Caroline Harnly, a longtime friend and director of the San Francisco State University Handbell Choir, commissioned this arrangement of the POLAND hymn tune in honor of her mother. It’s for four to five octaves of handbells plus two octaves of handchimes, and is Level 3. Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission …
Category: Handbell Ensemble
Aug 09
Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy – for bass handbell trio
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 …
Aug 05
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth (AN WASSERFLÜSSEN BABYLON) (Handbells, 3-5 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3-)
The hymn tune AN WASSERFLÜSSEN BABYLON dates from the sixteenth century. It’s from the Strassburger Kirchenant of 1525. We’ve found it to be a bit of an earworm, probably because of its harmonies. We hope you enjoy playing our Level 3- arrangement for three to five octaves of handbells. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth, The …
Aug 02
Larry and Carla’s Sixth “Surprisingly Easy”™ Eight-Bell Hymn Collection !!!
Our sixth (!) collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell hymns is like our previous five collections. It contains music that you can prepare relatively quickly, and which will enhance your worship service. You can play this music with two four-in-hand ringers… or you could have four ringers with two bells each. Beginning ringers will have fun …
Jul 23
Tell Me the Stories of Jesus (STORIES OF JESUS) – for sixteen handbells
William Parker and Frederic Challinor joined forces to write this hymn in 1885. Many of Parker’s hymns were sung in schools in England. Our sixteen-bell arrangement will make a great addition to your handbell ensemble library! Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; Things I would ask Him to tell me if …
Jul 09
O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (EBENEZER) – for sixteen handbells
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus is sung to the hymn tune EBENEZER, which means “stone of help.” Jesus is the Rock of Ages, and our Eternal Rescuer; He is the One to whom we must turn for salvation. Our new arrangement for sixteen handbells is straightforward to play with a bit of enjoyable …
Jun 28
Praise God, Ye Servants of the Lord (ANDRE) – for eight handbells and piano
William Bradbury wrote hymn tunes that are still well-known more than a century later. He Leadeth Me and Sweet Hour of Prayer are two that still appear in hymnals of today. His lively tune ANDRE may be less familiar, but it still suggests praise and rejoicing when played. Our arrangement for eight handbells and piano …
Jun 22
O Zion, Haste (TIDINGS) – for eight handbells and piano
The Great Commission has been given to the Church (figuratively, “Zion”). That responsibility is to share the love of Christ with the world so that all may be saved. In this hymn, the tune TIDINGS evokes images of this responsibility as spiritual marching orders. Our arrangement for eight handbells and piano will work especially well …
Jun 17
In the Sweet By and By (SWEET BY AND BY) (eight handbells and piano)
This peaceful hymn has been a comfort to Christians for over 150 years. It speaks of the eternal destination of believers, and how they will all reunite in a place beyond all the difficulties they experienced in this life. Here’s our arrangement for eight bells and piano. There’s a land that is fairer than day, …
Jun 07
“Battle Hymn” for Twelve Bells
Battle Hymn of the Republic is one of the best-known American patriotic hymns of the nineteenth century. Here’s our arrangement for twelve handbells! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, He has lost the fateful lightening of …