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.
Jun 22
Song of Hope/Canto de esperanza (ARGENTINA) – for six accompanied handbells
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.
Jun 18
He Leadeth Me (AUGHTON/HE LEADETH ME) – for eight handbells
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.
Jun 15
Holy Manna – for six handbells with piano accompaniment
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.
Jun 11
“The Ants Go Marching” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” – for eight handbells
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 Ants Go Marching: |
When Johnny Comes Marching Home: |
Jun 03
Morning Has Broken – for six handbells with piano accompaniment
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).
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the hymn tune BUNESSAN 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.
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!
May 28
You’re a Grand Old Flag – for eight handbells
(American) Independence Day is coming soon, so we have an arrangement of this George Cohan patriotic tune for eight bells.
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
You’re a grand old flag,
You’re a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true
‘neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there’s never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
May 21
Larry and Carla’s Fifth “Surprisingly Easy”™ Eight-Bell Hymn Collection
We present our fifth “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!):
May 14
How Firm a Foundation (FOUNDATION) – for eight handbells
Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which our faith is founded. How firm, indeed, is our foundation! Here’s our new eight-bell arrangement of this glorious hymn.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said, who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
May 07
Zeg Kwezelken, Wilde Gij Dansen? – for eight handbells
Here’s a fun-to-play nineteenth-century Dutch tune. This lively arrangement will keep you on your toes!