July 28, 2021

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us – 12 Handbells and Piano

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us is a 19th-century hymn attributed to Dorothea Thrupp, with a tune written by William Bradbury in 1859.

This arrangement is for 12 bells with piano accompaniment.

Piano accompaniment can be a confidence-booster!

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us is suitable for 3-6 ringers, with no special techniques required. The piano accompaniment is essential to the piece, and can be useful for filling out the sound, as well as boosting the confidence of newer ringers. When you have a piano accompaniment, you know that even if you miss a note, there will still be music.

Where to find the music

If you’d like to play Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (12-bell version), the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

When you buy Choraegus handbell music, please note that it’s 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 don’t pay for more copies than you need!

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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

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.

Other 12-bell music with piano accompaniment

In the Bleak Midwinter

Still, Still, Still

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!

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - 12-bell

July 23, 2021

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus – for 16 Handbells

“Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here.
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.“

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus continues our little run of 16-bell arrangements. Not to be confused with Fanny Crosby’s Tell Me the Story of Jesus (also available from Choraegus), Stories was written by William Parker in 1885, with music by Frederic Challinor.

More information about this 16-bell arrangement

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus contains no bell changes, and needs no bell-sharing, so you can play it without needing tables or foam. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers to play, holding just two bells each. This arrangement is available in two ranges – either from C5 to F6, or from F5 to C7.

If your handbell ensemble is still observing social distancing, or you need a small ensemble piece for the summer months, this could work!

If you’d like to play this arrangement, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus.

More about Choraegus handbell music

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to eight copies for your handbell group. 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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

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. Just about every question we’ve ever been asked is there, along with answers! However, if you don’t find the answer you need, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

July 8, 2021

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus – for 16 Handbells

We’ve been enjoying putting together new 16-bell music in recent months. Our latest title is the hymn O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus. The hymn tune EBENEZER was composed by Thomas John Williams in 1890 and is also used for the hymn Once to Every Man and Nation.

More information about this arrangement

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus is available in two handbell ranges. The version we demonstrate is for 16 handbells from C5 to B6. Another version is available for G4 to F#6, to make it possible for 2-octave handbell choirs to play. It’s an interesting arrangement – challenging, but worth the effort! The arrangement contains no bell changes, and needs no bell-sharing. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers to play, holding just two bells each. If your handbell ensemble is playing from music stands, or observing social distancing, this would work!

If you’d like to play this arrangement, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus.

Other arrangements of this hymn tune

The following arrangements of this hymn tune are also available to download from Choraegus:

An arrangement for 6 handbells with piano accompaniment;

and an unaccompanied 8-bell arrangement.

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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

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.

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 the information you need, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help!

July 8, 2021

Handbell music at a Wedding in Connecticut

We’ve just returned home from a very long road-trip, all the way from West Michigan to Connecticut and back. We went there for the best-possible reason – for the marriage of two of our friends. It’s been a long time since we played handbell music at a wedding!

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had very few opportunities for road-trips and handbell performances in the last year or so. You can imagine our excitement when we received first a “Save the Date” card, followed by an invitation, for a wedding in Connecticut!

A connection made on Facebook!

The bride and groom are a long-distance couple who connected with us on Facebook around ten years ago. At that time, we were still in our own long-distance relationship. Over the years, we’ve connected with a lot of long-distance couples who have contacted us on our Facebook page. Some people reach out to us for one-time advice or support, and we never hear from them again afterwards. However, some couples continue to stay in touch with us, and we’re happy to count them as friends, as we’ve been through similar experiences. It means a lot to us when people share their stories with us, as we shared our long-distance relationship story during the time we were apart.

The bride contacted us on Facebook a few months ago, and asked us if we’d be able to play some handbell duets after their wedding ceremony, to welcome the happy couple and their guests as they left the church. She particularly requested Amazing Grace, so we put together a small selection of hymns and classical music.

Playing handbells outdoors can be interesting!

The day of the wedding dawned dull and cloudy, and we had some concerns about playing outside if it rained. Fortunately the weather stayed dry, if a little windy! As we were attending the wedding primarily as guests, we didn’t want to miss the ceremony, so we stayed until after the vows and rings were exchanged. Then we quickly left the church, and took our bells and equipment down the stairs. We were ready to play in plenty of time for the door to open and the guests to start appearing.

The unexpected challenge of playing handbells in a suit

We coped pretty well with the gusty breeze. When we play outdoors, we’re always thankful for the sheet of plastic that goes over the top of our music to hold it in place! The unexpected challenge turned out to be playing handbells while wearing a suit. As a t-shirt enthusiast, Larry’s not very often seen wearing a suit; in fact this was the first time he’d worn one in more than a decade. Our usual duet performance attire doesn’t involve a suit, and it took a few moments for Larry to adjust his technique so that he didn’t create a “zinging” sound when a bell occasionally collided with a button! Still, all-in-all, the music went very well, and the wedding guests enjoyed it. We received lots of positive comments at the reception afterwards!

Would you like us to play handbells at your wedding?

If you’re hearing wedding bells, and you’d like to find out more about having handbell music for your ceremony, please contact us to find out more about our music, fees and availability. Handbells can be a magical addition to any wedding day!

July 1, 2021

Tell Me the Story of Jesus – for 16 Handbells

“Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels, in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Tell Me the Story of Jesus was written by Fanny Crosby in 1880. Here’s our 16-bell arrangement!

More information about this 16-bell arrangement

Tell Me the Story of Jesus contains no bell changes, and needs no bell-sharing, so you can play it without needing tables or foam. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers to play, holding just two bells each. If your handbell ensemble is still observing social distancing, or you need a small ensemble piece for the summer months, this could work!

