Carla began playing handbells in England in 1987 as a member of the Wokingham All Saints handbell group. She continued to perform with that group for more than twenty years, and also spent a number of years as a member of the South East Region Bell Orchestra, the Rowland Ringers Ensemble and Hurst Handbell Ringers. …
Tag: 8-bell
Starting in 2012, we (Larry and Carla Sue) developed a large repertoire of music for eight handbells which we perform as four-in-hand duets. These pieces ranged from fairly simple to maniacally difficult, and eventually led to the creation of their “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell arrangements so that there would be more options for the ringing world at large.
As eight-bell repertoire works well with a two-in-hand quartet (two bells each) or a four-in-hand duo, or with a trio where the bells are divided 4-2-2 or 3-3-2. We've even seen one instance of playing eight-bell music with eight ringers with one bell apiece, a la Sacred Harp.
Licensing Agreement – PLEASE READ
Choraegus Handbell Music Licensing Terms General Permissions | 6 bells | 8 bells | 12 bells | 16 bells | bell choir | solo | small ensemble | SATB choir General Permissions with respect to Performances and Recordings Live (including livestreamed) performance is permitted. For our purposes, “live performance” also includes rehearsals. Personal recordings of …
Greensleeves/What Child is This? (GREENSLEEVES) – Eight handbells
There are many stories about Greensleeves. Some historical references say that Henry VIII wrote it… but it had to be someone else because it was written after he’d died. However, it was “on the charts” by Shakespeare’s time, so it’s been around for quite a while, and often appears during Christmas in the form of …
Angels We Have Heard on High (GLORIA) – Eight handbells
Angels We Have Heard on High is based on the nineteenth-century French song Les Anges dans nos Campagnes and is traditionally sung to the hymn tune GLORIA. The lyric tells us of how the angels came from heaven to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. Please note that there are two “standard” versions; version …
Sing We Now of Christmas (NOEL NOUVELET) – Eight handbells
This arrangement is dual-purpose – it can be played for Christmas or Easter! So… if you already have our eight-bell version of Now the Green Blade Riseth, you don’t need to buy it again! Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear. Sing we Noel, …
O Holy Night (CANTIQUE DE NOEL) – Eight handbells
O Holy Night is perhaps one of the most dramatically-presented of all English language Christmas carols. It’s been performed by countless artists, and has been a favorite of many people all their lives. O holy night! the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in …
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (CHRISTMAS)
It’s always interesting to find that the lyrics for Christmas carols and hymns are sung to different melodies on each side of the ocean. This one, by Handel, is the version of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night that’s sung in the USA. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the …
Joy to the World (ANTIOCH) – Eight handbells
Handel wrote the music for this Christmas carol. The first eight notes form a descending scale, which turns out to be the change ring pattern “Rounds” upside down. So… our eight-bell arrangement contains a bit of English bell ringing tradition in that some of the best-known change ring patterns are included in the score. Joy …
The First Nowell (THE FIRST NOWELL) – Eight handbells
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 …
Larry and Carla’s First “Surprisingly Easy”™ Eight-Bell Hymn Collection
We’ve been having a great time sharing our eight-bell music with the world, and decided it was time to create 0ur first “Surprisingly Easy” collection of hymns! You can play this music with two four-in-hand ringers… or you could have four ringers with two bells each. Beginning ringers will have fun with these, and will …
