August 25, 2021

Handbells at Bay View, August 2021

Handbells have been a traditional sight and sound at Bay View for many years. The annual Week of Handbells has been part of our lives since 2010. It’s the event where we first spent time together in person, during our long-distance relationship. It’s also where we celebrated our engagement in 2011 (with a cupcake reception). It was our first destination when we closed the distance and started our life together in 2012.

We were disappointed that the Week of Handbells was postponed in 2020, and canceled again in 2021. However, we understood the reasons; a global pandemic isn’t a trivial thing! The Week of Handbells needs a lot of advance preparation. The musicians spend months before the event learning their music, and the bells and equipment must be borrowed from various people and organizations. Participants have to arrange their travel and accommodation well in advance. The director, Fred Gramann, flies to Michigan from his home in France. The decision not to hold the last two handbell concerts at Bay View was a wise and necessary one.

“Definitely not a concert!”

This year, we decided to invite residents and guests of Bay View to attend a “not-concert” in the Bay View Association grounds. We started by playing some of our 8-bell duets, and we answered questions from audience members, about the techniques involved in playing our instruments, and how our shared love of handbells brought us together when we were living 5,347 miles apart. We played a selection of popular hymns, including Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, and I Stand Amazed. There were also some lively secular pieces – our 8-bell arrangement of Chopsticks, and the popular Irish jig Calliope House.

After our duet presentation, some of our friends from the Bay View Week of Handbells joined us for a sight-read of some of our 12-bell music. We were impressed and thankful that so many of the usual Week of Handbells participants were willing and able to join us. Some are based in northern Michigan, but others had traveled from as far as Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska! Together we read through some music that most of the ringers hadn’t seen or played before. It was a fun challenge, and everyone did well. Several people commented that they hadn’t played handbells in over a year, so it was great to get back to it! We played Annie Laurie and Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, among others, and ended with a 16-bell arrangement of God Be With You Till We Meet Again.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this event possible!

We’re thankful to the Bay View Association for allowing us to use the big events tent for this event. It was reassuring to be able to gather in an outdoor (but sheltered) setting. We provided masks, hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes to try to make the event as COVID-proof as possible!

We’re also thankful to the musicians who came along to share their musical skills with each other and our audience. Special thanks go to everyone who helped by bringing bells and music stands.

Thanks also to everyone who dropped by to listen, and to everyone who asked questions, applauded, and encouraged us as we played!

Would you like handbell music at your own event?

As a professional handbell duo, we are available for worship services, weddings, memorial services and Christmas events. We’re members of the Bay View Association, and during the summer months you can often find us on our porch at the corner of Woodland and Pine. If you’d like to book us to play handbell duets at your event (and yes, we’re willing to travel outside of Michigan), please get in touch with us!

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

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 7, 2021

Battle Hymn of the Republic – Patriotic Handbell Music

People often ask us for more patriotic music,so we’re working on it! Here’s our 12-bell arrangement of Battle Hymn of the Republic, also known (especially outside the U.S.A.) as Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory. This one is a real audience-pleaser, and Fourth of July celebrations are only a month away!

Available in two different handbell ranges

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. The music is available for C5-G6, or F5-C7, so you can choose which range will work for your ensemble. A practice track is also available for purchase; useful if you need to rehearse without the whole group. As there are no techniques requiring tables or foam, this arrangement can be played from music stands. In recent months, many handbell choirs have been observing social distancing, and 12-bell music can work well for this. It can also be great for handbell choirs during the summer months when the full group isn’t available.

Where to purchase the sheet music

If you’d like to play Battle Hymn of the Republic, the sheet music is available to purchase and 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!

May 27, 2021

All Glory, Laud and Honor – 12-Bell Music from Choraegus

All Glory, Laud and Honor is our newest 12-bell arrangement. It’s a traditional Palm Sunday hymn, so we’re a little late for this year. Looking on the bright side, though, there’s plenty of rehearsal time before Palm Sunday 2022! It can also be a useful hymn for general use, especially when a lively tune is needed.

No need for tables or foam!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. As there are no techniques requiring tables or foam, this arrangement can be played from music stands. In recent months, many handbell choirs have been observing social distancing, and 12-bell music can work well for this. It can also be great for handbell choirs during the summer months when the full group isn’t available.

