It’s getting into the middle of December, and that means the Christmas Rush (whatever that happens to mean to you) is in full surge. For most of us musicians, it probably means surviving the last couple of rehearsals and performances. But… sometimes that very, very late request comes in. Maybe someone’s had their musicians cancel …
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.
Nov 25
We Three Kings
We had such a huge response to our freebie offer last week that we’ve decided to offer one more free download this season. It’s our recently-revised “standard” eight-bell arrangement of We Three Kings. If you already have it (and get the new version, of course), you’ll notice that the changes are all in the first …
Sep 10
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Bass handbell ensemble music hasn’t been doing a lot of growth since Low Ding Zone decided to head off into the sunset. Come to think of it, LDZ might have been the only source of music of that sort for most of its existence. Anyway, one piece that LDZ might have played, but certainly never …
LDZ Arrangements – Go Tell It On the Mountain – Bass handbell ensemble
The Christmas song Go Tell It On the Mountain gets a new twist as a bass handbell ensemble arrangement. Here’s how it sounds, as performed by the Seattle Bass Handbell Ensemble. Preview: Price: $ US Score package includes full score and split handbell part scores. Also available for 8 handbells, 12 handbells, and handbell choir. …
Sep 04
Twelve-Bell Christmas Music is Here!
We’ve been holding onto five new twelve-bell Christmas arrangements, and the time has come to let you have a look at them. You’ll find them to be loads of fun, and there’s plenty of time to prepare them for the holidays! Here are our new pieces – we hope you enjoy playing them! Angels We …
We Three Kings – Twelve handbells
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 …
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (CAROL) – Twelve handbells
Edmund Sears wrote the words to It Came Upon the Midnight Clear in 1849, and it’s sung on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (just with different tunes). This arrangement is to the American melody, CAROL, composed by Richard Storrs Willis. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending …
Ding Dong, Merrily on High – Twelve-Handbell Version
The sixteenth-century English tune Ding Dong, Merrily on High is quite popular at Christmas. It reflects the joy of the season, and invites us to share in the joy of heaven at the birth of the Son of God. Ding dong merrily on high, / In heav’n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the …
Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella – Twelve handbells
In this charming sixteenth-century French carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella, a young girl is sent to bring a torch/candle to bring light to the stable where the Christ Child sleeps. Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle, Un flambeau, courons au berceau! C’est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau, Le Christ est né, Marie appelle, Ah! Ah! que …
Angels We Have Heard on High – Twelve handbells
The Christmas carol Angels We Have Heard on High, sung to the French tune GLORIA is one of rejoicing! Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains …
