Category Archives: Handbells and Handbell Music

Available Now – the Second Edition of The Bass Ringer’s Notebook!

The Bass Ringer's Notebook
The Bass Ringer’s Notebook – 2nd Edition!

We’re excited to announce that the second edition of Larry’s book The Bass Ringer’s Notebook is now available for purchase from Choraegus! If you’re a bass ringer looking for tried-and-tested methods or new ideas, this is the book for you! If you’ve never ventured into the world of bass bells before, and want to know how to “sling the buckets” in a way that’s both musically expressive and won’t endanger your physical health… this book is for you too.

More about Larry’s experience with bass handbells

Larry has been a church musician since 1974, and a handbell musician since 1987. He became a bass-ringing specialist when the five-octave bell choir at his church became shorthanded, resulting in a long-term assignment of “CD4, and anything to the left that you can manage.” He’s been a bass ringer at Distinctly Bronze and the Bay View Week of Handbells, and frequently provides instruction as a bass handbell clinician. As the founder, leader, and composer/arranger of Low Ding Zone, the World’s First Bass-Only Handbell Ensemble, he also proved that the upper staff isn’t absolutely essential to the world of handbells. He knows what he’s talking about – so you can buy this book with confidence!

The new edition of The Bass Ringer’s Notebook contains lots of new information and ideas, on such topics as:

  • Lifting, Ringing, and Damping Bass Bells
  • Bass Chime Techniques
  • Table Layout
  • Assignments
  • and lots more!

There’s also a new YouTube playlist of the techniques described in the book, which is a great way to see the techniques demonstrated, in real time and in slow-motion. This book isn’t about giving you a single way to play bass bells; it’s about providing practical options and ideas, so that you can choose the methods that suit you personally. Read it, try the suggestions, and see what works best!

The new edition of The Bass Ringer’s Notebook is available now from Choraegus. This one’s not a file to download; it’s an actual spiral-bound book, which we will lovingly package up and send to you after you place your order. It’s taken ten years for this second edition to appear – but, as all bass ringers know, good things are “worth the weight”!

Larry Sue, author of The Bass Ringer's Notebook
Larry at the Bay View Week of Handbells

New Music for Handbells – Linstead Market

Linstead Market is our latest 8-bell piece. We first played this at Los Altos Lutheran Church, a couple of weeks before we left California in the summer of 2016. We didn’t manage to get a recording at that time, but brought the piece out again for our recent concert in Warner Robins, Georgia. Linstead Market is a Jamaican folk song. It’s also used as the tune to the hymn Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ. Here’s a recent rehearsal video, recorded in our home here in Holland, Michigan.

Where to get the sheet music for Linstead Market

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

Choraegus music comes to you as a digital file to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, so you won’t need to wait for anything to arrive in the mail! Your purchase of this 8-bell piece will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group.

If you’re new to buying music from Choraegus, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to make the purchase process stress-free! Please also read our licensing agreement.

Any questions?

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

New Music for Handbells – Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us is our newest 8-bell title. The piece received its first “performance” at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lapeer, Michigan. We played duets during the two morning services, in celebration of Bell Choir Sunday. We were thankful for the warm welcome we received, and enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the Sine Nomine Handbell Choir too!

Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
At St. Paul Lutheran Church, with the Sine Nomine Handbell Choir

Here’s a video of us rehearsing Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us in our home in Holland, Michigan.

Would you like to play this piece?

If you’d like to play this new arrangement, the music is available from Choraegus.

Please note that when you buy Choraegus handbell music, it comes to you in digital (PDF) format. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group.

If you haven’t bought music from us before, we highly recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed the guide with pictures, to take you through the process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Ask us questions if you need to!

If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, you might like to look at our Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the answers you seek, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

New Music for Handbells – Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)

Sakura is our latest 8-bell piece. It’s a Japanese melody, celebrating the season of cherry blossoms.

“Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
In fields, mountains and villages
As far as the eye can see.”

