Monthly Archives: June 2022

Doxology for Handbells (3-5 Octaves)

We recently offered a free 8-bell arrangement of the Doxology (OLD HUNDREDTH) – the setting for the hymns Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow and All People That on Earth Do Dwell.

We had a request for an arrangement for full handbell choir… so here’s the 3-5 octave version!

More information about this arrangement

Doxology is for 3-5 octaves of handbells. It’s a Level 1 arrangement; very straightforward to play. The downloadable score gives two versions, so that you can choose the one that works for your worship service. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus, for the low price of just $3 for the full choir license. Purchase of the full choir license gives you our no-fuss permission to print up to 15 copies for your group.

Your purchase of the full-choir license also grants permission for you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a worship service without the need for any additional license or fee, although we do ask you to credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media and online (in video descriptions) where possible. See our licensing agreement for full details. 

We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell music. If you record a video of your group playing any of our pieces, we’d love to see it. You’re welcome to share it with us by email or on our Facebook page!

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this guide to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. If someone has asked us a question even once, it will be there, along with the answer. Please contact us if you don’t find the information you need, and we’ll be happy to help.

Doxology for handbells 3-5 octaves

New 12-Bell Music – Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

We’re happy to present some more new 12-bell music – Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; a popular hymn for worship services and weddings. The NETTLETON hymn tune can also be used as the setting for Come, Ye Sinners Poor and Needy, As We Gather at Your Table, and Praise the God of All Creation, among others.

Here’s our demonstration video!

If you missed last week’s announcement on our Facebook page, we also have a new 12-bell arrangement of the hymn Children of the Heavenly Father. This arrangement is a very straightforward choice for a small handbell choir.

More about these 12-bell arrangements

As with all Choraegus 12-bell pieces, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Children of the Heavenly Father are suitable for 3-6 ringers. We demonstrate our 12-bell arrangements using 4-in-hand, but if you have six ringers, they’ll only need two bells each. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. These arrangements are available in two ranges of handbells – one version using C5-G6 and another for D5-A6. There are a couple of accidentals involved, so be sure to refer the bells-used charts on the Choraegus webpage to make sure you have all the bells you need, and be sure to purchase the right version.

Other arrangements of these hymn tunes available from Choraegus

You’ll find both of these hymns also available as arrangements for just eight handbells. There’s a list of all our 8-bell hymn arrangements on the Choraegus website. Please note that our 8-bell arrangements and 12-bell arrangements aren’t designed to be played together. Each piece is a completely different arrangement.

Important things to know about Choraegus handbell music

Choraegus handbell music scores are designed to be downloaded as PDF files. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Purchasing a 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so please don’t pay for more copies than you need! A practice track is also available separately – useful if your ringers need to practise their parts without the full group being available.

Your purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the arranger (Larry Sue) and the publisher of the piece (Choraegus) on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about Choraegus handbell music – and if you make a video of your handbell choir playing any of our pieces, we’d love to see it!

If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. Please contact us if you don’t find the answers you need, and we’ll be happy to help!

12-bell music Come Thou Fount

New Handbell Music for Christmas 2022 – from Choraegus

In the handbell world, we get accustomed to thinking ahead when preparing for concerts, worship services and seasonal performances! It’s not the holiday season yet, but we’ve already introduced some new handbell music for Christmas 2022 – available to download from Choraegus. If you’re interested in playing any of these pieces, please click on the title to find out more.

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is the oldest-known Canadian carol, also known as the Huron Carol. Our arrangement is for 3 or 5 octaves, and also uses optional handchimes, giving a slightly mysterious feel to the piece. After playing our 8-bell arrangement of this carol for so many years, we enjoyed putting together this demonstration video!

Of the Father’s Love Begotten

We prepared this video of Of the Father’s Love Begotten for the Kalamazoo Ringers’ online Christmas concert last year, but it was too late for us to make the arrangement available in time for Christmas. So here it is, ready for 2022! It’s arranged for 3 or 5 octaves, with handchimes – and the introduction gives you an (optional) opportunity to use Silver Melody Bells (as we did), or handchimes, or Petit & Fritsen or Whitechapel/Taylor bells – if any of those are available to you. The cajón part adds to the fun, and is available separately.

Gaudete!

Gaudete! is a Christmas song dating back to at least the sixteenth century. This arrangement is for 3-8 octaves of handbells, plus handchimes. It’s a lively Level 4+ piece that’s exciting to play! The optional cajón part is fun too!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

This exciting new arrangement of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a wild, mixed-meter ride that advanced handbell choirs will enjoy. The optional (but worthwhile) flute part adds some extra sparkle! Level 5, for 3 or 5 octaves.

