We’ve arranged a number of classical works for handbells. Some are relatively straightforward, while others present a fun challenge. One of the latter is our arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz for sixteen handbells. Your four-in-hand quartet will have a great time with this nineteenth-century piece… but if you might also give it a go …
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.
Jan 05
Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!
For the twelfth day of Christmas, I’ve decided to take a slightly different tack in this post. In 1892, Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a series of twelve pieces for a music magazine. The collection is called The Seasons. Sometime ago, I arranged The Seasons for two octaves of handbells. When Carla and I recorded …
Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy (Bay View Week of Handbells Version) – Bass handbell ensemble
Tchaikovsky created one of the all-time holiday season favorites when he wrote the Nutcracker Suite in 1892. There’s a good chance you’ve seen more than just a small part of it at a December ballet presentation. The Dance of the Candy Fairy (or Sugar Plum Fairy) was a sensation at its premiere, because Tchaikovsky chose …
List of Classical Scores for Twelve Handbells
Here’s a quick compilation of our classical scores for twelve handbells. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Accompaniment available Barcarolle Farandole Holy is the Lord HOLY IS THE LORD
List of Classical Scores for Eight Handbells
Here’s a quick compilation of our classical scores for eight handbells. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Standard “Surprisingly Easy”™ Accompaniment available Bach – Arioso x Bach – Sheep May Safely Graze x Beethoven – Ode to Joy x Charpentier – Prelude from “Te Deum” x Chopsticks x Elgar …
List of Scores for Six Accompanied Handbells
Here’s a quick compilation of our scores for six accompanied handbells. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Al die willen te kaap’ren varen Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA Away in a Manger CRADLE SONG Beach Spring BEACH SPRING Creator of the Stars of Night CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM …
Jun 14
Tchaikovsky – The Seasons (handbells, two octaves, Level 3 to 5+)
In 2013, we published eight eight-handbell arrangements of selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. That was an exciting time for us, because we were preparing to do preshow for a local ballet company, and wanted to give them a nice surprise. Yes… they were surprised! This time, we have a surprise for you! Nikolay Bernard, the …
Tchaikovsky – The Seasons (Opus 37a) – (Handbells, Two Octaves, Level 3 to 5+)
Nikolay Bernard, the editor of the music magazine Nouvellist, commissioned Tchaikovsky to write a suite of twelve piano solos. They were released, in turn, each month of 1876. Because of the year-round theme, the pieces in this collection were entitled The Seasons, and they have remained gems in the piano repertoire. These delightful works are …
Crush Collision March (handbells, 3 to 6 octaves, Level 4)
Scott Joplin’s genius as the King of Rag shines in this arrangement of his Crush Collision March. The music depicts a long railroad track with two steam locomotives and the cars they’re pulling. The problem is that the two trains are headed toward each other at full tilt, and are unaware of each other until …
Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy – Bass handbell trio
Tchaikovsky created one of the all-time holiday season favorites when he wrote the Nutcracker Suite in 1892. There’s a good chance you’ve seen more than just a small part of it at a December ballet presentation. The Dance of the Candy Fairy (or Sugar Plum Fairy) was a sensation at its premiere, because Tchaikovsky chose …
