Oct 04

We Gather Together/We Praise Thee, O God Our Redeemer (KREMSER) – Sixteen handbells and piano

The hymn We Praise Thee, O God Our Redeemer, also sung as We Gather Together, was adapted from a sixteenth-century Dutch folk song, and endures in our hymnody as a glorious way for us to turn our hearts to God. Our new arrangement for sixteen accompanied handbells will brighten your Thanksgiving service! sixteen handbells.

We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
we lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name: glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our fathers and mothers;
through life’s storm and tempest our guide you have been;
when perils o’ertake us, you never forsake us,
and with your help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
our songs of thanksgiving to you we now raise;
your strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!

Church Calendar: World Communion Sunday, Harvest/Thanksgiving


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.

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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!

New freebie links!

Sep 12

Here I Am, Lord – Eight handbells

When the prophet Isaiah heard God saying, “Whom shall I send?”, he responded “Here I am, Lord – send me!”. Dan Schutte wrote this popular song about dedication to God in 1981.

I, the Lord of sea and sky / I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin / My hand will save.

Chorus

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, who made the stars of night / I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them? / Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of snow and rain / I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them / They turn away.

Church Calendar: Dedication Sunday, Missions


Purchasing this eight-handbell arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell ensemble. Permission for live performance is also included; for permission for broadcast, livestream, and upload/archive to social media or websites, please contact: Oregon Catholic Press, 340 Oswego Pointe Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 https://www.ocp.org USA T: +1-800-LITURGY (548-8749) liturgy@ocp.org

Aug 25

Holy Manna for eight bells – now as a “Surprisingly Easy”™ version!

Our “standard” eight-bell Holy Manna was the very first score we published. Now we have a “Surprisingly Easy”™ version that you can enjoy!

 

Purchasing this 8-bell score 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 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.

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 octaves of handbells with three octaves of handchimes. The score also includes an optional ending repeat for those times when you want to inspire some audience participation.

Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

On the day that you were born, the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true,
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue

That is why all the girls in town (girls in town)
Follow you (follow you) all around (all around)
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you.

(They Long to Be) Close to You is available from Sheet Music Plus!

Jul 31

Deck the Halls – Twelve handbells

This boisterous – yes… that seems to be an appropriate choice of words! – arrangement of a 16th century Welsh tune Nos Galan is tremendous fun to play. Fa la la la la la la la!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la

See the blazing Yule before us…
Strike the harp and join the chorus…
Follow me in merry measure…
While I tell of Yule tide treasure…

Fast away the old year passes…
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses…
Sing we joyous, all together…
Heedless of the wind and weather…

 

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement 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 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.

Jul 28

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (INFANT HOLY, INFANT LOWLY) – Twelve handbells

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly is a reflection on the wonder of the Christ Child in the manger – it’s the mystery of God coming to live among us on earth. You’ll enjoy playing our new twelve-bell arrangement of this carol!

Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all! Christ the babe is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping; shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of the gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you! Christ the babe was born for you!

 

Purchasing this 12-bell arrangement 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 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.

Jul 24

Come Thou Almighty King (ITALIAN HYMN) – Eight handbells, “Surprisingly Easy”™ version

Come, Thou Almighty King is a grand hymn about our need for the Lord to have our loyalty. The tune ITALIAN HYMN was written in 1769 by Felice de Giardini, who had a thoroughgoing musical career as a violinist and composer. We published a “standard” eight-bell arrangement of this hymn sometime ago, and today we present our “Surprisingly Easy”™ version!

Come, thou almighty King / help us thy name to sing / help us to praise.
Father, all glorious / o’er all victorious / come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

Come, thou incarnate Word / gird on thy mighty sword / scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid / our sure defense be made / our souls on thee be stayed;
Thy wonders show.

Come, holy Comforter / thy sacred witness bear / in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art / now rule in every heart / and ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

To thee, great One in Three / eternal praises be / hence evermore!
Thy sovereign majesty / may we in glory see / and to eternity
Love and adore.

 

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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Jul 19

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing – “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell version!

Quite a few years back, we started writing our “Surprisingly Easy”™ arrangements to provide a less demanding approach to our eight-bell music. We were pleased to see that many duets/trios/quartets tried them, both as a way to prepare something for their church services or concerts and as an introduction to small ensemble playing. Many, many thanks to all of you who have joined us in this adventure!

Our newest “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell score is Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. You’ll enjoy the gentle, direct way it presents this familiar hymn tune!

 

Purchasing this 8-bell score 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 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.

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 challenging than the original version.

Range of bells: A4-G7 (original version), A4-D7 (slightly modified version)


We’re awaiting delivery of the world premiere performance video… but here’s an MP3 to give you an idea of how it sounds!

 

Purchasing this score gives you permission to print and maintain the number of copies needed by your ensemble – 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.