We performed this piece for the first time at our concert in Warner Robins, Georgia a few weeks ago. After the concert, we drove to Macon, for the Cherry Blossom Festival.

We recorded our rehearsal video here at our home in Holland. The music stand was decorated with tulips, because: a) we didn’t have any cherry blossoms; and b) the city’s Tulip Time festival is coming up!

Would you like to play this piece?

If you’d like to play Sakura, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.

When you buy music from Choraegus, it will come to you as a digital download; a PDF file. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Please see our licensing agreement for full details. Your purchase of this 8-bell piece will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group.

If this is your first time buying music from Choraegus, we recommend our step-by-step guide. This guide will take you through the process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying or playing our handbell music, you might find our Frequently-Asked Questions useful. If you don’t find the information you need, you’re welcome to contact us. We’ll be happy to help!

Sakura - Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossom in Macon, GA

Tigress Rag – Now Available for Solo Piano

In 2011, Bells of the Sound held a composition contest with the theme All That Jazz! Larry’s piece Tigress Rag took second place in the competition. Now, by popular request because someone asked us about it a week or so ago, this ragtime piece in the style of Scott Joplin is available for solo piano!

Here’s a video to show you how it sounds:

How to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play Tigress Rag, you can now purchase and download the sheet music from Choraegus.

When you buy Choraegus music, it will come to you as a digital download. This means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Please read our licensing agreement for full details.

What about the original handbell arrangement?

If you’re interested in the original full-choir handbell piece, you’ll find a downloadable score on Choraegus. It’s a Level 5 piece, for 5-7 octaves. Bells of the Sound played this piece in concert, and enjoyed it!

Any questions?

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

Our Concert Weekend in Warner Robins, GA

Thanks to all at Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins, GA for inviting us to present a concert of handbell duets there.

We arrived in Georgia, and instantly noticed the change in temperature. April in Michigan tends to be a cool month. There’s still snow around in places, and we were totally overdressed for the heat of Warner Robins! Still, we receive a friendly welcome, and were happy to be there for our concert.

Warner Robins - handbell concert by Larry and Carla
Our names in lights. Fame at last!

We played some of our current favorite 8-bell pieces, including several that haven’t yet been published. Here’s the full list of the duets we performed:

Warner Robins handbell duet concert program
Our Warner Robins concert program

After the concert, we played duets during the Sunday morning service at Christ United Methodist Church. Larry also enjoyed the opportunity to be the pianist for the morning!

Larry rehearsing at the piano!

Our weekend also included a trip to Macon to see the Cherry Blossom Festival, and a look at the historic Depot Row in Warner Robins.

Larry and Carla Macon Cherry Blossom Festival
At the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, GA

Thanks to everyone who came to our concert and made us feel so welcome. It was a tiring and busy weekend, but so much fun!

If you’d like to book us to come to your church and perform a concert, please get in touch with us, and let’s see if we can make it happen!

A New Handbell Composition: Coronation and Triumphant Exultation

At long last, we can tell our secret, and share some exciting news. Larry’s new original composition for handbells is Coronation and Triumphant Exultation!

Larry received some wonderful news at last year’s Bay View Week of Handbells. He’s the recipient of the Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award! His mission was to write an original piece for the Bay View Week of Handbells in 2017.

What is the Donald E. Allured Award?

The Donald E. Allured Fund was created in 1993. Donald Allured was a composer and director that handbell musicians will always remember for his outstanding contribution to the art. The fund is used to commission original handbell music. Most importantly, each composition must exemplify the standards and quality that Dr. Don Allured would have expected. For that reason, it’s a great honor to receive this award.

Larry dedicated Coronation and Triumphant Exultation (Crùnadh agus Iolach) to Maestro Carl Wiltse, our leader, mentor and friend. This year will be Carl’s 15th and final year as director of the Bay View Week of Handbells. The piece is a musical story about the accession of a Scottish king to his throne. It opens with a bagpipe-like section played on bells. Next comes a reflective middle section. Finally, a majestic closing section as the king takes his throne, and the people rejoice.

