The Latin plainchant Adoro Te Devote dates back to the 13th century. Our arrangement for eight handbells works well as an introit, or to enhance a thoughtful time during your church service. It is one …
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 …
One of the hymns that (just about) always is included in Easter services is Christ the Lord is Risen Today. The Resurrection is remembered in an “Alleluia!” at the end of every line. Our arrangement …
Ukrainian Bell Carol was first known as “Schedryk”/«Щедрик» when Mykola Leontovych wrote it in 1916. And then… in 1941, Peter Wilhousky wrote the lyrics entitled “Carol of the Bells”, the title under which credit is …
Stanley Myers’ Cavatina, brings a thoughtful air to the listener. Our arrangement for three to five octaves of handbells imitates the openness and simplicity of the original classical guitar score. Your ensemble will find it …
In the Garden is an early twentieth-century Gospel song by C. Austin Miles. It’s about those solitary times when we find the Savior waiting for us in a peaceful place, and spend time rejoicing in …
The title from Joachim Neander’s German 1680 chorale, reads even more impressively in German: Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren. “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” has been a church favorite for many …
When Morning Gilds the Skies has… well, that “morning” quality on a cool spring day when the sun rises gently in the east over hills of flowers. Our new arrangement will add to your church …
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 …
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He seeks us when we stray, and guides us when we stay by His side. And one day, He will take us to be in His presence forever. Our two-octave …
We can imagine a line of Irish dancers showing off their skills to the music from a brilliant steam-driven calliope with this tune! Our thanks go to David Richardson and Gilderoy House for granting permission to create this eight-handbell arrangement of Calliope House.
Bells used: G5, A5, B5, C6, D6, E6, F6, G6
Key: C major
The Sacred Harp from the nineteenth century has been a popular source of music for American hymnody. Dozens of hymn texts have been set to the tune BEACH SPRING, such as Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy and What A Friend We Have in Jesus.
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
full of pity, love, and power.
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Beach Spring provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
The text for this hymn is based on Psalm 121, and it speaks of our reliance on God to lead us through life’s path. There is no other Guide who can and will watch over us so wonderfully. We hope you’ll enjoy playing our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn!
To the hills I lift my eyes; / whence shall help for me arise?
From the Lord shall come my aid, / who the heav’n and earth has made.
He will guide through dangers all, / will not suffer thee to fall.
He who safe his people keeps, / slumbers not and never sleeps.
The name Ebenezer 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.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
This spiritual is a prayer for the Lord to stay with us. Well… it’s just as much a prayer that we’d be walking with Him, too! Here’s our eight-handbell arrangement.
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the hymn tune ARGENTINA (usually sung in English as Song of Hope provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
Making progress in the Christian life isn’t about hacking our own path through the jungle; it’s about following the path God lays our for us. Our eight-handbell arrangement of this long-beloved hymn is perfect for Good Shepherd Sunday!
He leadeth me: O blessed thought! / O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be, / still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me; / by his own hand he leadeth me:
His faithful follower I would be, / for by his hand he leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, / sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o’er troubled sea, / still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Holy Manna provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
We have not just one, but two new eight-bell pieces to present today. That’s because they use the same tune. You may remember singing The Ants Go Marching as a child. It’s not about a marauding horde of insects; rather, it’s a band of friendly little critters doing cute little things. Our eight-bell arrangement about these ants is not-quite-easy, but not overlay challenging. If you slow it down at first, it should be easy enough to work it up to full speed.
The other arrangement is the actual original source for The Ants Go Marching. “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”, written in 1863 by Frank Gilmore/Louis Lambert. Our new eight-bell arrangement of this well-known wartime song has a lot of challenge for the intrepid eight-bell ensemble, and will be great fun to learn and perform!
The traditional Gaelic tune BUNESSAN is better known to most of us as the music to the popular hymn Morning Has Broken (popularized by Cat Stevens in the 1970s).
Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
We’ve recorded our practice tracks as an MP3 of the score with an overlaid click track. If you need to vary tempo for your rehearsal, you can make this adjustment via apps such as AudiPo or ASD (Amazing Slow Downer).