Twelve-bell music has been around for quite a while. The usual convention has been to compose for twelve white key bells from C5 to G6 (so, C5, D5, E5, F5, G5, A5, B5, C6, D6, E6, F6, G6). More than a few sets of bells, particularly in the United Kingdom, consist of those notes, possibly with a few added notes such as A6, F#5, or Bb5. Like the convention of classifying bell choir works by the number of octaves based on predefined ranges such as two octaves = G4-G6, this provides performers as well as composers a common ground. Because larger, fully chromatic sets of bells are now readily available, we usually provide more than one transposition of each twelve-bell piece:
- C5-G6: This is our base score. The note range C5-G6 generally produces a more uniform timbre when played, because there are fewer casting size changes.
- F5-C7: A score that’s a perfect fourth higher translates to smaller bells. This can be an advantage for four-in-hand trios that don’t feel completely secure with multiple bell techniques in the C5-F5 range. Additionally, this range can work well for groups used to thinking in terms of “space left, line right” bell assignments.
- Bb4-F6 or D5-A6: Because F5-C7 may sound a bit shrill to some people, another transposition closer to the base score gives a mellower sound. These two transpositions also accommodate “space left, line right” assignments.
The BUC (“bells used chart”) is displayed for each score variant so that you can verify that you have all the handbells needed before you purchase a score. Check those charts against your set of bells before making a purchase!
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Larry, do you have suggestions for bell assignments in Give Me Jesus? i would really like to see if I can find some friends to ring this with at our church. I don’t have access to the “Twelve Bells for…” books, and can’t remember how we used to assign bells.
Author
Hi Sue!
You can play twelve-bell music with three to six ringers (more, if some players don’t mind having just one bell). With three, the usual approach is for each person to play three consecutive bells, so the assignments would be CDEF, GABC’, and D’E’F’G’. With six ringers, the bells are customarily assigned CD, EF, GA, BC’, D’E’, and F’G’. And if you have four or five ringers, the four-in-hand position(s) are usually on the top bells, because they’re smaller and therefore easier to manage. The main idea is to ensure that each person has bells that play consecutive notes so they can read the score easily.
If you have more questions, do write!
Larry
Okay. I cannot figure out how to order music. Help!
Author
Hi Rene!
Thanks for your message. The essentials are similar to many other online sites: put items in your cart, and when you have everything you want, checkout via PayPal. However, rather than waiting for a shipment of hardcopy music to arrive in days or weeks, the purchase confirmation page should have links that you can use to download your PDFs (and start playing immediately!). You can also take a look at the step-by-step guide to buying music from Choraegus that Carla’s written.
If you have more questions, you’re welcome to get in touch!
Happy Ringing,
Larry
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