Our six-bell arrangement of Simple Gifts has a contemporary twist which gives the pianist a fun part to play. It’s fairly easy for the ringers as well, and the ensemble combines to produce a nicely syncopated version of what usually is presented as a rather straightforward tune. Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to …
Tag: 6-bell
Starting in 2012, we (Larry and Carla Sue) developed a large repertoire of music for eight handbells which we perform as four-in-hand duets. These pieces ranged from fairly simple to maniacally difficult, and eventually led to the creation of their "Surprisingly Easy"™ eight-bell arrangements so that there would be more options for the ringing world at large.
Larry had shoulder surgery in early 2020, and Carla suggested creating a new lie of music for six accompanied handbells. The "accompaniment" part came about, of course, because six bells result in sacrificing at least one scale tone to satisfy the numeric constraint. Surprisingly, six-bell pieces have turned out to be a rich field for exploration.
As eight-bell repertoire works well with a two-in-hand quartet (two bells each) or a four-in-hand duo, six-bell repertoire works nicely with a two-in-hand trio or a "four-in-hand sesquisoloist" (one-and-a-half four-in-hand players).
Oh, How I Love Jesus
The tune OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS is a simple one; its composer is unknown. It’s been sung for quite a long time as a gentle expression of faith in Christ for young children and mature adults. There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; it sounds like music …
Jan 26
Oh, How I Love Jesus – for six handbells and piano
The tune OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS is a simple one; its composer is unknown. It’s been sung for quite a long time as a gentle expression of faith in Christ for young children and mature adults. Our arrangement for six handbells and piano is fairly easy to play, and emphasizes the simple directness of …
Jan 23
Hyfrydol for six accompanied handbells
Our very first arrangement for six handbells and piano was Hyfrydol. True to form, it starts easily enough, but becomes more and more involved. If you like roller coasters, this piece is for you! Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the …
What if you have nine (or ten, or eleven…) ringers?
Are you considering our eight-, twelve-, or sixteen-bell music, but appear to have more ringers than are needed to play? That’s a good problem to have, because it means you’re on the way to enjoying even more music! But if you have, say, nine ringers, that would appear to be too many for sixteen bells, …
Jan 01
Merry Eighth Day of Christmas!
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came is a mysterious tune that’s just on the border between Advent and Christmas. We first arranged it for eight bells, and then during my recovery from shoulder surgery for six bells and piano. Here’s the video or the six-bell version! Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to print …
Dec 27
Merry Third Day of Christmas!
I had shoulder surgery a in May of 2020. Lest you worry that bass ringing was the cause, the orthopedist assured me that it was all due to “normal wear and tear”. It meant postoperative pain pills (the powerful kind), and half a year of rebuilding. It’s quite a regimen, as those of you who …
List of Scores for Six Accompanied Handbells
Here’s a quick compilation of our scores for six accompanied handbells. Each title is a link to the corresponding webpage. TITLE HYMN TUNE Al die willen te kaap’ren varen Angels We Have Heard on High GLORIA Away in a Manger CRADLE SONG Beach Spring BEACH SPRING Creator of the Stars of Night CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM …
Mar 28
Go to Dark Gethsemane (REDHEAD No. 76) – for six accompanied handbells
The hymn tune REDHEAD NO. 76 seems unusual; its background is that the composer, Richard Redhead, published a book of hymns in the nineteenth century. Learning this made it all clear for me! Our arrangement for six accompanied handbells is straightforward to play, and will contribute to your services during Holy Week. Go to dark …
Go to Dark Gethsemane (REDHEAD NO. 76) – six handbells and piano
Richard Redhead was a vocalist and an organist in Sussex in the nineteenth century. He also spent a career building the next generation of church musicians. In the nineteenth century, he published a book of hymns, and the tune name of this arrangement includes his surname. Go to dark Gethsemane, / You who feel the …
