I think of America the Beautiful as a “wannabe national anthem”, because it says so much about what matters in the country where I live. Our Level 4 arrangement for three to five octaves of handbells will sparkle in your church service or patriotic gathering. O beautiful for spacious skies / For amber waves of …
Tag: Larry Sue
Larry Sue is the owner, composer/arranger, and publisher at Choraegus. He and his wife Carla are West Michigan's Smallest Handbell Ensemble.
Jan 17
New “Newness” video!
We’ve continued to make videos of our works for handbell choir. Here’s a new five-octave version of Newness, an original work for three or five octaves of handbells, plus three octaves of handchimes. Newness can be played either as a Level 2 or a Level 3 piece. To play it as a Level 2 piece, …
Jan 14
Come Down, O Love Divine (DOWN AMPNEY) – (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3-)
This lovely hymn tune was written by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Here’s our handbell arrangement for three or five octaves of handbells plus three octaves of handchimes. Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing the single copy version grants permission …
Jan 10
Gaudete! (Handbells, 3-8 octaves, plus handchimes, 3-4 octaves, Level 4+)
Here’s our new arrangement of this sixteenth-century Christmas song! It’s scored for three to eight octaves of handbells plus three or four octaves of handchimes – and if you have a percussionist, there also is a cajón part! Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen …
Jan 01
Happy 2022, and Thank You!
Happy New Year! It’s time for celebration and a bit of relaxing and making resolutions… uh, okay. Maybe not all of those. Many of us have had a difficult year, and are hoping the next trip around the sun is more user-friendly than the one that’s just ended. We hope you have some optimism, however …
Dec 24
If you’d like to play and hear bells on Christmas Day – Secret Santa redux!
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is a pre-Civil War song that sets a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to the tune WALTHAM by John Baptiste Calkin. The theme is “peace on earth, good will to men”, and the words reflect on how hopelessness will give way to glory. And on Christmas Day 2021, …
Nov 29
Jesus Paid It All (ALL TO CHRIST) – for eight handbells
The message of Jesus Paid It All goes far beyond the title. True enough, He gave Himself to pay the penalty of our sins, but the hymn text also intimates that we have an infinite debt to Him that goes along with receiving the free gift that He offers. Of course… it’s impossible to repay …
Nov 08
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (BENEDICTION) – for Sixteen-Handbells
Peter Lutkin composed this famous benediction in 1900. It’s a favorite farewell song at the Bay View Association, a Chautauqua institution located near Petoskey, Michigan. Our arrangement is written in the same key as the original, so your congregation or vocal ensemble can sing the SATB parts along with the handbells. The Lord bless you …
Nov 04
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (AUSTRIAN HYMN) – for eight handbells
Here’s the grandiose hymn that also serves as the national anthem of Germany. It was composed by Haydn (possibly with a Croatian song as source material), and today it still inspires Christians around the world. We’ve added our “standard” arrangement for eight handbells to our repertoire! Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print …
Oct 21
Away in a Manger (CRADLE SONG) for six handbells and piano
The Christ Child has been born, and sleeps in the manger. This gentle arrangement for six handbells and piano tells the Christmas story with a quiet elegance. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head; the stars in the heavens looked down where He lay, …