Paul Kingsbury, the longtime Pit Captain of the Bay View Week of Handbells bass team, has arranged The Entertainer by Scott Joplin for the bucket brigade! Subtitled “Six Feet Under”, it offers a fun challenge, especially if you have everything down to G1! Ensemble version (up to eight ringers): $ US Single copy version (one …
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.
Peace (Handbells,3-5 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 2+)
Turmoil is a standard of life for many. We have the varied components of our lives competing for our attention, often all at the same time, and so there are times when that competition puts us into mental paralysis. Getting nothing done can become an all-too-regular occurrence! The good news is that Christ offers peace …
Procession and Celebration (Handbells, 5-7 octaves, plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 5)
Shosh Meyer is a friend from Oregon who does marvelous things with the handbell program at St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Beaverton, Oregon). Her love for music in general and handbells in particular has inspired the many, many ringers who have been involved in her ministry. Erik, Julie, and Jan Tate were three of those blessed …
Apr 07
Newsflash! New cajón part for “Ye Jazzy Gentlemen”!
Our handbell choir arrangement Ye Jazzy Gentlemen has been crying out for the addition of a percussion part for a long time now, so we’ve (finally…) added one for cajón! Do take a look, and enjoy! MP3:
He Leadeth Me (AUGHTON) (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, Level 3)
Having direction and purpose in life is a challenge… but following God can make our walk through this world seem much more reasonable. One hymn on this subject is He Leadeth Me. He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ’tis God’s hand that …
Wait Five Minutes (Handbells, 3 octaves, Level 2+)
We moved to Holland, Michigan in the summer of 2016. One of the quick lessons we were given with respect to living in the Midwest was the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes”… or three minutes, or sometimes even one minute. Our neighbor across the street told me that there have …
As With Gladness Men of Old (DIX) (Handbells, 3-5 octaves plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 3-)
The hymn tune DIX is usually sung with the texts For the Beauty of the Earth and As with Gladness Men of Old (the latter most often at Christmas). For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies. Christ, our …
Stowey (STOWEY) (Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 2+)
Our arrangement of the English folk melody STOWEY actually gives you three options for how it’s used: As the folk melody STOWEY, As the hymn When a Knight Won His Spurs: When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old, He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold With a shield …
Home at Last (Handbells, 5 to 8 octaves, Level 4+)
I’ve written a number of choral pieces for Living Water, my choir at Valley Church of Cupertino, California, and looked through them to see whether any could be arranged for handbells. Home at Last, the fifty-fourth in the set, is about the blessed hope that Christians have in the promise that Jesus Christ will one …
Nov 05
Two new arrangements for Christmas!
We’ve just released two new Christmas carol arrangements for handbell choir (three to five octaves) – do take a look! Sing We Now of Christmas Preview: [sg_popup id=”11418″ event=”click”]Page 1[/sg_popup] [sg_popup id=”11420″ event=”click”]Page 2[/sg_popup] MP3: O Come, All Ye Faithful Preview: [sg_popup id=”11431″ event=”click”]Page 1[/sg_popup] [sg_popup id=”11434″ event=”click”]Page 2[/sg_popup] MP3:
