I Surrender All – new music for 8 handbells

“All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.


I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.”.

Our new arrangement of the popular hymn I Surrender All uses just 8 handbells, and can be played by 2-4 ringers. The tune is SURRENDER, a 19th-century melody composed by Winfield S. Weeden.

More information about this 8-bell arrangement

Sheet music for I Surrender All is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group. Please don’t pay for more copies than you need to! Purchase also gives you permission to use this piece in online and live-streamed worship services. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title (I Surrender All) and arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) on video-sharing sites and social media.

Please note that our music is designed to be downloaded as PDFs, so 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, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this with pictures, to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a stress-free way.

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 be happy to help!

Every Time I Feel the Spirit – 12-Bell Music

Every Time I Feel the Spirit is an African-American spiritual that was first published in 1907. It’s believed to have been sung several decades earlier than that, and many of these traditional songs were sung and passed down through generations long before being written down.

“O, ev’ry time I feel the Spirit
moving in my heart, I will pray.
Yes, ev’ry time I feel the Spirit
moving in my heart, I will pray.”

Here’s our demonstration video:

More information about Every Time I Feel the Spirit

As with all Choraegus 12-bell pieces, Every Time I Feel the Spirit can be played by 3-6 ringers. Sheet music for this arrangement is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Each arrangement is available for three different ranges of handbells, so you can choose which you prefer. Refer to 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!

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!

Every Time I Feel the Spirit handbells

Brother James’ Air – for handbells

Brother James’ Air is the latest 12-bell arrangement from Choraegus. The hymn was written by James Leith Macbeth Bain, and published in 1915 with the text from Psalm 23:

“The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
the quiet waters by.”

In more recent times, this melody has also been used as the tune for Carl P. Daw, Jr.’s hymn How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place, O Lord of Hosts, to Me. Here’s our demonstration video:

More information about Brother James’ Air

As with all Choraegus 12-bell pieces, Brother James’ Air is suitable for 3-6 ringers. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Each arrangement is available for three different ranges of handbells, so you can choose which you prefer. Refer to 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!

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!

Brother James' Air - for 12 handbells

New 2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus

We’re excited to add some new 2-octave hymn arrangements to the Choraegus website! We enjoyed making demonstration videos of all these new titles, which are accessible arrangements that range from Level 2- to Level 3+. Even though only two octaves of handbells are needed for these pieces, they have a full sound, and enough challenge to keep life interesting, without being overwhelming. If you’re already making plans for Christmas worship services, you might also like to take a look at our recent Christmas arrangements for 2 octaves.

Here are the newest arrangements, with links to the relevant pages on our music site, and demonstration videos:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

This is a Level 2 arrangement of the ROYAL OAK hymn tune. It’s a lively arrangement, with thumb-damping to add to the joyous mood. Watch our demonstration video below, and find more information on the Choraegus website.

For the Beauty of the Earth

The hymn tune DIX has always been an interesting one to us, as a US/UK couple. Here in the USA, it’s used here as a year-round hymn, but in the UK it’s more often used with the text As With Gladness, Men of Old, and sung as an Epiphany carol. Whichever version you decide to use, this is an accessible Level 2- arrangement, and you can find it on the Choraegus website. Here’s our demonstration video:

It Is Well With My Soul

This is a popular hymn by Horatio Spafford and Philip Bliss. The tune is VILLE DU HAVRE, and this arrangement is Level 2+. Our demonstration video is below, and you can find the music available to download from the Choraegus website.  

My Jesus, I Love Thee

The hymn tune GORDON is from the 19th century. You can find the music for this gently flowing arrangement on the Choraegus website, and watch our demonstration video below:

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need is sung to the hymn tune RESIGNATION, and the lyrics are based on Psalm 23. It’s a popular hymn for Good Shepherd Sunday. Our 2-octave Level 2 arrangement is available to download from Choraegus.

