Feb 21

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – Eight handbells, “Surprisingly Easy”™ version

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is a meditation on the Son of God who gave His life for us. Isaac Watts wrote this hymn which continues to draw us to the Savior. Today we’ve added our “Surprisingly Easy”™ version for eight handbells to our catalog! eight handbells

“When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.”

“Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.”

“See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?”

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.”


Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment/instrumental score(s), if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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Jan 22

The Harvest Home – Eight handbells

Here’s more fun for the fall with the autumnal hornpipe The Harvest Home for eight handbells! (Yes, it’s January… but having lots of time to practice sounds great…

Alternate Titles:

  • Cincinatti
  • The Cork
  • Fred Wilson’s Clog
  • Harvest Time


Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment/instrumental score(s), if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. 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.

Dec 26

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Handbells, 3 octaves, plus optional D7, Level 3+)

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 D7).

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinkertoy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy.

By the way… shortly after that, the Oklahoma City Zoo sought donations to get a hippo. Although it wasn’t because of the song and Gayla, but when they had accumulated $3000, they acquired a baby hippopotamus. And then they “gave” it to Gayla, which was followed by Gayla “giving” her new pet back to the zoo. Perhaps it’s much better to have someone who knows how to walk a hippo every day to be doing the caretaking…

Wikipedia tells us that Gayla embraced her fame. Apparently her parents might have thought that recording a single song would be a fun opportunity, and that would be it. What became one of the most popular (not-necessarily-church-based) Christmas songs of all time led to loads of attention, and a lasting happy musical legacy!


Dec 14

Pie Jesu – Fauré – handbell duet

The Fauré Requiem, a magnificent funerary work, contains the song Pie Jesu. It’s a prayer that the departed will receive everlasting rest and peace from the Lord Jesus. Here’s our new duet arrangement!

Pie Jesu, Domine,
dona eis requiem.
Dona, dona,
dona eis requiem,
sempiternam requiem. 		Merciful Jesus, Lord,
Grant unto them rest.
Grant them, grant them,
Grant unto them rest,
Eternal rest.

If you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.


Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain the number of copies needed your handbell ensemble (plus the accompaniment score) – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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Dec 07

Hyfrydol – Twelve handbells

Rowland Prichard composed the popular Welsh tune HYFRYDOL It matches many hymn texts such as:

  • Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
  • Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
  • Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
  • Jesus What A Friend of Sinners
  • I Will Sing of My Redeemer

Our arrangement for twelve handbells can be used all through the year!


Purchasing this 12-bell score gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also grants 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.

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Dec 01

ENGELBERG, 8 handbells, “Surprisingly Easy”™ version

The hymn tune ENGELBERG has been used with several texts: eight handbells

  • All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine
  • When in Our Music God is Glorified
  • We Know that Christ is Raised

No matter which one you’re singing, it’s an inspiring melody! Here’s our new “Surprisingly Easy”™ arrangement!


Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment/instrumental score(s), if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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Nov 21

Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (RATISBON) – Eight handbells, “Surprisingly Easy”™ version

Charles Wesley was a prolific eighteenth-century hymnwriter, producing over 6,000 hymns over most of a century. Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies speaks of the brightness and glory in a life with the Savior, and reminds us of the darkness and despair of existence without Him. You’ll enjoy playing our new “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell arrangement of this hymn!Eight handbells

Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true and only Light,
Sun of righteousness, arise, triumph o’er the shade of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near; Day-star, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn unaccompanied by Thee;
joyless is the day’s return, till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
till they inward light impart, glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine, pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine, scatter all my unbelief;
more and more Thyself display, shining to the perfect day.


Nov 08

Ring the Bells – Eight handbells and piano

“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 years ago.


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 all things right. Our new Level 1+ arrangement is for 2-3 octaves of handbells.

O come, O come, Emmanuel / And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here / Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, / Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show, / And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free / Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save, / And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer / Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, / And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, / And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, / And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might, / Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law / In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, / An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall; / All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind / In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, / And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Church Calendar: Advent, Christmas


Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement 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.

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Oct 12

Now Thank We All Our God (NUN DANKET) – Sixteen handbells and piano

In the U.S., Now Thank We All Our God is one of the hymns that makes an annual appearance in November (because of the national Thanksgiving holiday, of course)… but it really can (should?) be played all year round! You can play our arrangement for sixteen accompanied handbells with four to eight ringers. If you don’t have a pianist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 that you can purchase separately.

“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

“O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
To keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills of this world in the next.

“All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven
The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”


Purchasing this 16-bell score gives you permission to print and maintain up to eight copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score, if part of the purchase) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also grants 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.

Find Larry and Carla on Facebook!