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) …
Tag: Larry Sue
Larry Sue is the owner, composer/arranger, and publisher at Choraegus. He and his wife Carla are West Michigan's Smallest Handbell Ensemble.
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. …
Linstead Market – Eight handbells
The Jamaican song Linstead Market tells of a woman who goes to town to sell some ackee fruit to earn money so she can feed her children. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to sell enough, and exclaims “what a Saturday night!” This melody is present in our churches as the hymns “Break Not the Circle” and …
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (BRADBURY) – Eight handbells
Jesus tells us that He is the Great Shepherd, and that we are His sheep. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us is an appropriate description of those who follow Him in faith, because we need the Lord’s guidance to walk through life. Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care, In …
Apr 15
“Tigress Rag” for piano!
Scott Joplin, who is often regarded as the “King of Ragtime Music”, wrote for a variety of instrumental ensembles, but his primary instrument was the piano. So… the thought finally arose: Choraegus has the Tigress Rag as a piece for five to seven octaves of handbells. It was the second-place finisher in the “All That …
Tigress Rag (Solo Piano)
“Tigress Rag”, written in the style of Scott Joplin, was the Second Place Winner of the 2011 Bells of the Sound “All That Jazz” composition contest. It’s dedicated to Larry’s wife Carla, and this is the piano solo version of the handbell score. Price:
Sakura – Eight handbells
One of the most-beloved melodies from Japan is Sakura. The translation of the title is “cherry blossoms”. This thoughtful, melancholy tune affords lots of oppportunity for expressive, flowing playing. Standard Version: ”Dual-Range”™ Score Package: $ US G5-based practice track: $ US F5-based practice track: $ US Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print …
Mar 07
The Boys of Bluehill
Hornpipes and jigs were two of the exciting additions to our repertoire over the past three or four years. In case you haven’t played many of them and were wondering about thematic structure, jigs often (but not always!) have the pattern AA, BB, CC, DD, etc. and can be chained together to add to the …
Rescue (Handbells, 3-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3)
Sometimes we find ourselves in what we think is a hopeless situation. Well, we think it’s hopeless, because we don’t have an adequate answer to that problem. It’s those times when God can send the answer in the form of someone else who shares the burden and helps to make sense of life. He provides …
Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed (MARTYRDOM) – Eight handbells
Hugh Wilson arranged a tune of anonymous origin, MARTYRDOM, as a setting for Isaac Watts’ words Alas, and did my Savior bleed, and then added a refrain. It’s a hymn that is important to many Christians at Easter. Alas! and did my Savior bleed / And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred …
