John Rox wrote the novelty song I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas in 1950. Three years later, Gayla Peevey, a ten-year old from Oklahoma City, OK, recorded it with Mitch Miller’s orchestra as the supporting cast. It’s been a holiday earworm ever since – and now it’s available for three octaves of handbells (plus optional …
Category: Popular Music
Aug 22
Close to You (Handbells, 3 to 7 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 4)
Hal David and Burt Bacharach teamed up to write (They Long to Be) Close to You, a gentle, plaintive song about romances that ended up being daydreams. Although hundreds of artists have recorded this song, most of us remember it as the Carpenters’ big hit of 1970. Our arrangement is scored for three to seven …
Jun 25
Silver Bells (Handbells, 3 to 7 octaves, Level 4)
The film Lemon Drop Kid from 1951 has a scene with a grumpy, unhappy Santa standing by a donation kettle. The impression he presents is completed with a gruff singing voice and a clanky bell. He’s, shall we say, doing poorly at generating donations. Along come Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. They straighten him out …
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 …
Feb 15
Winter Wonderland (Handbells, 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5)
According to Wikipedia, Richard Bernhard Smith wrote the lyrics for “Winter Wonderland” while recovering from tuberculosis in 1934. That same year, Felix Bernard added the tune that has now been covered over 200 times! This song speaks fun and romance during the cold season, about playing in the snow, and planning for great time ahead, …
Sep 14
Bring Me Sunshine (Handbells, 3 octaves, Level 3)
Sylvia Dee and Arthur Kent wrote this happy, charming little song back in the 1960s. It sticks in your mind easily, and even influenced a generation of UK TV viewers on “Morecambe and Wise”. Our arrangement adds a cute descant line as well. Bring me sunshine / In your smile Bring me laughter / All …
Jul 14
Just a Closer Walk with Thee (CLOSER WALK) – Sixteen handbells
Just a Closer Walk with Thee probably dates from the nineteenth century, but has an unknown composition date. Regardless, this prayer seeking closeness to God has helped many believers as they’ve struggled through difficulties. The simply-stated, yet profound message reminds us that we can stay close to Him in this life as we anticipate the …
Jun 28
Premiere performance video of “Smiles”!
We premiered our arrangement of Smiles by Lee S. Roberts and J. Will Callahan at the 2023 Bay View Week of Handbells. Smiles came into being in 1917 or 1918 at Mr. Callahan’s Bay View cottage; the bit of Michigan woodland next to the cottage that Callahan formerly owned commemorates the occasion with a sign. …
Mar 17
Bass Handbell Solo: “Danny Boy”/”Londonderry Air”
I arranged “Danny Boy”/”Londonderry Air” for bass handbells over twenty years ago, and after a run at a Silicon Valley retirement facility, finally dared to play in public at the 2004 Area 12 conferences. Unfortunately, technology of the time didn’t give us an easy way to make even a scruffy video of what happened then. …
Jan 15
Mack the Knife (Handbells, 5-8 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5)
Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill wrote Mack the Knife in 1928 for the Threepenny Opera. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitgerald, and Bobby Darin performed it, guaranteeing its place in our music social awareness. It’s such a happy, bouncy song that you’d hardly know it was talking about a hit man. But the legend lives on, and …
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