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 …
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.
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:
Sing We Now of Christmas (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 …
Oct 23
Kelvingrove
A few years back, we published a 2-3 octave arrangement of the Scottish melody KELVINGROVE (also known in modern hymnody as The Summons/Will You Come and Follow Me). Our attempts to get a video of it being played failed back then, and so we had to settle for an MP3. However, the handbell choir at …
Mu Süda Ärka Üles (Awake, My Heart) (handbells, 4-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, and optional handbell duet, Level 3-)
We had the privilege of tagging along with Campanelli, an internationally-known Estonian handbell ensemble, for a week in 2017. This song, Mu Süda Ärka Üles (“Awake, My Heart”), was a high point for us because there was an eight-bell part added onto their full-choir arrangement by Susan T. Nelson. This is our eight-bell arrangement of …
Jul 12
All Things Bright and Beautiful
We have a lively new arrangement of this pretty hymn. There are plenty of stopped sounds (mallets, thumb damps, martellati…) to keep your ringers fascinated, and the syncopated melody is delightful. We’re certain your congregation/audience will love this one! Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to …
Jul 09
A Minor Crash
No… we didn’t have a site problem. This is about an already-available piece for which we finally got a video. A Minor Crash is an original work for five to eight octaves of handbells (plus three octaves of optional chimes). Larry had the privilege of leading the Area 8 BronzeFest ensemble in its first-ever performance …
