As you may know, plainchant was one of the great expressions of church music. It’s been that way for hundreds of years – and some of the songs from those times are still with us. We’ve set Divinum Mysterium (aka “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”) for eight handbells, and think it will go well with your Advent and Christmas services.
Oct 04
But while you look forward to Christmas… another collection!
We’re gearing up for Christmas (because we have to practice our music now to be ready in time…)! It’s an exciting time of year because we love the holidays so much.
We really, really love sharing new music with all of you, because it means you can get something to add to your repertoire as well. So… here’s our first collection of eight-bell Irish jigs! It contains five of the ones that we’ve already released – and if you buy the collection, you can get the five of them for a bit less!
Perhaps you have a friend who’d have lots of fun with them – and maybe ask you to be the other half of the duet? 😉
Sep 14
Christmas is on the Way!
Yes, it’s pretty early to be thinking about Christmas shopping – but not about rehearsing for the holiday season! Most of the handbell directors (and choral directors, too) we know, start choosing their season’s music in August or September so they can focus on the music when everyone’s together.
We’ve posted our first new Christmas piece of 2014. It’s an eight-bell arrangement of “Away in a Manger” (the James Murray melody, which seems to be the more popular one in the USA). The delicate feel of this piece will make it perfect for your Christmas Eve service, or for any other thoughtful, contemplative moment in your December at church.
Aug 11
A New Collection!
We’ve (finally!) put together our first collection of eight-bell hymns! It’s a set of eight arrangements that you can use throughout the year, so you can use it as the bulk of your small ensemble pieces for a whole season (adding in other pieces for Christmas, of course!) – or you can even play them all at the same time as a mini-concert!
Larry and Carla’s Eight-Bell Hymn Collection contains the following:
– Take My Life and Let It Be
– Kingsfold
– When Morning Gilds the Skies
– Just As I Am
– Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
– Lucerna Laudoniae
– All the Way My Spirit Leads Me
– Simple Gifts
Do take a look – you’ll have fun with these!
Jul 13
To a Wild Rose
We have a new eight-bell arrangement! It’s Edward MacDowell’s “To A Wild Rose”, and it’s perfect for that one-minute spot that you have in your service or program. We have a feeling that many of you have played this on the piano… have fun!
Jul 09
New Music’s Here!
The continuing quest for fun and art proceeds! We’ll be rolling out a bunch of new eight-bell pieces in the next couple of weeks, and we think you’re going to have a lot of fun trying them out.
We’ve put out a new recording of “The Butterfly”, possibly the most popular Irish slip jig of all time (it comes up first in the searches we made, and is way, way ahead of whichever jig is in second place.
And today’s new release is “Moreton Bay”, a thoughtful Australian folk song also known as “The Convict’s Lament” – it, of course, is about the hard life that “new residents” of Down Under had when sent there as punishment for their crimes. Despite the sad story behind the song, it’s a beautiful piece.
Keep dropping by – there’ll be much more music to come!
Apr 01
Were You There?
Well, no… it’s not a question for you, the reader! We’ve just posted our eight-bell arrangement of the American spiritual “Were You There?” It’s available at https://www.choraegus.com/ring/eight-bell-music/eight-bell-hymns-general/were-you-there/, and we know you’ll enjoy playing and hearing it!
Mar 07
New Music!
We’ve just posted two new eight-bell arrangments!
“O Sacred Head” – the well-known Crucifixion hymn is here, and just in time for you to be learn it for your Good Friday service!
“Kingsfold” (aka “Oh, Sing a Song of Bethlehem”) is a fairly easy hymn arrangement that would be great for your season-end concerts (or Christmas)!
Enjoy!
Feb 13
Lenten Piece/Meditation
Need an easy handbell piece for Lent? “Meditation” (formerly “Lenten Piece”) should fill the bill! It’s HMA Level 2+.
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.
Feb 03
Our Second “Surprisingly Easy” Collection
We have a new “Surprisingly Easy” collection in our catalog! For lack of a more flamboyant title, it’s called the “Surprisingly Easy Eight-Bell Collection (The Second One). Most of the selections therein are from the United Kingdom, and Waltzing Matilda fills out the set nicely. We hope you take a look at the videos, and that you’ll play the music!