God is in charge of everything. He created the universe, and it’s only because of His power that it all holds together. Yet He’s interested in each of our lives, and even about the smallest things we do. He knows how many hairs we have on our heads, and accounts for each sparrow and tree. …
Tag: handbell choir
A handbell choir is an ensemble of handbell musicians, each of whom usually has a specific subset of the entire set of bells assigned to them. The group members play the entire score by their combined efforts via a unique type of teamwork where expression and musicality are dependent on the ensemble members fusing their efforts to form a greater whole.
The sets of handbells played by handbell choirs vary in size, usually stated as an integral number of octaves. For instance, a three-octave bell choir uses notes from C4 to C7, while a seven-octave choir plays C2-C9.
Handbell choirs also use additional instruments, the most notable being handchimes. Handchimes bring a different sound to the mix, and are used for effect and contrast. Other ancillary instruments include, flute, trumpet, clarinet, and percussion; of the percussion family, the cajón is perhaps one of the more popular recent additions.
Scores with handbells plus other instruments
The following scores have instrumentation added to handbells: Six handbells: All of our arrangements for six handbells have piano accompaniment. Eight handbells: All Things Bright and Beautiful (we also have a separate unaccompanied version) Be Thou My Vision Blessed Assurance Count Your Blessings For All the Saints Hills of the North, Rejoice In the Sweet …
Aug 30
Somebody Loves Me (Handbells, 5-7 octaves, Level 5)
This joyous song by Buddy DeSylva, Ballard MacDonald, and George Gershwin entered the public domain in 2020. It’s our pleasure to bring our handbell arrangement of it to you! Somebody loves me, I wonder who, I wonder who she can be, Somebody needs me, I wish that I knew Who she can be worries me. …
Somebody Loves Me (Handbells, 5-7 octaves, Level 5)
Somebody Loves Me, a joyous song by Buddy DeSylva, Ballard MacDonald, and George Gershwin entered the public domain in 2020. It’s our pleasure to bring our handbell arrangement of it to you! Somebody loves me, I wonder who, I wonder who she can be, Somebody needs me, I wish that I knew Who she can …
Aug 24
Hooray! We have a new video of Sing We Now of Christmas
We have a new clone video of our three-to-five-octave arrangement of Sing We Now of Christmas (aka Now the Green Blade Riseth)! This arrangement was written for the Carillon Choir of the Third Reformed Church of Holland, Michigan.
Now the Green Blade Riseth (NOEL NOUVELET) (Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 1 octave, Level 3+)
Here’s a dual-purpose arrangement that you can play as Sing We Now of Christmas for Christmas, or as Now the Green Blade Riseth for Easter! Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the babe so dear. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel! Sing we now of …
The Lord is My Shepherd (POLAND) (Handbells, 4 to 5 octaves, Level 3)
This arrangement The Lord is My Shepherd using the less familiar POLAND hymn tune was commissioned by Caroline Harnly in honor of her mother. The Lord is my shepherd, no want shall I know. I feed in green pasture, safe folded I rest, He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow, Restores me when …
Aug 12
The Lord is My Shepherd (POLAND) for handbell choir
Caroline Harnly, a longtime friend and director of the San Francisco State University Handbell Choir, commissioned this arrangement of the POLAND hymn tune in honor of her mother. It’s for four to five octaves of handbells plus two octaves of handchimes, and is Level 3. Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission …
LDZ Arrangements – 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 …
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth (AN WASSERFLÜSSEN BABYLON) (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3-)
The hymn tune AN WASSERFLÜSSEN BABYLON dates from the sixteenth century. It’s from the Strassburger Kirchenant of 1525. We’ve found it to be a bit of an earworm, probably because of its harmonies. We hope you enjoy playing our Level 3- arrangement for three or five octaves of handbells. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth, The …
