Come, Ye Thankful People, Come is most often sung in the United States at Thanksgiving. It’s a harvest-is-over song that uses bringing the crop from the fields as an illustration of God bringing His saints home after they’ve completed their earthly responsibilities. Here’s our arrangement of this hymn for eight handbells and piano. Come, ye …
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.
Oct 01
Chopsticks – for eight handbells
There’s a famous story about how a little boy found his way onto the great Ignacy Paderewski’s piano bench before a concert, and, oblivious to the audience, began playing Euphemia Allen’s world-famous 1877 hit Chopsticks. The ticket-holders in the seats were shocked, and angrily wanted the child removed. Paderewski, however, walked up behind the bench …
Sep 24
Blessed Assurance (ASSURANCE) – for eight handbells and piano
Our arrangement of Blessed Assurance for eight handbells and piano will work well with your small handbell ensemble (duet, trio, or quartet)! Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my …
Sep 10
Jesus es Mi Rey Soberano (MI REY Y MI AMIGO) – for eight handbells
Isn’t it amazing that the King of Kings wants to be our Savior … and our Friend? It’s our joy to make our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn available. Jesús es mi Rey soberano, Mi gozo es cantar su loor; Es Rey, y me ve cual hermano, Es Rey y me imparte suamor. De jando …
Sep 03
Angels We Have Heard on High – our second version for eight handbells!
We love the Christmas carol Angels We Have Heard on High so much that we now have a second “standard” eight-bell version! We hope you’ll enjoy it enough to play both arrangements during the holidays!
Aug 27
The Spider Song – for eight handbells (and free!)
Okay… we hedged our bets with respect to the title, because this children’s song is called Itsy Bitsy Spider in the US, Incy Wincy Spider in the UK. Fortunately, the hand motions are the same in both places. You’ll have fun with our free eight-bell arrangement!
Aug 20
We have a new “Surprisingly Easy”™ Christmas Collection!
It’s been quite a while since we released a new collection of “Surprisingly Easy”™ Advent/Christmas/Epiphany arrangements – here’s the fourth one! It includes the following: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella From Starry Skies Descending Joy to the World O du Fröhliche Pat-a-Pan People, Look East The Friendly Beasts The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Here’s …
Aug 13
Let All Things Now Living (THE ASH GROVE) – for eight handbells
You’ll enjoy playing this eight-bell arrangement of the ASH GROVE! It’s often encountered in hymnody as Let All Things Now Living. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who guides us and leads to the end of our …
Aug 10
Be Thou My Vision (SLANE) – for eight accompanied handbells
Our piano-accompanied eight-handbell arrangement Be Thou My Vision will work well with your small handbell ensemble (duet, trio, or quartet)! Historical note: This arrangement came into being because Steve in Maryland bought some music in early July 2020, and mentioned that he was hoping to find an arrangement of Be Thou My Vision for eight …
Aug 06
Christ, the Life of All the Living (JESU, MEINES LEBENS LEBEN) – for eight handbells
Trusting in Christ is life… not just avoiding death, or being alive forever, but life that transcends anything that it would be without Him, and a blessed eternity in His glorious presence. Here’s our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn about trusting God. Christ, the life of all the living, / Christ, the death of death, …