Tag: handbells
Handbells were invented in 17-century England as a practice tool for tower bell ringers. They could then rehearse in warmer and cheerier places than belfries - to wit, the local pubs. At some point, someone noticed that it was possible to play tunes (rather than just "changes") on handbells, and so "tune ringing" began. The music available from Choraegus followed the tune ringing tradition as practiced and performed in the modern era,
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 …
Jan 17
Give Me Jesus
The new year is bringing new music for you to play! Here’s our twelve-bell arrangement of the spiritual Give Me Jesus. Have a listen!
Give Me Jesus – Twelve handbells
Our heritage of African-American spirituals is a rich one. Give Me Jesus is about how the most important thing in life – or death – is Jesus, our Lord and Savior. In the morning, when I rise, in the morning, when I rise, in the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, …
Jan 12
Low Ding Zone’s “Yes, We Have No Bananas”
U.S. copyright law has now entered a new phase; music written in 1923 has entered the public domain. That means we can offer the Low Ding Zone arrangement of Yes, We Have No Bananas for sale!
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 …
Dec 17
“Silent Night” for eight handbells – at last!
We’ve wanted to have an eight-bell arrangement of Silent Night for some time. If you count your way through the score, you’ll find that the melody has eleven notes. Since eleven is a lot more than eight (to two four-in-hand handbell ringers), we couldn’t initially figure out how to make it into one of our …
Silent Night (STILLE NACHT) – Eight handbells
Franz Gruber’s lovely carol has enchanted people for two centuries. In case you happen to visit Oberdorf von Salzburg, Austria, you can see the original Silent Night Chapel there. Or… if you’re in the Great Lakes region, you can see the Silent Night Chapel modeled after it in Frankenmuth, Michigan! Silent night! Holy night! / …
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:
