New Music for Handbells – Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley – 8 Bells

Here’s our latest eight-bell piece – the folk hymn Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley. This sensitive and easy-to-learn arrangement is particularly suitable for Lent and Holy Week, but could be used throughout the year. Playable as a duet, trio or quartet, we hope you’ll add it to your repertoire!

Where to get the music, and more information about Choraegus

The sheet music for Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.

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 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.

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 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. Please contact us if you don’t find the answers you need, and we’ll be happy to help!

Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley - handbells

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s our third one together since we closed the distance in August 2012!

Happy Valentine's Day

Of course, we like to think that all you need is love and music, but that’s not exactly true. Coffee, for example. And who can live without cheese? Also a passport and visa, if you’re in a long-distance relationship. And great communication skills, a reliable internet connection and phone signal, and seemingly-endless patience. These last few things aren’t always easy to find, but they help a lot. If you’ve been following us on our Facebook page, you’ll know about some of the things we had to go through in our long-distance relationship. Being away from each other was a huge challenge, but now that we’re together in the same place, we’re glad we didn’t give up. Now we can say “Happy Valentine’s Day” face-to-face instead of on a computer screen… and we know that all the waiting was worthwhile.

Wherever you are in your own relationship, we wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day. If you have your partner beside you, and everything you need, that’s wonderful. If you’re still waiting for all the good things to come to you, hang in there. True love is worth waiting for.

New Music for Handbells – The Love of God – for 8 Bells

Here’s our latest eight-bell piece. It’s a hymn called The Love of God, which has become one of our favorites in recent months. We started learning it while we were raising money for the Salvation Army at the Red Kettle in our local supermarket before Christmas. It was fairly easy to hide it among the Christmas and holiday music. There was a back-up plan that if anyone asked us what it was called, we’d tell them it’s also known as On Christmas Morn.

We also played The Love of God during a church service in Redding a couple of weekends ago. We think this piece could work nicely for a trio or quartet as well.

The Love of God is available for purchase and download from our music site.

More information about Choraegus handbell music

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell ensemble – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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.

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 for us?

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’re looking for, and we’ll do what we can to help!

The Love of God

We Don’t Always Play Handbells. Oh, Wait. Actually We Do

We don’t always play handbells. Hmm. Maybe we do. It might even be an addiction. What do you think?

we dont always play handbells - meme

Do you play handbells too? Would you like to play more?

If you want to spend more time playing handbells, check our our music site, Choraegus. You’ll find lots of handbell scores to keep you busy! Maybe try something new – a solo piece, or something for bass bells. Alternatively, grab an enthusiastic partner and try a 6- or 8-bell duet! Listen to lots of demonstration videos, and find out more about what’s available from our music site. Improve your bass-ringing skills with The Bass Ringer’s Notebook; the ultimate guide to swinging the buckets.

Do you actually NOT play handbells?

If you don’t play handbells, but you appreciate handbell music, there are still ways to get involved. YouTube is full of handbell videos to watch, from choirs all over the world. Another thing you could consider is booking a handbell choir (or a handbell duo) to play at your event. Host a concert, invite us to your worship service, have handbell music at a wedding ceremony or holiday event – there are so many options! Contact us, and let’s talk more about how we can bring our music to where you are.

New Handbell Music – Great is Thy Faithfulness – for 8 Bells

Here’s another new piece for eight handbells – the popular hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness. We performed it for the first time at the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert in Menlo Park in January, and it’s fast becoming one of our favorite pieces to play. It has just the right amount of challenge, without being anywhere close to impossible, and a nice loud ending. This piece would work for four-in-hand duet, or trio or quartet.

If you’d like to play Great Is Thy Faithfulness, it’s available for purchase and download from Choraegus.

Things to know about buying music from Choraegus

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell ensemble – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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.

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 for us?

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’re looking for, and we’ll do what we can to help!

Other news!

In other news… photos from the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert are now on our Facebook page. Coming soon are photos from our trip to a local preschool, and pictures from the Redding Bronze event.

The Redding Bronze Concert is Today!

The Redding Bronze concert is today! Northern California’s premier handbell ensemble has been working hard to bring you an exciting one-hour concert of music you’ll enjoy. Larry is the guest director for this event, and the ringers have come from northern California, Oregon and Nevada to take part.

The Redding Bronze concert today will include a varied selection of handbell arrangements and original compositions. We hope you’ll enjoy Michael Joy’s Dorian Dance, Lee Afdahl’s beautiful arrangement of Beach Spring, and Paul McKlveen’s lively Guantanamera. The performance will take place at 4:00pm at First Presbyterian Church in Redding. There’s no charge for admission, but we’ll be taking a freewill offering to help with costs.

