Welcome to our fourth “Surprisingly Easy”™ Christmas eight-bell collection! 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 have an easy way to learn to play multiple bells, too. And when you master them, you can …
Tag: Christmas
Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25th as the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2).
Liturgically, Christmas is twelve days in length (hence the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"), ending on Epiphany (also known as Three Kings' Day).
Churches and celebrants who choose to be less precisely liturgical rejoice with Christmas music (and Epiphany music!) all the way through Advent as well. The important thing is to rejoice, of course.
O du Fröhliche (SICILIAN MARINERS) – Eight handbells
O du Fröhliche apparently was written or otherwise acquired by a German composer who returned with score in hand after a trip to Italy (our Roman Catholic friends know it as O Sanctissima). The tune’s been matched with a number of different hymn texts, such as “Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing” (check your hymnal’s …
Away in a Manger (MURRAY) (Handbells, 3 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 2)
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 …
Rehearsal Tracks
REHEARSAL TRACKS FOR SIX BELLS Al Die Willen Te Kaap’ren Varen Away in a Manger (CRADLE SONG) Beach Spring Creator of the Stars of Night Go to Dark Gethsemane Good Christian Men, Rejoice Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise Holy Manna How Great Our Joy Hyfrydol In the Bleak Midwinter It Came Upon the …
Jul 20
Silent Night – for six handbells, accompanied
Franz Gruber’s lovely carol has enchanted people for two centuries. In case you happen to visit Oberdorf von Salzburg, Austria, you can see the original Silent Night Chapel there. Or… if you’re in the Great Lakes region, you can see the Silent Night Chapel modeled after it in Frankenmuth, Michigan! Silent night! Holy night! / …
Silent Night (STILLE NACHT) – Six handbells and piano
Franz Gruber’s lovely carol has enchanted people for two centuries. In case you happen to visit Oberdorf von Salzburg, Austria, you can see the original Silent Night Chapel there. Or… if you’re in the Great Lakes region, you can see the Silent Night Chapel modeled after it in Frankenmuth, Michigan! Silent night! Holy night! / …
Jul 13
Creator of the Stars of Night (CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM) – for six accompanied handbells
This 7th century Latin hymn was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1852. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, And hear Thy servants when they call. Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the 7th-century Latin hymn Creator of the Stars of Night provides an opportunity …
Creator of the Stars of Night (CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM) – Six handbells and piano
The 7th century Latin hymn Creator of the Stars of Night was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1852. It’s a thoughtful plainchant fitting a quiet, clear Christmas night. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, And hear Thy servants when they call. Thou, grieving …
Sep 27
De Drie Koningen – for eight handbells!
We have a new eight-handbell Christmas arrangement! It’s the Flemish carol De Drie Konginen (“The Three Kings”). We hope you’ll enjoy playing it for Epiphany (or Christmas, or Advent, or maybe even all year round)!
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL) – Sixteen handbells
The Advent song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as we know it today, is adapted from a fifteenth-century French melody, but may originate from as far back as possibly the 12th century. It first appeared in English as translated by John M. Neale in 1851. It’s a prayer by those who hoped that the Christ …
