianist/composers, had a tremendous gift for capturing the scenes of his homeland with dots and lines. This solo on his second Danza española conjures up an image of the quietude of an autumn night. Range of bells: C5-C7 Price: $ US Purchasing this score gives you permission to …

Malagueña – Handbell solo

Ernesto Lecuona’s possibly-most-familiar work Malagueña describes a woman of the town of Malaga. When you play this, it surely will create a musical portrait of a lady with flair and boldness! Range of bells: C#5-E7 Here’s a video of Lisa Arnold playing the piece she commissioned: Price: $ US Purchasing this score gives you permission …

Still, Still, Still – Handbell solo

The Christmas lullaby Still, Still, Still reminds us that the Christ Child sleeps, and that He sleeps under the watchful eyes of the angels of heaven. Still, still, still, One can hear the falling snow. For all is hushed, The world is sleeping, Holy Star its vigil keeping. Still, still, still, One can hear the …

This is My Father’s World – Bass handbell solo

Many traditional and folk melodies have made their way into hymnody. This is My Father’s World (hymn tune: TERRA BEATA, “beautiful earth/world”), speaks of the gorgeous things that God has made in creating our universe. This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings the music of …

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