May 9, 2022

Handbells on Mackinac Island, Spring 2022

This spring we were excited to have the opportunity to play handbells on Mackinac Island again! Mackinac Island is situated between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas, and it’s a beautiful place to visit. Cars are not allowed on the island, so it really is like stepping back in time. Horses are brought to the island every spring, and they spend the summer pulling carriages, carrying freight around the island, and giving rides to visitors.

Before this year’s event, the most recent Handbell Musicians of America Area 5 spring conference on the island took place in 2018. We were the featured artists for that event. We had such an enjoyable time there, and we were happy that the event could finally go ahead this spring. This time, we didn’t have the pressure of preparing the opening concert, or teaching classes (although we’d have been happy to teach if we’d been asked). It meant that we were able to do more tourist-things and treat it as a much needed mini-vacation!

The conference started on the Friday, with registration beginning on the Thursday evening. We decided to go across to the island on Wednesday, to give ourselves time to settle in and enjoy some of the sights while it was quiet. This turned out to be a really good idea!

Spring takes a long time to arrive in northern Michigan. On our way to the ferry in Mackinac City, we stopped to look at this huge tower of ice. A nearby signed called it the Ice Tree. The ice had started melting away – but there was still a lot left. This gave us a clue that the temperature on Mackinac Island might be a little chillier than at home in Holland.

Arriving on Mackinac Island

We took the Shepler’s ferry from Mackinac City to the island, and had a short and uneventful journey there. We arrived on the island, and decided we could manage to carry our stuff up the hill to Grand Hotel. The wind was blowing fiercely and it was a lot colder than we’d anticipated. Still, we coped, and soon reached the hotel, where we checked in and settled into our room.

Larry Sue at Grand Hotel Mackinac Island

Each of the guest rooms at Grand Hotel is individually decorated. We were there before the hotel officially opened for the season, so we could peek inside unoccupied rooms! The one in the photo above was ours; below are a couple of others:

Time to explore the island!

We spent Wednesday evening, and most of the day on Thursday, exploring the island. The handbell conference was being held before the hotel (and the island) officially opened for summer visitors. That meant that a lot of the shops and restaurants weren’t open yet. There was a fair amount of activity downtown, though, as the shops and hotels prepared for the influx of guests. We enjoyed walking along the uncrowded streets and beaches, and admiring some of the beautiful houses… and the horses! It’s always fun to play the “which house would you choose?” game. We can all dream, right?

We wouldn’t like to give the impression that this trip was more about a vacation than handbells… but we did have a lot of fun before the event started. There’s so much to see in this part of Michigan! We walked around 15 miles during the first couple of days on the island.

Rehearsing our 8-bell duets at Grand Hotel

We decided to play through some of our 8-bell duets on the Wednesday. We’re thankful to Grand Hotel for allowing us to rehearse in their Cupola Bar, on the top floor of the hotel. It was a lovely place to practise, with views across the lake. Here’s a video of our 8-bell arrangement of Amazing Grace:

If you’d like to see all the videos we recorded at the hotel, you can see them in a showcase on our Vimeo channel.

The handbell conference started on Friday, with the first massed ringing rehearsal and an excellent concert by Quadrants Handbell Quartet. We didn’t count how many handbell choirs were at the event, but the auditorium was full. There were classes on various topics too. We attended one about handbell music for small groups, featuring some of our 8-, 12- and 16-bell music, along with music by other arrangers. It’s wonderful to know that there’s so much music available for small groups now. Fred Gramann was the director for the event, and we had a surprisingly large number of people in the audience for the final concert on Saturday afternoon. We performed pieces by Fred Gramann, Linda Lamb, Sandra Eithun, Jason Krug and Dan Edwards, and all were well received.

Thanks to HMA Area 5!

After the pandemic-related delay, it was wonderful to gather and play handbells on Mackinac Island again! Our thanks go to all at Area 5 of the Handbell Musicians of America – for all the hard work that went into organising this year’s spring conference. It takes a lot of time and effort to create an event like this, and we appreciate everyone who worked so hard to make it a success.

So, when will we get to play handbells on Mackinac Island again? That’s a good question. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we won’t have to wait too long!

April 20, 2022

His Eye is on the Sparrow – for Handbells, 3 or 5 Octaves

His Eye is on the Sparrow is a new handbell arrangement from Choraegus. This popular hymn was written by Civilla D. Martin in 1905, with the SPARROW tune composed by Charles H. Gabriel.

More information about His Eye is on the Sparrow

His Eye is on the Sparrow is for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, Level 3+. Sheet music for this arrangement 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 also gives permission for you to perform, broadcast and live-stream this piece as part of a concert or worship service without the need for any additional license or fee, although we ask you to credit the composer (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). 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 on our Facebook page too!

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. 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. 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.

April 18, 2022

Home at Last – an Original Composition for Handbells

Home at Last is an original composition with a history! It started life several decades ago as a song for SATB choir; part of Larry’s Living Water Composition Project. You can read more about that project on our Choraegus website, and find the choral scores for all the songs. Home at Last is the 54th composition in that project – and it works really well as a handbell piece too!

Here’s our demonstration video, with thanks to Kalamazoo Ringers for letting us borrow their B2 bass handbell. Keep watching, and you’ll see it!

More information about Home at Last

Home at Last is for 5-8 octaves of handbells, Level 4+. Probably the biggest challenges in the piece are the fast glissando-style runs, but they’re not actually as difficult as they look on paper (as long as you don’t over-think them). Advanced handbell choirs will enjoy this piece!

Sheet music for this original composition 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.

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail.

Any questions?

