A few years back, I wrote an arrangement of Let All Things Now Living in the unusual time signature of 11/8. That alone elevated it to an AGEHR Level 5+, but despite that it’s still making the rounds with advanced ringers. It was time to offer something for those who aspire (but, perhaps, are still …
Tag: 3-5 octaves
With the passage of time, handbell choirs have grown in size and acquire more and more octaves of bells. Sets of three to five octaves are pretty typical as of the 21st century. Four-octave sets, strangely, are relatively uncommon.
Note that some pieces in the Choraegus catalog are for three or five octaves.
Kingsfold (KINGSFOLD) (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, Level 2+)
The English tune KINGSFOLD has been matched with many hymn texts. Its solemn/meditative feel lends itself well to thoughts of great depth. One such text is O Sing A Song of Bethlehem; the metrical index search link below provides a way to identify other lyrics matched with the tune. O sing a song of Bethlehem, …
Let All Things Now Living (ASH GROVE) (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, Level 3)
The Welsh tune ASH GROVE is most frequently associated with the text Let All Things Now Living. It can be used as service music throughout the year, but for some has a favorite place on World Communion Sunday and at Thanksgiving. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly …
How to Purchase Music from Choraegus
It’s simple! Find each piece of music that you want to buy, and press the “Add to Cart” button to put it into your (electronic) shopping cart. Check the quantity of each piece you’re ordering to be sure you’re getting the correct number for your needs. For details, please see our Licensing Agreement. When you’ve …
Five (Handbells, 3-5 octaves, Level 2+)
I (Larry) wrote Five as a fifth-anniversary gift to Carla. It was first performed by the handbell choir at our church just a couple of days after our actual anniversary date. There’s a little bit of extra fun in the score…see if you can find all the “fives” there! Handbells (three, four, or five octaves) …
Elysium – Susan T. Nelson (Handbells, 3-5 octaves plus optional flute, Level 3)
From Susan T. Nelson, the composer: Elysium (3-5 oct. with opt. flute descant) was commissioned in 1996 by Laurie and Rusty Sanders (and named by Rusty). Originally, it was composed for 3 oct., but they asked me to expand it to 5 when they received the manuscript. The 5 oct. version sports a descant line …
Rescue (Handbells, 3-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3)
Sometimes we find ourselves in what we think is a hopeless situation. Well, we think it’s hopeless, because we don’t have an adequate answer to that problem. It’s those times when God can send the answer in the form of someone else who shares the burden and helps to make sense of life. He provides …
ENGELBERG (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves plus handchimes, 1 octave, Level 2+)
The hymn tune ENGELBERG has been used with several texts: All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine When in Our Music God is Glorified We Know that Christ is Raised No matter which one you’re singing, it’s an inspiring melody! For 3-5 octaves of handbells and 1 octave of handchimes Level 2+ Preview: …
A Celebration of Our Life (Handbells, 5 octaves plus 3 octaves of handchimes, Level 4)
A California couple commissioned A Celebration of Our Life for their 30th wedding anniversary, and had their church’s handbell choir premiere it when they renewed their vows. Fun abounds in this piece, as it describes parts of their story. For instance: The introductory melody is both thirty beats long and thirty notes long (not counting …
The Final Crossing (Handbells, 3-6 octaves plus handchimes, 2 octaves, Level 3-)
Many believers have thought of the end of this life as the traversal of a river. “Crossing the Jordan”… “Gathering at the river that leads to the throne of God”… “Meeting on the other shore.” Imagine the clarion call for that final crossing, when those who will be blessed to follow its summons into the …
