Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is an ancient Greek hymn that was translated to English by Gerard Moultrie in the nineteenth century. Its antiquity indicates that it was first sung as a chant (imagine how it would sound within the stone walls of a monastery!). This hymn tune, PICARDY, is the one most frequently …
Tag: 8-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.
As eight-bell repertoire works well with a two-in-hand quartet (two bells each) or a four-in-hand duo, or with a trio where the bells are divided 4-2-2 or 3-3-2. We've even seen one instance of playing eight-bell music with eight ringers with one bell apiece, a la Sacred Harp.
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (HELMSLEY) – Eight handbells
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending announces the coming of the Savior in glory. Lo, he comes, with clouds descending, once for our salvation slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign. Now redemption, long expected, comes in solemn splendor near; all the saints …
O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) – Eight handbells
The Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem reflects the quiet joy of the Savior’s birth. This arrangement is of the hymn tune FOREST GREEN, the melody more often used for Phillip Brooks’ lyric. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go …
Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus (GEVAERT) – Eight handbells
Slumber Song of the Infant Jesus is a gentle French Christmas carol. The lyric is simple, short, and sweet, yet profound in its contemplation of what it was like to behold the Christ Child in the manger. Lying amid the oxen mild, Sleep, sleep, sleep my Holy Child. Heavenly cherubim, hosts of seraphim Hover all …
Larry and Carla’s First “Surprisingly-Easy”™-Eight-Bell Christmas Collection
Welcome to our first collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ eight-bell Christmas pieces! We’d been sharing our four-in-hand duets with our family and friends, and started getting questions about whether we had some easier arrangements that would work well with younger/newer ringers. We took a look at what we had, and realized that some of our repertoire …
Savior of the Nations, Come! (NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND) – Eight handbells
Advent is when we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ in human form. Savior of the Nations, Come is a plea for the Savior to descend from heaven to set our world to rights. Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, That the Lord chose …
Good Christian Men, Rejoice (IN DULCI JUBILO) – Eight handbells
Good Christian Men, Rejoice is a joyous Christmas carol set to the energetic tune IN DULCI JUBILO. This tune is thought to have been written in the fourteenth century by Heinrich Seuse, and its original lyrics are “macaronic” – a combination of Latin and German/English. Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; …
Oct 18
Finally! Finally! :D
At long last I’ve gotten to the point of having new music to sell! It took a lot to get there… and now that Carla, my wife and ringing partner is here, we can make videos of the new eight-bell arrangements. (Other ideas are in progress for working with bigger-than-duet compositions…). You’ll find them under …
Abide with Me (EVENTIDE) – Eight handbells
Abide wth Me is a hymn of comfort and consolation; it frequently is selected for memorial services and funerals. More personally, believers remember it when they feel like the whole world is against them, and remember that God is always ready to draw them close. Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; …
I Need Thee Every Hour (NEED) – Eight handbells
I Need Thee Every Hour is a look at one of the key parts of the Christian life: dependence on God. Each verse starts with “I need Thee”, and looks at a different aspect of that need. The bottom line, of course, is that no matter what life throws at us, we always need Him. …