Where to hear this new piece!

2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the Bay View Week of Handbells. The Thursday night concert will feature the very first performance of Larry’s original composition. The concert will take place Thursday, August 17, at 8:00pm. As usual, it will be held at the John M. Hall Auditorium, in Petoskey, Michigan. We’ll post more information as the event approaches!

Would you like to play this original composition?

Coronation and Triumphant Exultation is for 5-8 octaves of handbells, with optional 5 octaves of handchimes. It’s published by AGEHR Publishing (AG58002). Best of all, it’s Level 4, so not as challenging as some of Larry’s other compositions have been!

Larry Sue - Allured Composition Award Recipient
Larry with the Allured Composition Award piece: Coronation and Triumphant Exultation.

Any questions?

Finally, if you have any questions you’d like to ask Larry about Coronation and Triumphant Exultation, please contact us. Larry is always happy to talk about his music. Alternatively, if you’d like to commission an original composition for your handbell choir, please ask!

New Music for Handbells – The Boys of Bluehill

Here’s another one from the archives – recorded during a rehearsal in California in the summer of 2016, before we moved to Michigan. It’s a traditional hornpipe – The Boys of Bluehill.

This tune has an uncertain history. No one seems to be entirely sure if the music is originally Irish or Scottish. Alternatively, it could even be an old American tune that made its way to Ireland and was claimed by musicians there. Either way, it’s fun to play, and not as challenging as some of our traditional Irish jigs. St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and this could work well!

Would you like to play this hornpipe?

If you’d like to play The Boys of Bluehill, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.

When you buy music from Choraegus, please note that you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your music will come to you as a PDF file, and you’ll be responsible for printing it yourself. Your purchase of this 8-bell arrangement will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group. Please see our licensing agreement for full details.

If you’re new to buying music from Choraegus, we highly recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to take you through the purchase process in a stress-free way.

Any questions for us?

We’re always happy to answer any questions about buying or playing our music. Please get in touch if there’s anything you need help with!

New Music for Handbells – Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed

Our latest 8-bell arrangement is the hymn tune Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed. It’s interesting to note that the tune (MARTYRDOM) is an eighteenth-century Scottish folk melody, originally used for the ballad “Helen of Kirkconnel”, which is now more commonly sung to a completely different tune.

“Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?”

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed is particularly suitable for worship services during Lent and Holy Week. This arrangement is straightforward to play, and could also work well as a quartet piece.

Where to find the sheet music

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

When you buy music from Choraegus, it will come to you as a PDF file. This means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group. Don’t pay for more copies than you need!

If you haven’t bought music from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to take you through the process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

Any questions?

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

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed - handbells

New Music for Handbells – The Foxhunter’s Jig –

We recently unearthed some long-forgotten rehearsal videos from the summer of 2016, when we were still in California. Our latest 8-bell piece is an Irish Jig Nead Na Lachan. It’s most often referred to in English as The Foxhunter’s Jig.

We haven’t (yet) managed to play this one with 100% accuracy. In fact, Larry has declared it to be “not the most cooperative of pieces”. But one of us still thinks it’s fun to play! You could make it less exhausting shorter by cutting out some of the repeated sections. We performed it a few times during our street performing sessions here in Holland, Michigan last summer. It was very popular with our audience, as most Irish jigs seem to be.

Feeling insane enough to play this piece?

Honestly, Larry’s really not a fan of The Foxhunter’s Jig. He arranged it, so he only has himself to blame, of course. If you’d like to give it a try, the music is available to download from Choraegus.

When you buy music from Choraegus, please note that the music will come to you in digital (PDF) format. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Please see our licensing agreement for full details. Your purchase of this 8-bell arrangement entitles you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group.

If you haven’t bought music from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide. It will take you through the process, with pictures!

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying or playing our handbell music, you might like to check some Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the information you need, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Foxhunter's Jig - handbell duet
Larry and Carla – The 2017 Downtown Holland Street Performer Series