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

This is a hymn that dates all the way back to a 15th-century Latin text by an unknown author. The tune is DEO GRACIAS, also sometimes known as AGINCOURT. This new 2-octave arrangement is Level 3-, and you can find it on the Choraegus website.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

LOBE DEN HERREN is a 17th-century German hymn. This new 2-octave Level 3 arrangement is available from Choraegus. You can watch our demonstration video below:

That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright

That Easter Day uses the 15th-century hymn tune PUER NOBIS. Interestingly, this tune is also used for the Advent hymn On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry, so this arrangement can easily be used for both those occasions in the church year! It’s a lively Level 2+ arrangement, available to download from Choraegus. Here’s our demonstration video:

When Morning Gilds the Skies

This is the hymn tune LAUDES DOMINI. It’s another Level 2 arrangement that we enjoyed playing. Watch our demonstration video below, or click on this link to find When Morning Gilds the Skies on the Choraegus site!

Other 2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus

We have other 2-octave arrangements available too! Click on each title to find more information and demo videos:

Be Thou My Vision (SLANE)

Blessed Assurance (ASSURANCE)

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (NETTLETON)

ENGELBERG (When In Our Music God is Glorified, All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine)

Eternal Father, Strong to Save (MELITA)

How Great Thou Art (O STORE GUD)

Kum Ba Yah

Lift High the Cross (CRUCIFER)

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place (LANDÅS)

Now Thank We All Our God (NUN DANKET)

Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)

The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended (ST. CLEMENT)

WOODLANDS

CLICK HERE FOR CHRISTMAS 2-OCTAVE MUSIC!

How to purchase 2-octave arrangements

Music scores for our 2-octave arrangements are 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 permission to print up to 15 copies for your group.

Please note that Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a downloadable PDF file. 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.

Your purchase of the full-choir license also allows you to perform, broadcast and live-stream the piece as part of a concert or worship service. There’s no need for any additional license or fee. We ask that you credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). Please 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!

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.

2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus handbells

Eternal Father, Strong to Save – 2-Octave Handbell Music

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm does bind the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

William Whiting wrote Eternal Father, Strong to Save in England, in 1860, and English clergyman John Bacchus Dykes wrote the tune MELITA to accompany the lyrics. The hymn was first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1861. The hymn has been adopted in various forms and adaptations by the Royal Navy, the United States Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and other maritime services. For this reason, it’s also known as The Navy Hymn, as well as sometimes being referred to as For Those in Peril on the Sea.

Larry was recently asked to write a 2-octave arrangement of this hymn. Here’s our demonstration video of this Level 3 piece:

More information about this 2-octave handbell music

Sheet music for Eternal Father, Strong to Save 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 allows you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a concert or worship service. There’s no need for any additional license or fee. We ask that you credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). Please 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!

Please note that Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a downloadable PDF file. 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.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save - handbells

Hark, the Glad Sound! 12-Bell Music for Advent

Hark, the Glad Sound is the latest 12-bell arrangement from Choraegus. The CHESTERFIELD hymn tune is suitable for Advent or Palm Sunday.

Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

More information about Hark, the Glad Sound!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell pieces, Hark, the Glad Sound! is suitable for 3-6 ringers. Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Each arrangement is available for three different ranges of handbells, so you can choose which you prefer. Refer to 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!

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!

Hark, the Glad Sound - handbells

Nocturne – for Handbells

Nocturne is an original Larry Sue composition, for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells and 3 octaves of handchimes. It’s an accessible Level 2+ piece with a thoughtful, introspective mood. It’s suitable for secular or sacred settings.

More information about Nocturne

Nocturne 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.

Please note that Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a downloadable PDF file. 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.

Your purchase of the full-choir license allows you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a concert or worship service. There’s no need for any additional license or fee. We ask that you credit the composer (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). Please 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!

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.

Nocturne, handbells

A new version of How Firm a Foundation

“How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In ev’ry condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea —
The Lord, the Almighty, your strength e’er shall be.

Larry’s new 8-bell arrangement of the hymn How Firm a Foundation is now available! It’s suitable for 2-4 ringers.

More information about this 8-bell arrangement

Sheet music for How Firm a Foundation is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. When you look at the page on the Choraegus website, you’ll see that there are two arrangements of this carol. This one is Version 2. Make sure you add the correct one to your shopping cart! This version is less challenging than our earlier version, and more straightforward for a quartet or beginning/improving duo to play.

