Apr 09
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. Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement for Holy Week.
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.
Apr 02
The tune for this hymn, RHOSYMEDRE, is named for the village where John D. Edwards, the composer, served as vicar for the last twelve years of his life. Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement of this melody.
My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me;
love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
Mar 26
The hymn tune REDHEAD NO. 76 seems unusual; its background is that the composer, Richard Redhead, published a book of hymns in the nineteenth century. Learning this made it all clear for me!
This is one of our easier “standard” arrangements, and we know it will be a welcome addition to your small ensemble repertoire for Holy Week.
Go to dark Gethsemane, / You who feel the tempter’s pow’r;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see; / Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away; / Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
Mar 19
One of the teens at our church asked if we could make an arrangement of this lively Argentine melody for eight bells. Here’s the result!
Mar 05
We’ve (finally!) decided to release this one. Gwerzy has been a challenge to the handbell world since it was arranged for full handbell choir in the 1990s. It’s our privilege to continue the fun (with permission from Kíla – thank you Colm and Dee!) with our eight-handbell arrangement. As Robert Conrad used to say in the Eveready battery ads, “G’wan, I dare ya.”
And in case you want to compare it to the original Kíla video…
Feb 27
We present our fourth “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell hymn collection! Here’s what it contains (which you can order separately… but getting the whole collection is a better deal!):
Feb 23
We’ve had a “Surprisingly Easy”™ version of the hymn tune HUDSON since 2015, but it took a while longer to write a “standard” version. Here it is!
Feb 20
We gather each week to celebrate the greatness of the God who has saved us. Here’s our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn text, set to the tune ODAWA.
Feb 17
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. Here’s our eight-bell arrangement – we’re sure you’ll enjoy playing it!
Feb 14
We’ve had music for SATB choir, men’s quartet, and ladies’ trio here for a long, long time. These pieces are written in lots of musical styles, from classical to traditional church choral expression to jazz and pop. We think there’s something here for everyone!
Until now, however, we haven’t made the original accompaniment MP3s available for purchase. These have been added for almost all of the vocal pieces on Choraegus (the notable exceptions being the a cappella scores), and for a few additional dollars you can sing or perform these numbers with just the vocalists on hand!
We hope you’ll check them out!