The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play All Glory, Laud and Honor, the sheet music is available to purchase and 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!

March 4, 2021

Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above – 12-Bell Music

“Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled
and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.“

Here’s our most recent 12-bell arrangement – Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (MIT FREUDEN ZART) – with another “cloned” demonstration video. We enjoyed playing this one!

Perfect for social distancing!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. There are no techniquest that need tables or foam, so the arrangement can be played from music stands. The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above, the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so you only need to pay once.

Another thing to note is 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?

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!

February 15, 2021

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers – Music for 12 Handbells

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers is our newest 12-bell arrangement. The tune is the traditional Swedish folk tune HAF TRONES LAMPA FÄRDIG, so this arrangement would work in secular performances, as well as in church.

Today is the last of Larry’s 20 radiation treatments. We’ve been driving from Holland to Ann Arbor every day, Monday to Friday, for the last four weeks. It’s a 3-hour journey there, and a 3-hour journey back, through typical Michigan winter weather. Today feels like a good day to introduce a happy handbell arrangement!

Suitable for social distancing!

The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, the sheet music is available to purchase and 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!

February 11, 2021

His Eye is On the Sparrow – 12-Bell Music from Choraegus

“Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me”

His Eye is On the Sparrow is a gospel hymn from 1905. Charles H. Gabriel wrote the tune, and Civilla D. Martin penned the lyrics, inspired by the Gospel of Matthew. Over the decades, there have been many interpretations – and if you look on YouTube, you’ll find lots of them!

Our 12-bell demonstration is at the lively tempo Larry prefers, but if you wanted to play it at a slower speed, that would be fine too.

Suitable for social distancing!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. Also, there are no techniques that need tables or foam, so the arrangement can be played from music stands.

The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play His Eye is On the Sparrow, the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group – so you only need to pay once.

Another thing to note is 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.

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!

February 9, 2021

New from Choraegus – Handbell Music Practice Tracks

Larry’s been busy in recent weeks! Well, we know he’s been busy driving to and from Ann Arbor for radiation treatment, but he’s also been busy with a new project for Choraegus – practice tracks!

This idea was suggested to us by a friend, who also happens to be a customer! We now have practice tracks available for most of our unaccompanied small-ensemble handbell scores (up to 16 bells).

What exactly are the practice tracks, and why might they be helpful?

For a small cost, you get a piano+click track audio version of the score. So you’ll hear the tune, along with a guiding metronome sound. Each click track starts two bars before the first full bar of music (like counting in!) Then beat 1 of each bar is accented slightly, to help you to play along with the score.

These practice tracks could be helpful if you want to rehearse your part of an arrangement on your own, without the rest of the ensemble. For example, if you’re playing an 8-bell duet, you’ll be able to play your part, and hear the whole piece as you play, even if your duet partner isn’t with you. If you’re directing a 12- or 16-bell ensemble and you won’t have much time to rehearse together as a group, your ringers can each rehearse separately along with the practice track.

If you need the tracks at a slower tempo as you start rehearsing, you can download a playback app such as AudiPo or the Amazing Slow Downer, and change the speed of the track to meet your needs.

Make sure you buy the right track!

For our “dual-range” scores, there are separate practice tracks for the G5-based and F5-based scores in the package. We suggest purchasing the music first (the “Score Package). Next, decide whether you’re going to play the G5-based version or the F5-based version. Then come back later and get the practice track to match!

Here are the options, as shown on the screen for an 8-bell arrangement:

Here are the options for an 8-bell arrangement that has a standard and a surprisingly-easy version. Choose carefully!

Any questions/problems?

If you have any questions about these practice tracks, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help. This is a very new project, so if you buy a practice track and it doesn’t work as expected, please let us know, and we’ll fix it for you!

February 1, 2021

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – New 12-Bell Music

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is our latest arrangement for 12 handbells. We had lots of fun playing this one! It has a relaxed, jazzy feel, to take all your troubles away. Well, maybe!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. There are no techniques that need tables or foam, so the arrangement can be played from music stands. The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to six copies for your handbell group. Choraegus handbell 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. Please contact us if you don’t find the answers you need, and we’ll be happy to help!