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 …
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,
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 …
Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (WEBB) – Eight handbells
The Bible tells us that there’s a definite spiritual conflict for us. The two Georges (Duffield and Webb) who wrote Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus captured the essence of victory wonderfully. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross! Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory …
Country Gardens – Twelve handbells
People in England treasure their gardens, and many of them have one that’s truly fine. Country Gardens relates some of the wonders of having a truly glorious one! How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in an English country garden? We’ll tell you now of some that we know; those we miss you’ll surely pardon …
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 …
Sep 10
New Eight-Bell Music! Hooray! Hooray!
It’s been a while since we released a stack of eight-bell pieces, so we’re excited to share nine new Christmas arrangements! Take a look! Creator of the Stars of Night De Zak van Sinterklaas (Santa’s Bag) Go Tell In on the Mountain Hoe Leit dit Kindeke (Cold is This Little Child) How Great Our Joy …
The Cherry Tree Carol (CHERRY TREE CAROL) – Eight handbells
Here’s an eight-handbell arrangement of this medieval Cornish carol. The words tell of how the cherry tree willingly gave of its fruit to the Christ Child. Joseph was an old man, / An old man was he; He married sweet Mary, / The queen of Galilee. As they want a-walking, / In the garden so …
The Friendly Beasts (ORIENTIS PARTIBUS) – Eight handbells
The Friendly Beasts is sung to the medieval French melody ORIENTIS PARTIBUS. It’s a story about how the animals in Bethlehem were willing to sacrifice to make the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth easier. Jesus, our brother, strong and good, / was humbly born in a stable rude, and the friendly beasts around Him …
Pat-a-Pan – Eight handbells
Pat-a-Pan‘s title is onomatapoeic (“sounding like”) in nature, mimicking the sound of a drum. Later on, the lyric “tu-re-lu-re-lu” imitates the sound of a flute. The story is a bit like that of Carol of the Drum, where percussion is part of the worship of the Christ-child. Guillaume, prends ton tambourin, Toi, prends ta flûte, …
Aug 31
Los Peces en el Rio (for eight handbells)
This Spanish Christmas carol was part of our “A Carol a Day” postings a couple of years ago, but somehow it escaped official publication! It’s a lively song about how the fish in the river – “los peces en el rio” – rejoiced at the birth of Christ. Here’s where you can find our eight-bell …