Redding Bronze concert

Any questions?

Redding Bronze is an annual event, hosted by the Carillons Handbell Choir, a Redding-based ensemble. Please contact us if you have any questions, or if you need more information about this event or future Redding Bronze events. You can also get in touch with us on our Facebook page, where will be posting photos from this year’s event. If we don’t have the answers, we can put you in touch with someone who can help. We hope to see you at the concert later today!

On our Way to Redding Bronze!

Today we’ll be taking a long road trip – from Mountain View to Redding – to take part in Redding Bronze. After spending nearly three years in a long-distance relationship, we think road trips together are fun – and we always look forward to this one. We’ll be driving for several hours, and will be stopping en route to search for Cherry Sours, our traditional road-trip snack.  You’ll notice that they have no fat and no cholesterol – so they’re practically “health food”! Yeah, right. But we’re going to eat them anyway.

on our way to Redding - cherry sours

Redding Bronze is a fun and challenging handbell event! It takes place from Friday evening until Saturday evening, at First Presbyterian Church, 2315 Placer Street, Redding, CA 96001. Larry will be directing, and this year’s repertoire is as follows:

  • Moon Over the Ruined Castle – arr. Kazuko Okamoto
  • Beach Spring – arr. Lee Afdahl
  • Guantanamera – arr. Paul McKlveen and Ann Legarde
  • Knowing You – arr. Patricia Cota
  • Dorian Dance – Michael Joy
  • Festive Peal -Karen Thompson
  • I Will Arise and Go to Jesus – arr. Larry Sue
  • Diademata Festal – arr. Bill Ingram

There’s a public concert on Saturday at 4:00pm, and admission is free. If you’re anywhere near the Redding area, we’d love to see you there!

New Music for Handbells – Grizzly’s Peak – for 8 Bells

Here’s a new piece for eight handbells, recorded at the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert on January 23rd. This new piece has been a lot of fun to learn! Its title is Grizzly’s Peak, but there’s a more familiar tune not-so-well hidden in there.

If you’d like to play Grizzly’s Peak, it’s available for purchase from Choraegus. It’s not essential to wear a bear costume when performing the piece, but it helps. Okay, maybe it doesn’t. But you’ll still enjoy playing this piece, which your audience will surely recognize as The Bear Went Over the Mountain.

Information about buying Choraegus music

Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell ensemble – so you only need to pay once. 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.

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.

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 for us?

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’re looking for, and we’ll do what we can to help!

Grizzly's Peak - for 8 handbells

Thank You to Everyone Who Came to the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert

A huge “thank you” to everyone who came to the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert in Menlo Park last Friday! We had a great evening, and very much enjoyed the opportunity to hear Angela Kraft Cross on the organ. Dr Kraft Cross has given over four hundred concerts across the United States. She has also performed in Canada, England, Holland, France, Hungary, Lesotho and Guam. To say she’s an experienced performer would be an understatement!

It was encouraging to have such a large audience in the church on Friday evening. These benefit concerts are a wonderful way to support the valuable work of the Alzheimer’s Association. We’re grateful to T. Paul Rosas, organist at Los Altos United Methodist Church, for inviting us to be a part of this fundraising effort.

Here’s a picture of us in the church before the concert, with Angela Kraft Cross.

concert in Menlo Park - handbells and organ

Over the next few days we’ll be posting more photos and video excerpts from the concert in Menlo Park. You’ll be able to see them here on our website, and on Facebook and YouTube. If you couldn’t attend the concert, it’s not too late to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact us to find out how, and we’ll put you in touch with the concert organiser. Alternatively, you might enjoy taking part in a local Walk for Alzheimer’s event near you!

We’re looking forward to the next Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert. We’ll let you know when it will be happening!

Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert on January 23rd!

Don’t miss the Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert on Friday, January 23rd!

If you love handbells… or if you love organ music… or if you know someone with Alzheimer’s Disease… these are all great reasons to come to this concert. In fact, who needs a reason to go to a concert? Even if you have no particular reason to leave your house on that Friday evening, we’d still love to see you at St Bede’s Episcopal Church in Menlo Park.

We’ll be teaming up with talented organist Angela Kraft Cross to present a varied selection of music. You’ll hear handbell pieces ranging from classical arrangements to hymns and Irish jigs. This Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert is sponsored by the San Jose and PA/Peninsula chapters of the American Guild of Organists. Admission is free, and there will be a free-will offering to support the work of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alzheimer's Benefit Concert

If you have any questions about this event, please contact us. If we can’t help, we’ll be happy to put you in touch with someone who can. Please feel free to share the concert flyer. Tell your friends and family about the performance, and help us spread the word. We look forward to seeing you on Friday evening!