Here’s the story behind Strollin’ in the Park: One day Libbie Randels asked me to write a piece for her handbell choir. Now, this was an unusual group because it consisted of about three dozen seniors. At the time, their average age was 73 – and they were active, happy, and musical. Getting older is …
Tag: 5+ octaves
The current production range of handbells is seven-and-a-half octaves (G1 through C9). It's an amount of equipment to which many groups aspire, though the cost of all those bells is a major hurdle to cross.
Music for more than five octaves of bells (and chimes) can be orchestral in feeling, but often requires some rather specialized skills on the part of those playing the highest or lowest bells.
Ye Jazzy Gentlemen (Handbells, 5 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 4-)
The inspiration to do something interesting hits now and then. This a la Brubeck arrangement “Ye Jazzy Gentlemen” came into being one day, and I sent it to the erstwhile Above the Line Publishing. Rima’s response was “I don’t normally publish Christmas music, but this one’s so cool that I CAN’T not.” NOW it’s available …
A Minor Crash (Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus optional handchimes, Level 4)
We’ve seen the big signs above the freeway: “IN A MINOR CRASH?…” One day Carla said, “You should write a piece about that…”, so I did. This original composition is full of interesting (and interacting!) rhythms. Separately, they’re fairly easy to learn; together; combined, they’re an exciting mix. A set of somewhat simplified pages is …
Apr 19
Tico Tico!
We were privileged to have our arrangement of Zequinha Abreu’s Tico Tico no fubá selected for Distinctly Bronze West 2015, where nearly 120 ringers participated in its world premiere performance under the baton of Dr William Payn. Because DB is a high-level event, our friend Alex Guebert created some wonderful percussion parts for the occasion, …
Islamey (Handbells, 5 octaves plus handchimes, 5 octaves, Level 7*)
Mily Balakirev was the senior member of the “Big Five”, a cadre of Russian nationalist composers (in case you’re wondering, the other four were Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Koraskov, Aleksandr Borodin, and Cesar Cui). Balakirev spent some time exploring the Caucasus region in southern Russia, and came across the “islamey”, a cultural dance that featured lots …
Forever (Handbells, 5-8 octaves, Level 5)
Forever was commissioned in 2012 by Dee Allaway and her family in memory of her father Walter Dennis Oliver. It’s a grand tribute to a man who brought music to his family as well as others around him. At least five octaves of handbells are necessary to play Forever. You’ll find that there are abundant …
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 …
Tico tico no fubá (Handbells, 5-7 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5+)
Tico tico no fubá is a truly exciting Brazilian piece written by Zequinha de Abreu. You’ll dance to this arrangement… but remember that you have bells to play too! 🙂 We also have some terrific percussion parts, created by Alex Guebert, for guiro, maracas, cabasa, tamborim, and claves! Handbells (five, six, or seven octaves) plus …
A Snail’s Pace (Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus handchimes, 5 octaves, Level 5+)
A Snail’s Pace, written with a plush orange-pink-and-purple snail in mind, this original laid-back jazz piece will challenge you even as you relax into its feel! Handbells, 5-8 octaves plus handchimes, 5 octaves Level 5+ Preview: Individual copy: $ US Handbell choir: $ US Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to …
I Will Arise and Go to Jesus (Handbells, 3-8 octaves plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 5)
I Will Arise and Go to Jesus, this arrangement of the well-known Southern Harmony tune, was commissioned by Barbara Charlebois in memory of her father. Below is a rehearsal video from Distinctly Bronze West 2011 in Bremerton, Washington. Handbells (three, four, five, six, seven, or eight octaves) plus handchimes (3 octaves) Level 5 Preview: Individual …
