Fanny Crosby and William Doane were a “dynamic duo” of hymn-writing in the decades on either side of the year 1900. She wrote the words, and he composed the music. One of their best-known hymns is To God Be the Glory; today we present to you our twelve-bell arrangement of this hymn, Personal note: This …
Tag: 12-bell
Compositions for twelve handbells are typically played by six ringers with two bells apiece, or by three four-in-hand ringers. It's possible to play with other numbers of ringers by creating a suitable division of the twelve bells.
Twelve-bell pieces traditionally used white key bells from C5-G6; complementarily, many sets of handbells in the UK have precisely those notes, often with an added F#5, Bb5, F#6, or A6.
With the availability of more fully chromatic handbell sets, twelve-bell music is now being written in many key signatures.
About Our Practice Tracks
We have practice tracks for most of our unaccompanied small-ensemble handbell scores (up to sixteen bells). For a small cost, you get a piano-plus-click-track audio version of the score. This provides a way for your group to hear what they’re playing with a guiding metronome. For our “dual-range” eight-bell scores, there are separate practice tracks …
Jan 18
Skye Boat Song – Twelve-Handbell Version
This soothing, plaintive song is about Prince Charles’ escape to the Isle of Skye after his defeat in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Today we’re releasing our twelve-bell arrangement of this song. Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so you …
Skye Boat Song – Twelve handbells
The soothing, plaintive Skye Boat Song is about Prince Charles’ escape to the Isle of Skye after his defeat in the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Imagine a defeated leader departing the battleground, seeking safety by crossing the water, and hoping to fight another day. In church services, this melody is matched with the hymn …
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 …
Away in a Manger (MURRAY) – Twelve handbells
The melody in this arrangement of Away in a Manger by James Murray is the one most familiar to Americans. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head, The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on …
Angels, from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE) – Twelve-Handbells
Angels came from heaven to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s amazing to compare how it must have been in God’s glorious presence with the humble stable of Bethlehem. Yet they came, and they marveled! Angels from the realms of glory / Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story / …
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 …
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!
As with Gladness Men of Old (DIX) – Twelve handbells
The hymn tune DIX is usually sung with the texts For the Beauty of the Earth and As with Gladness Men of Old (the latter most often at Christmas). For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies. Christ, our …
