For the twelfth day of Christmas, I’ve decided to take a slightly different tack in this post. In 1892, Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write a series of twelve pieces for a music magazine. The collection is called The Seasons.
Sometime ago, I arranged The Seasons for two octaves of handbells. When Carla and I recorded them, we found that they were some of the most unusual – and challenging – two-octave pieces we’d ever tried. In the same way, they also were some of the greatest fun we’d had working on music.
Here’s December from Tchaikovsky’s suite of monthly pieces!
Purchasing the handbell choir version of these arrangements grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing the single copy version grants permission to print and maintain one copy. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
