Nocturne is an original work for three or five octaves of handbells (and three octaves of handchimes). I composed it as an entry in a composition contest, with the conditions being that it had to be Level 2 or 3, and be less than 4’30” in duration. I think you’ll like – or maybe love! …
Tag: classical
Classical pieces are the source material for many incredible handbell pieces. They come with technical and expressive challenges which are augmented by the need to negotiate playing the handbell techniques written to go with content from the original work.
Nocturne (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 2+)
Nocturne is an original work for three or five octaves of handbells (and three octaves of handchimes). I composed it as an entry in a composition contest, with the conditions being that it had to be Level 2 or 3, and be less than 4’30” in duration. I think you’ll like – or maybe love! …
Aug 02
Sleigh Ride (Mozart, Drei Deutsche Tänze, No. 3) – Sixteen handbells
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the exceptional musical geniuses of all time, started composing music when he was just four years old, and has had a lasting influence ever since then. He composed Drei Deutsche Tänze (“Three German Dances”) in 1791; the third dance in this suite bears the nickname “Sleigh Ride” (not to be …
Sleigh Ride (Mozart, Drei Deutsche Tänze, No. 3) – Sixteen handbells
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the exceptional musical geniuses of all time, started composing music when he was just four years old, and has had a lasting influence ever since then. He composed Drei Deutsche Tänze (“Three German Dances”) in 1791; the third dance in this suite bears the nickname “Sleigh Ride” (not to be …
Jan 10
Mahler Swing (Handbells, 5-8 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 5)
I fell in love with Mahler’s symphonies a long time ago. They’re gigantic works which stretch the limits (so far…) of how musical expression can be built. As of the twentieth century, they represent the pinnacle of orchestral composing. Mahler’s first symphony is about an hour in length (around three times the length of Mozart’s …
Mahler Swing (Handbells, 5-8 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 5)
I fell in love with Mahler’s symphonies a long time ago. They’re gigantic works which stretch the limits (so far…) of how musical expression can be built. As of the twentieth century, they represent the pinnacle of orchestral composing. Mahler’s first symphony is about an hour in length (around three times the length of Mozart’s …
Mar 19
Happy Birthday!
(Larry here) It’s my birthday today, so we’re putting out a treat for those of you who’ve been wishing to congratulate your ringers, or family, or friends, or anyone else by having your bell choir play in their honor. Our arrangement of Happy Birthday to You is scored for three to seven (!) octaves of …
Feb 17
Barcarolle (for twelve handbells)
Barcarolle is a well-known boating song. To me, it’s reminiscent of a tour of the canals of Venice via gondola. The gondolier propels the boat with a long pole; some of them even sing as you float along. And all the while, the history of the city and its beauty encircles you. Our arrangement for …
What if you have nine (or ten, or eleven…) ringers?
Are you considering our eight-, twelve-, or sixteen-bell music, but appear to have more ringers than are needed to play? That’s a good problem to have, because it means you’re on the way to enjoying even more music! But if you have, say, nine ringers, that would appear to be too many for sixteen bells, …
Jan 17
Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy (bass handbell trio)
From 2005 to 2013, I founded and led Low Ding Zone, the World’s First Bass-Only Handbell Ensemble. Well, at any rate we think we had a solid claim to the title, since it was never contested. The name itself sparked a lot of fun; once I had the strange joy of watching a friend explain …
