We Three Kings tells of special visitors on the first Epiphany. Well… in actuality the Bible doesn’t say precisely how many wise men visited the Christ Child in the Bethlehem manger. But it does record that they brought three special gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh – so that seems to hint that there might …
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.
Lucerna Laudoniae – Eight handbells
Lucerna Laudoniae translates “light of the Lothians”, which refers to a Franciscan monastery at Haddington, East Lothian (destroyed in 1355) or to the church that replaced it in the fifteenth century. Church Calendar: Harvest/Thanksgiving Hymn Tune: LUCERNA LAUDONIAE Find metrically-matched hymn texts Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US …
Llangloffan (LLANGLOFFAN) – Eight handbells
LLANGLOFFAN is a thoughtful Welsh tune that fits many hymn texts, such as: All Glory, Laud and Honor I Need Thee, Precious Jesus O Jesus, I Have Promised O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Hymn Tune: LLANGLOFFAN Find metrically-matched hymn texts Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: …
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (HURON CAROL) – Eight handbells
This is the oldest known Canadian carol. Gitchi Manitou is Algonquian for “Great Spirit”, the Native American name for God, and the lyrics tell the Christmas story as it might have told been near the Great Lakes. ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel …
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (PICARDY) – Eight handbells
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is an ancient Greek hymn that was translated to English by Gerard Moultrie in the nineteenth century. Its antiquity indicates that it was first sung as a chant (imagine how it would sound within the stone walls of a monastery!). This hymn tune, PICARDY, is the one most frequently …
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (HELMSLEY) – Eight handbells
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending announces the coming of the Savior in glory. Lo, he comes, with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign. Now redemption, long expected, comes in solemn splendor near; all the saints …
O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) – Eight handbells
The Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem reflects the quiet joy of the Savior’s birth. This arrangement is of the hymn tune FOREST GREEN, the melody more often used for Phillip Brooks’ lyric. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go …
Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus (GEVAERT) – Eight handbells
Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus is a gentle French Christmas carol. The lyric is simple, short, and sweet, yet profound in its contemplation of what it was like to behold the Christ Child in the manger. Lying amid the oxen mild, Sleep, sleep, sleep my Holy Child. Heavenly cherubim, hosts of seraphim Hover all …
Larry and Carla’s First “Surprisingly-Easy”™-Eight-Bell Christmas Collection
Welcome to our first collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell Christmas pieces! We’d been sharing our four-in-hand duets with our family and friends, and started getting questions about whether we had some easier arrangements that would work well with younger/newer ringers. We took a look at what we had, and realized that some of our repertoire …
Savior of the Nations, Come! (NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND) – Eight handbells
Advent is when we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ in human form. Savior of the Nations, Come is a plea for the Savior to descend from heaven to set our world to rights. Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, That the Lord chose …
