Here’s our first eight-bell hymn collection! You can play them separately, or even use all eight as a concert program! Here’s what this collection contqins: Take My Life and Let It Be (HENDON) Kingsfold When Morning Gilds the Skies Just As I Am Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart Lucerna Laudoniae All the Way …
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.
Ukrainian Bell Carol – Eight handbells
Ukrainian Bell Carol was first known as “Schedryk”/«Щедрик» when Mykola Leontovych wrote it in 1916. And then… in 1941, Peter Wilhousky wrote the lyrics entitled “Carol of the Bells”, the title under which credit is usually given in the United States. We present our arrangement of Leontovych’s composition under its “more original” title. We hope …
Hardiman the Fiddler – Eight handbells
We can see the fiddler having a great time leading the dancers ever faster and faster as the celebration goes on! Alternate Titles: (for some reason, there apparently aren’t any…) Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US This arrangement is also included in Larry and …
Away in a Manger (AWAY IN A MANGER, James R. Murray) – Eight 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 …
Wrong Foot Forward – Eight handbells
We love the way this slip jig by Sarah Allen and Brian Finnegan of “Flook” plays! The challenge: It’s in 7/8 – you can imagine how it might confuse the dancers! Alternate Titles: (for some reason, there apparently aren’t any…) Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: …
Jul 13
To a Wild Rose
We have a new eight-bell arrangement! It’s Edward MacDowell’s “To A Wild Rose”, and it’s perfect for that one-minute spot that you have in your service or program. We have a feeling that many of you have played this on the piano… have fun!
Larry and Carla’s Eight-Bell Jig Collection
Here’s our first eight-bell jig collection! It’s a set of fast-moving, exciting pieces that you’ll find to be tremendous fun to play. So… get this collection (scroll to the bottom of the page below the five videos), break out your bells, and hold on to your hat! Here’s what this collection contains: The Butterfly Hardiman …
Moreton Bay – Eight handbells
Even in miserable times, the resilience of the human spirit makes it possible to create music that recalls both good and bad times. The Australian folk song Moreton Bay is about a place where exiles from Ireland… uh, “disembarked”, and is also known as the “Convict’s Lament”. One Sunday morning as I went walking / …
Eight-Bell Jigs
The jigs here come from Ireland, Scotland, and – yes – America (more in a bit)! They usually are in 6/8 or 9/8, though that’s not the only possibility. Wrong Foot Forward (by the band Flook) is in 7/8, presumably for the purpose of tangling up the dancers’ feet. Other than those two, the others …
Eight-Bell Dances
We started exploring jigs and hornpipes as a possibility for new eight-bell music. Amazingly, we found them to be very well-adapted to our instrument, and have since then made quite a few arrangements. We’ve enjoyed playing them, having found the following: They’re fast. Jigs and hornpipes are happy, lively music, and are made for rapid …
