“Ring the Bells” by Harry Bollback has been a Christmas favorite since 1958. This easy arrangement for eight handbells and piano can be used as an introit, a brief interlude, or to bring your audience a thoughtful moment. Ring the bells, ring the bells, let the whole world know Christ was born in Bethlehem many …
Category: Choraegus
Oct 30
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL) (Handbells, 2-3 octaves, Level 1+)
The Advent song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel comes from a fifteenth-century French melody, but may originate from as far back as possibly the 12th century. It first appeared in English as translated by John M. Neale in 1851. It’s a prayer by those who hoped that the Christ would come to earth and make …
Oct 02
Freebies are freer!
We’ve updated our freebie pages a bit. Now you only have to click on the “Download This Freebie” link, and the PDF will appear in a new browser tab. From there, you can print or download it and start playing immediately!
Jul 16
Asturias (Leyenda), from “Cantas de España” – handbell solo
Isaac Albeniz wrote Cantas de España in 1892. Asturias (also known as “Leyenda”) is one of the great pieces from the Spanish classical guitar literature. Now you, the handbell soloist, can team up with your accompanist to create the same fire! Two versions of the handbell score are included, with one being a bit less …
May 04
For the Beauty of the Earth (DIX) (Handbells, 2 octaves plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 2-)
The hymn tune DIX is usually sung with the texts For the Beauty of the Earth and As with Gladness Men of Old (the latter most often at Christmas). Your smaller handbell choir can enjoy playing our arrangement twice a year (or even more frequently). For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of …
Apr 04
Cavatina (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, Level 3)
Stanley Myers’ Cavatina, brings a thoughtful air to the listener. Our arrangement for three or five octaves of handbells imitates the openness and simplicity of the original classical guitar score. Your ensemble will find it quite accessible in terms of the written notes, but will also experience tremendous scope for development of expression as they …
Mar 06
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (DEO GRACIAS) (Handbells, 2 octaves, Level 3-)
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High attempts the impossible task of describing God’s transcendent qualities in mere human words. You can’t explain His eternity in a finite amount of time, nor His omniscience with limited experience, nor his holiness from a sinner’s point of view. Se just have to give it all we …
Feb 28
Be Thou My Vision (SLANE) (eight/twelve handbells and piano)
We received a question about whether we had an accompanied twelve-bell arrangement of Be Thou My Vision the other day. A quick look at our catalog revealed that we had an unaccompanied twelve-bell arrangement and an accompanied eight-bell arrangement. So, something close twice, but from different angles. So we’ve taken the accompanied eight-bell score and …
Oct 20
O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) (Handbells, 2 octaves, Level 2+)
The Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem reflects the quiet joy of the Savior’s birth. This arrangement is of the hymn tune FOREST GREEN, the melody more often used for Phillip Brooks’ lyric. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go …
Aug 30
The Star-Spangled Banner – Twelve handbells
Francis Scott Key wrote the words for “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814 after seeing the American flag raised over Fort McHenry in celebration of victory. The modern rendition (most often at patriotic and sports events, with biennial playings at the Olympics) usually consists of just Key’s first verse. All four of his verses, as kept …