The poem often comes first… Christina Rosetti wrote the words for Scribner’s Monthly in 1872, and then a few years later (1906, to be precise), Gustav Holst set her verse to music. The result: In the Bleak Midwinter, one of the most reflective and well-loved of all Christmas songs. We have not only the eight-bell …
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,
Come, Christians, Join to Sing – Eight Handbells and Organ/Piano
Come, Christians, Join to Sing reminds us of our responsibilities before God to sing – well, ring – before Him! We think this arrangement will also make you dance! Come, Christians, join to sing / Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King / Alleluia! Amen! Let all, with heart and voice / Before His …
Bass Ringer’s Notebook, Second Edition
The Bass Ringer’s Notebook has been a reference work for bucket slingers since 2007. The second edition provides updated information, new ideas, and illustrations with matching YouTube videos that show how to perform with your bass bells. Topics include: Lifting Bass Bells – Every note played on every handbells starts with a lift. With bass …
Oct 23
Accompanied twelve-bell music for Christmas!
We usually play unaccompanied eight-handbell music. Maybe that’s because it’s easier to get together to practice; only two of us have to head to the rehearsal room. However, we do realize that many of you may have larger groups, or might want to include a pianist. So we have a couple of new Christmas arrangements …
Ring
Choraegus has loads of handbell music for you to try, rehearse, and perform. We have scores of all sizes: Six accompanied handbells. Two or three ringers, plus piano accompaniment. Eight handbells. Two to four ringers, sometimes with piano or organ accompaniment. Our eight-bell pieces come in two varieties: “standard” and “Surprisingly Easy”™ (sometimes described as …
Up on the Housetop – Eight handbells
Benjamin Hanby wrote this famous Christmas song in 1864. It’s excited children every Christmas Eve since then! Up on the housetop reindeer pause, Out jumps Good Old Santa Claus Down through the chimney with lots of toys All for the little ones Christmas joys. Ho, ho ho! Who wouldn’t go? Ho, ho ho! Who wouldn’t …
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (WINCHESTER) – Eight handbells
The WINCHESTER tune sung with While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night comes from Est’s Whole Book of Psalmes from 1592. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around. “Fear not! said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled …
Five (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, Level 2+)
I (Larry) wrote Five as a fifth-anniversary gift to Carla. It was first performed by the handbell choir at our church just a couple of days after our actual anniversary date. There’s a little bit of extra fun in the score…see if you can find all the “fives” there! Handbells (three, four, or five octaves) …
Elysium – Susan T. Nelson (Handbells, 3-5 octaves plus optional flute, Level 3)
From Susan T. Nelson, the composer: Elysium (3-5 oct. with opt. flute descant) was commissioned in 1996 by Laurie and Rusty Sanders (and named by Rusty). Originally, it was composed for 3 oct., but they asked me to expand it to 5 when they received the manuscript. The 5 oct. version sports a descant line …
May 24
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
We’ve gotten a lot closer to settling into life in Michigan – it’s been part of the adventure that started when we moved from California in 2016. Now everything is pretty much in place in our new home, and the blue spruces in the woods are happily growing new bits as spring rolls into summer. …
