Solos

There’s a special breed of handbell musician that craves challenge. There also is another subdivision within the art of those who really enjoy showing that they can do it all. Put them together, and violá, you have a handbell soloist. Our solo scores cater to that very special type of ringer. We have a number of treble solos that will hone your skill and impress your audiences. They’re not for the faint of heart, because we’ve aimed for the “higher challenge” end of the spectrum. Asturias, in particular, has been declared to be one of the most difficult handbell solos in existence – take a look at Emily Li’s Pinnacle 2025 performance video, where she demonstrates 1) that she is an amazing handbell musician, 2) this score is wickedly difficult, and 3) still playable if you have the chops!

Bass ringers, we think, have spent a long time being a bit jealous of the treble soloists. After all, there are plenty of us who enjoy playing an entire octave of bells (usually C3-B3), because it can be done, and (borrowing the words made famous by Sir Edmund Hillary*) “because it’s there”. Envy no more – we have several bass handbell solos for you. Beautiful Savior/Fairest Lord Jesus is an easy one, and will give you that quick thrill that comes from the “reasonably achievable”. Danny Boy, however, will challenge your skills in weaving and malleting as well as your strength, stamina, and hand speed; when you perform that one successfully, you’ll feel as if you’ve accomplished something!

* Actually, George Leigh Mallory said them three decades before Hillary did…