If you want to play the same piece with fewer bells, here’s an arrangement of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing that has piano accompaniment – and, again, an optional flute part. We made this video for the Kalamazoo Ringers’ online Christmas concert last year.

In addition to our new handbell music for Christmas 2022, we also have a couple of newish full-choir arrangements that were available last year, but slipped through the cracks a little during the pandemic, when fewer groups were able to give live performances:

Gesu Bambino

Gesu Bambino (“the Christ Child”) is a Nativity song from 1917. Our piano-accompanied arrangement for 3 or 5 octaves is Level 3. The score package includes a full score for the pianist to use, and a separate handbell part for the bell choir.

Away in a Manger

Our handbell choir arrangement of James Murray’s Away in a Manger is written for three octaves of handbells and two octaves of handchimes (you can add doublings for your bells beyond C4-C7, of course). Its gentle feel will add a reflective touch to your Christmas Eve service.

Choraegus handbell music for smaller ensembles

As well as our exciting arrangements for 6- and 8-bell ensembles, we’ve recently added several new Christmas arrangements for 12-bell ensembles. More are on the way!

Any questions? Suggestions? Requests?

If you have any questions about Choraegus handbell music, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help. If you’re looking for a piece of Christmas music that you can’t find on the Choraegus site, you’re always welcome to get in touch and put in a request, particularly if the music is in the public domain (i.e. not under copyright) – and we’ll see if we can add it to our catalog!

Christmas Handbell Music from Choraegus

Smiles – for Handbells, 4 or 5 octaves

Our latest handbell piece is a lively arrangement of the 1917 song Smiles!

“Dearie, now I know
Just what makes me love you so,
Just what holds me and enfolds me
In its golden glow;
Dearie, now I see
‘Tis each smile so bright and free,
For life’s sadness turns to gladness when you smile on me.”

Smiles 1917 song cover

Smiles is a popular song, featured in The Passing Show, a Broadway musical review, in 1918. The music was written by Lee S. Roberts, and the lyrics by J. Will Callahan. This song is particularly interesting to us because Callahan wrote the lyrics in a cottage at Bay View, Michigan – the place where we have a summer cottage of our own!

Here’s our demonstration video of Smiles – arranged for handbells. If you keep watching after we’ve finished playing on the video, you’ll see a picture of the sign at the Bay View Association, marking the place where the lyrics were written.

More information about Smiles

Smiles is for 4-5 octaves of handbells, with an optional 2 octaves of handchimes. It’s a Level 3+ arrangement. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. You can either purchase an individual copy (useful for massed ringing events, or for preview), or purchase the full choir license. Purchase of the full choir license gives you our no-fuss permission to print up to 15 copies for your group.

Your purchase of the full-choir license also grants permission for you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a concert or worship service without the need for any additional license or fee, although we do ask you to credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). See our licensing agreement for full details. 

We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell music. If you record a video of your group playing any of our pieces, we’d love to see it. You’re welcome to share it with us by email or on our Facebook page!

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this guide to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. If someone has asked us a question even once, it will be there, along with the answer. Please contact us if you don’t find the information you need, and we’ll be happy to help.

Smiles - Callahan song for handbells

Free Handbell Music for 8 Bells – Doxology

It’s been a while since we offered some free handbell music – so here’s an arrangement of the Doxology (Old Hundredth). This tune was first published in the 16th century, and has been attributed to Louis Bourgeois. It’s used as the setting for Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow and All People That on Earth Do Dwell.

Our score package contains two transpositions. The first is in G5-G6, our usual eight-bell range. The second is D5-D6, which accommodates space-line assignments (for a quartet). This is the traditional singing key in most hymnals. There are also two ways of playing this piece, so you can pick the rhythm that feels more familiar to you. We demonstrate both in our video.

This arrangement is offered to you free of charge, as a thank you to everyone who’s supported Choraegus over the years. You’ll find it in the Freebies section of our music site. There’s also free music for Happy Birthday, Dona Nobis Pacem, Auld Lang Syne and several other pieces.

There’s no obligation to make any other purchase from Choraegus to get the free handbell music. Of course, we hope you’ll take a look at other titles we have to offer, but if you want to grab the free music and go, we don’t mind at all. It’s a good way to try our 8-bell music without having to spend any money! Our 8-bell music is designed to be played by 2-4 ringers. If you wanted to play this piece with more than 4 ringers, you could double the notes an octave lower, or add some handchimes.

