The song Smiles has a long and wonderful history. T. Will Callahan wrote the lyrics in a Bay View cottage near the end of World War I, and it went on to be a tremendous hit, selling about 5,000,000 print copies (before the existence of public radio, or television, or the internet). The connection to …
Tag: Week of Handbells
The Bay View Week of Handbells is an annual advanced performance event held at the Bay View Association near Petoskey, Michigan. Just over 100 ringers occupy the stage and orchestra pit to prepare and perform a concert of challenging music. It's a special honor to have one's composition included in the repertoire.
BVWOH was started by Don Allured, often referred to as the USA's "Dean of Handbells", in 1978 as a workshop for handbell directors to learn skills to make them better equipped to lead their handbell choirs at home. Over time, it evolved from a class-based educational event to a totally performance-oriented event.
Don Allured directed the Week of Handbells from 1978 to 2002. Carl Wiltse succeeded him at the podium until 2017. Fred Gramann started his tenure as Week of Handbells director in 2018.
BVWOH also has a special set of works commissioned by the Allured Composition Committee that receive world premieres at the Week of Handbells. Generally, these are some of the most complex and challenging selections in the Bay View repertoire.
Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy (Bay View Week of Handbells Version) – Bass handbell ensemble
Tchaikovsky created one of the all-time holiday season favorites when he wrote the Nutcracker Suite in 1892. There’s a good chance you’ve seen more than just a small part of it at a December ballet presentation. The Dance of the Candy Fairy (or Sugar Plum Fairy) was a sensation at its premiere, because Tchaikovsky chose …
Coronation and Triumphant Exultation / Crunadh agus Iolach (handbells, 5 to 8 octaves, plus handchimes, 5 octaves, Level 4)
The Bay View Week of Handbells was founded by Don Allured in 1978 as an opportunity for directors to learn more about their instrument. Over the years since then, it grew from classes and a modest-sized ensemble to a concert event with over 100 ringers in the Bay View Association auditorium. The Week of Handbells …
Let All Things Now Living (handbells, 5 to 7 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5+)
The Welsh tune ASH GROVE is most frequently associated with the text Let All Things Now Living. It can be used as service music throughout the year, but for some has a favorite place on World Communion Sunday and at Thanksgiving. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly …
A Minor Crash (Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus optional handchimes, Level 4)
We’ve seen the big signs above the freeway: “IN A MINOR CRASH?…” One day Carla said, “You should write a piece about that…”, so I did. This original composition is full of interesting (and interacting!) rhythms. Separately, they’re fairly easy to learn; together; combined, they’re an exciting mix. A set of somewhat simplified pages is …
Aug 23
Bay View: Winding Down from the High
We’re heading home from Michigan after five wonderful days at the Bay View Week of Handbells. For those of you who don’t know about it, BVWoH is a handbell performance event where about 100 musicians get together, rehearse for about twenty-five hours, and perform in an evening concert. It’s a huge commitment (among other things, …
Tico tico no fubá (Handbells, 5-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5+)
Tico tico no fubá is a truly exciting Brazilian piece written by Zequinha de Abreu. You’ll dance to this arrangement… but remember that you have bells to play too! 🙂 We also have some terrific percussion parts, created by Alex Guebert, for guiro, maracas, cabasa, tamborim, and claves! Handbells (five, six, or seven octaves) plus …
A Snail’s Pace (Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus handchimes, 5 octaves, Level 5+)
A Snail’s Pace, written with a plush orange-pink-and-purple snail in mind, this original laid-back jazz piece will challenge you even as you relax into its feel! Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus handchimes, 5 octaves Level 5+ Preview: Individual copy: $ US Handbell choir: $ US Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to …