If you’d like to play this arrangement, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus.

More about Choraegus handbell music

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.

Any questions?

June 27, 2021

Praise God, Ye Servants of the Lord – Handbells and Piano

Praise God, Ye Servants of the Lord (hymn tune ANDRE) is a 19th century hymn written by William B. Bradbury. The tune is also used for the hymns When Israel Fled from Egypt Land and Heavenly Home. It’s an upbeat, quirky little tune, and here’s our arrangement for 8 handbells with piano accompaniment:

We demonstrate this piece as a 4-in-hand duet, but it’s suitable for 2-4 ringers to play, and quite straightforward. It could be a useful addition to your handbell choir’s summer repertoire, for those times when the full group isn’t available to get together!

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play Praise God, Ye Servants of the Lord, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This can be useful if you don’t have an accompanist, or you need to rehearse alone.

Please note that our 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. Purchasing an 8-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score). Purchase also gives permission for recording, broadcasting, live-streaming and sharing on video-sharing sites and social media. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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!

June 21, 2021

O Zion, Haste – Handbells and Piano Accompaniment

O Zion, Haste is our latest 8-bell hymn arrangement, for handbells and piano. The tune, TIDINGS, was written by English composer James Walch in 1876. The words to the hymn were written by Mary A. Thomson:

“O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is light.
That he who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.“

Here’s our arrangement for 8 handbells with piano accompaniment:

More information about O Zion, Haste

O Zion, Haste is for 8 handbells between G5 and G6. We demonstrate this arrangement as a 4-in-hand duet, but it’s suitable for 2-4 ringers to play. There’s no bell-sharing, and no need for tables or foam, which makes it suitable for a socially-distant ensemble if necessary.

The sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This can be useful to use as a backing track if you need to rehearse or perform without an accompanist.

Please note that our 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. Purchasing an 8-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score). Purchase also gives permission for recording, broadcasting, live-streaming and sharing on video-sharing sites and social media. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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!

June 17, 2021

In the Sweet By and By – Handbells and Piano

In the Sweet By and By is a beautiful hymn, written in 1868 by S. Fillmore Bennett, with music by Joseph P. Webster. In recent years it has been recorded by many popular artists, including Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong and Dolly Parton.

“There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.“

Here’s our arrangement for 8 handbells with piano accompaniment:

This piece involves no bell changes, no picking-up of accidentals mid-piece, and no shared bells. It can easily be played without a table or foam. 8-bell music can be very useful during the summer months, when full handbell choirs can’t always get together. We demonstrate this piece as a 4-in-hand duet, but it’s suitable for 2-4 ringers to play.

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play In the Sweet By and By, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This can be useful if you don’t have an accompanist, or you need to rehearse alone.

Please note that our 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. Purchasing an 8-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score). Purchase also gives permission for recording, broadcasting, live-streaming and sharing on video-sharing sites and social media. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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!

June 13, 2021

He Leadeth Me – 12-Bell Music from Choraegus

He Leadeth Me is a hymn composed in 1862 by William Bradbury, with lyrics by Joseph H. Gilmore. The hymn was inspired by the words of Psalm 23. Here it is, arranged for 12 handbells:

12-bell music can be a great summer project!

We often hear from handbell directors and musicians about continuing to rehearse and play during the summer months, when the full group isn’t always available. 12-bell music can be useful for these occasions. Choraegus 12-bell music is designed to be interesting to play, with some level of challenge. Small-group music doesn’t have to be boring! We demonstrate this piece using 4-in-hand, because there are only two of us, but the arrangement is suitable for 3-6 ringers, with no special techniques required. It would sound pretty on handchimes too!

Two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Would you like to play He Leadeth Me?

If you’d like to play He Leadeth Me (12-bell version), the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

Other versions of this hymn are available

If you don’t have a large enough ensemble to play He Leadeth Me – 12-bell version, we also have an 8-bell arrangement of this hymn, suitable for 2-4 ringers. Alternatively, if you have an entire handbell choir, you might enjoy our 3- or 5-octave arrangement, also available to download from Choraegus.

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!

June 9, 2021

Sunrise – a Hymn Tune for 3 or 5 Octave Handbells

The hymn tune SUNRISE was first published in the 1768 Supplementum to the Luxembourg Kyriale. In more recent times, it has been used as the tune for William Bright’s hymn At Thy Feet, O Christ We Lay. In 1978, John Richards also used it for his hymn Spirit, Working in Creation. Here’s our arrangement for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, also referred to in our house as “that peck-peck tune”, because of the treble thumb-damps!

More information about Sunrise (Kyriale)

SUNRISE is arranged for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, with 2 octaves of (optional) handchimes. It’s a Level 2+ arrangement. If you’d like to play this piece, the sheet music is available to download from Choraegus.

Things to know about Choraegus handbell music

When you buy handbell music from Choraegus, the music score will come to you as a PDF file. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. When you’ve downloaded your music, your one-time payment (for the full-choir copy) entitles you to print up to 15 copies for your group. Please read our licensing agreement for full information about this. If you’re new to buying music from Choraegus, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to take you through the process in a (we hope) stress-free way!

Purchasing this arrangement gives you no-fuss permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and online video-sharing. Please take some time to read about what you’re allowed to do with Choraegus handbell music. In these times of live-streaming and online worship services, it’s particularly important that we all understand and follow the laws concerning performance licensing and copyright.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying or playing Choraegus handbell music, please look at our Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.