Instructions for downloading the free handbell music

To get your free sheet music, add it to your cart on the Choraegus site, and click on the yellow “Check out with PayPal” button. Enter your details, and click “Confirm Order” (there’s no need to click on the PayPal button a second time). Then check your email inbox. If the download link doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder, and it might be there.

As always, we recommend that you read the licensing agreement before buying music from us (or claiming your free music), especially if this is your first time downloading music from Choraegus. You won’t receive anything in the mail, and will be responsible for printing your own music.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the answers you need, please contact us, and we’ll do what we can to help!

Free handbell music for 8 bells Doxology

I Saw Three Ships – a New 12-Bell Arrangement

Continuing our little series of new 12-bell pieces for Christmas, here’s a new arrangement of the English carol I Saw Three Ships – also known as I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In or On Christmas Day in the Morning. This traditional carol has been around since the 17th century!

More about this 12-bell arrangement

I Saw Three Ships is suitable for 3-6 ringers. We demonstrate it using 4-in-hand, but if you have six ringers, they’ll only need two bells each. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. The arrangement is available in two versions – in Bb major (C5-G6) and C major (D5-A6), so be sure to refer the bells-used charts on the Choraegus webpage to make sure you have all the bells you need, and make sure you purchase the right version.

Other arrangements of this carol

This carol is also available for 8 handbells. Two different arrangements are available from Choraegus – a standard version and a “surprisingly easy” version.

Things to know about Choraegus handbell music

Choraegus handbell music scores are designed to be downloaded as PDF files. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Purchasing a 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so please don’t pay for more copies than you need! A practice track is also available separately – useful if your ringers need to practise their parts without the full group being available.

Your purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the arranger (Larry Sue) and the publisher of the piece (Choraegus) on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about Choraegus handbell music – and if you make a video of your handbell choir playing this piece, we’d love to see it!

If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. Please contact us if you don’t find the answers you need, and we’ll be happy to help!

I Saw Three Ships 12-bell

An Italian Christmas Carol – New 12-bell Music

For anyone looking for something unusual for a small group to play at Christmas – here’s a new 12-bell arrangement of the popular Italian Christmas carol From Starry Skies Descending (original title: Tu Scendi dalle Stelle). Alternative translations are: You Came a Star from Heaven and From Starry Skies Thou Comest. The carol was written in Alphonsus Liguori in 1732.

Here’s our 12-bell version!

More about this 12-bell arrangement

From Starry Skies Descending is suitable for 3-6 ringers. We demonstrate it using 4-in-hand, but if you have six ringers, they’ll only need two bells each. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. The arrangement is available in two versions – in Bb major (C5-G5) and C major (D5-A6), so be sure to use the bells-used charts on the Choraegus webpage to make sure you have all of the bells you need.

If you’re a fan of this unusual Italian Christmas carol… we also have an arrangement that uses just 8 handbells, available to download from Choraegus. This arrangement is available in two versions – one standard and one “surprisingly easy.” Here’s the standard 8-bell version, performed during our 2019 trip to California:

If you haven’t bought music from Choraegus before…

Choraegus handbell music is designed to be downloaded as a PDF file. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so please don’t pay for more copies than you need! A practice track is also available separately – useful if your ringers need to practise their parts without the full group being available.

Your purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the arranger (Larry Sue) and the publisher of the piece (Choraegus) on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about Choraegus handbell music – and if you make a video of your handbell choir playing this piece, we’d love to see it!

If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. Please contact us if you don’t find the answers you need, and we’ll be happy to help!

Italian Christmas carol handbells

This is My Father’s World – for Handbells, 3 or 5 Octaves

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas– His hand the wonders wrought.“

This is My Father’s World is a hymn with lyrics written by Maltbie Davenport Babcock, first published as a poem in 1901. Franklin L. Sheppard set the poem to his TERRA BEATA tune in 1915. Here’s our arrangement for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells:

More information about This is My Father’s World

This is My Father’s World is for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, with an optional two octaves of handchimes, Level 3-. Sheet music for this arrangement is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. You can either purchase an individual copy (useful for massed ringing events, or for preview), or purchase the full choir license. Purchase of the full choir license gives you our no-fuss permission to print up to 15 copies for your group.

Your purchase of the full-choir license also grants permission for you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a concert or worship service without the need for any additional license or fee, although we ask you to credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). See our licensing agreement for full details. 

We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell music. If you record a video of your group playing any of our pieces, we’d love to see it. You’re welcome to share it with us by email or on our Facebook page!

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail.

If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this guide to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about our music, please start by reading our Frequently-Asked Questions. If someone has asked us a question even once, it will be there, along with the answer. Please contact us if you don’t find the information you need, and we’ll be happy to help.

My Father's World - for handbells