Click here to find out more, and purchase How Firm a Foundation!

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group, so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives you permission to use this piece in online and live-streamed worship services. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media.

Please note that our music is designed to be downloaded as PDFs, so 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, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this with pictures, to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a stress-free way.

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 be happy to help!

How Firm a Foundation - Larry Sue

Just a Closer Walk With Thee – for 16 Handbells

Just a Closer Walk With Thee is the latest 16-bell arrangement from Choraegus. If you like your hymn arrangements with a bit of swing, you’ll love this one! As with all our 16-bell music, it’s designed to show that music for 4-8 ringers doesn’t have to be boring!

More information about Just a Closer Walk With Thee

This arrangement is available from Choraegus in two handbell ranges – C5-G6 and F5-C7. Please check the bells-used charts on the Choraegus page for this piece, to make sure you get the version for the bells you want to play. There are no bell changes, and no techniques that require tables or foam pads. Our 16-bell music is designed to be suitable for groups to play using just music stands.

Click here to find out more, or purchase sheet music (digital download) on our Choraegus site.

More about Choraegus handbell music

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to eight copies for your handbell group. – so don’t pay for more copies than you need! Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please be sure to mention the arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) and the publisher (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, and we’d love to see a video if you record one with your ensemble!

Please note that our sheet music is designed to be downloaded as PDFs. 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, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide, designed 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. You’ll find just about every question anyone has ever asked us, along with answers. However, if you don’t find what you’re looking for, please ask us!

Just a Closer Walk With Thee - Handbells

Danny Boy – Bass Handbell Solo

Did you catch Larry’s recent performance of Danny Boy (also known as the Londonderry Air) on our Facebook page recently? In case you missed it, here’s the video, now available to watch on Vimeo:

Larry first performed Danny Boy as a bass handbell solo at the at the Los Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center in California, way back in 2001. At the time, he was helping out with a young handbell choir Valley Vibrations, based at Valley Church in Cupertino. The group was performing at the rehabilitation center, and since the bass bells weren’t getting much use, Larry was able to do a “test run” of his bass solo as part of that performance.

He performed the piece again at the Handbell Musicians of America Area 12 Conference in 2004, in two locations: Ontario, CA and Honolulu, Hawaii, where David Davidson was the clinician.

Fast-forward to 2024, and after 20 years, it seemed like the right time to get this piece out again, and see if Larry was still up to the challenge of playing it.

Danny Boy Bass Handbell Solo

Some of the challenges involved in this arrangement

A bass handbell solo will inevitably have its challenges! This piece uses handbells ranging from C3 to A5. The lowest bells weigh around 9 lbs each, and the first section of the piece starts with the melody played on those bells.

The first section was challenging to play, not only because of the weight of each bell, but because of the layout and spacing. You can’t be casual about picking up and putting down bass bells, because if it goes wrong, it could be disastrous. The second section requires concentration, because of the double malleting. Larry modified the layout of the bells in this piece from the way he’d done it in 2004, to add the 4-in-hand option for the final section.

The other challenge, of course, is that Larry is twenty years older than he was when he first played this bass solo! Still, after just a few weeks of practising, he managed to get to the point where he could play the whole thing (more than six minutes) from beginning to end, and that felt like quite an achievement. If you watch the video closely, you’ll even catch a few instances of Larry using the “aerial self-pass” technique to transfer a bell swiftly from one hand to another. It’s impressive-looking with the bass bells!

A few outtakes!

Needless to say, there were a few outtakes before Larry got this one right!

Would you like to play this bass handbell solo?

If you’d like to play this piece, the sheet music is available to download from Choraegus. A piano accompaniment mp3 is also available, which can be useful if you don’t have a pianist available. It’s the same backing track Larry used in his performance.

Finally, don’t forget that The Bass Ringer’s Notebook remains one of the must-have instruction books for anyone serious about bass handbell ringing. The book is available in hard copy only, from Choraegus.

Bass Ringer's Notebook, yellow flowers
The Bass Ringer’s Notebook – available from Choraegus