Home at Last original handbell composition

April 11, 2022

Forever – an Original Composition for Handbells

Forever was commissioned in 2012 by Dee Allaway and her family, in memory of her father. It was first performed by Emerald City Ringers, a community handbell choir in the Pacific Northwest. It’s fun to watch their video and see the aluminum bass bells in action!

We recently decided that we were in the mood to take on a challenging video project – so we had a go at playing it ourselves, using just 5 octaves. Here is the result:

More information about Forever

Forever is for 5-8 octaves of handbells, plus handchimes (3 octaves, E4-B5) – Level 5. It’s an exciting piece to play, and advanced handbell choirs will enjoy the challenge! Sheet music for this original composition 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.

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail.

Any questions?

Forever - an original composition for handbells

April 7, 2022

I Surrender All – for 16 Handbells

I Surrender All is a hymn written by Judson W. Van DeVenter, with music by Winfield S. Weeden. It was first published in 1896 in a hymn collection called Gospel Songs of Grace and Glory.

“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.”

Here’s our 16-bell arrangement, recorded when the snow was still on the ground, here in Michigan:

More information about I Surrender All

This hymn arrangement is available in two handbell ranges – G4-Eb6 and C5-Ab6. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers. There are no bell changes, and no techniques that require tables or foam pads.

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

April 4, 2022

A Celebration of Our Life – for Handbells

Larry wrote A Celebration of Our Life for a California couple, in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary in 2008. Their church’s handbell choir played it when they renewed their vows. As we didn’t have a video, we thought it was about time we made one!

About A Celebration of Our Life

(From Choraegus): Fun abounds in this piece, as it describes parts of their story. For instance:

The introductory melody is both thirty beats long and thirty notes long (not counting ties), and it also has three tenuti (three ten.’s = 30!)
Three children are represented as the lines in a three-voice fugue. This fugal melody also appears in the last section as a countermelody.
There’s a bit of theory geek stuff in the final chord sequences:
– In bars 87 and 88: VII + vi + VII + VII + ii + I = 30
– In bars 89 and 90: ii * iii * V * I = 30
– and in bars 91 and 92 (not counting the suspended 4th): VI * V * I = 30

Apart from all that “fun”, the piece is a challenging Level 4, written for 5 octaves of handbells and 3 octaves of handchimes. Sheet music for this arrangement 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.

How to get the music

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. 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 information you need, and we’ll be happy to help.

March 31, 2022

He Leadeth Me – for Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves

We recently enjoyed putting together a video of Larry’s arrangement of He Leadeth Me. Fans of bass malleting will appreciate this one! It’s a useful year-round hymn arrangement, and would be particularly appropriate for a Good Shepherd Sunday worship service.

More information about He Leadeth Me

He Leadeth Me is for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, Level 3. It’s fairly straightforward to play, and a strong bass/low battery team will appreciate the challenge of some malleted running lines. Sheet music for this arrangement 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.

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail.

Any questions?

March 27, 2022

Handbell Music for Palm Sunday

We’re often asked about handbell music for Palm Sunday, and to be honest, we don’t have a lot, so it’s clearly something we need to work on. Here are the Choraegus titles that come to mind, although you’re welcome to look through the website, and you might find something we missed!

All Glory, Laud and Honor (ST. THEODULPH)

We have two arrangements of this popular Palm Sunday hymn: An 8-bell version – for handbells with piano accompaniment:

An unaccompanied 12-bell arrangement:

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (CORONATION)

We have two 8-bell arrangements of the CORONATION hymn tune – a standard version and a “surprisingly easy” version.

Celebration

Setting the mood for a Palm Sunday celebration, this original composition for 3-5 octaves is a Level 1 piece, making it easy to learn, and suitable for beginning or improving handbell choirs. This one is a popular handbell prelude piece!

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN)

This is another joyous Palm Sunday hymn, available as an unaccompanied 8-bell arrangement.

Hark, the Glad Sound!

Suitable for Palm Sunday or Advent, this 12-bell hymn arrangement is a joy to play. The hymn tune is CHESTERFIELD.

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

The ELLACOMBE tune is used for this hymn, also known as I Sing the Mighty Power of God. We have two unaccompanied 8-bell arrangements.

We also have a lively arrangement for 3-5 octaves!

Tell me the Stories of Jesus

This one didn’t come to mind immediately… but sure enough, the Palm Sunday words are in there!

“Into the city I’d follow
The children’s band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand;
One of his heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas,
“Jesus is King!'”

Our 16-bell arrangement of this hymn is suitable for up to 4-8 ringers to play for a Palm Sunday service.

Any suggestions?

If you have any ideas, requests or suggestions for handbell music for Palm Sunday, please get in touch and share your ideas with us!

March 23, 2022

Let Us Break Bread Together – for Handbells, 2-3 Octaves

Let Us Break Bread Together is an African-American spiritual, frequently used in worship services as a Communion hymn. Our new arrangement is for 2-3 octaves of handbells.

If you’d like to play Let Us Break Bread Together, you’ll find the sheet music for this Level 2 arrangement 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.

Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a PDF file, which you’ll need to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail.

Try our free music scores!

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. If you’re at all stressed-out about the prospect of downloading music scores, you may find it helpful to try downloading one of our free handbell music scores first. That way, you can test the process without spending any money!

Any questions?

March 21, 2022

The Strife is O’er – for 6 Handbells and Piano

“The strife is o’er, the battle done;
the victory of life is won;
the song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia!“

The Strife is O’er is a popular Easter hymn, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. Our arrangement of the VICTORY tune needs just six handbells with piano accompaniment.

Please don’t worry about Larry’s arm being in a sling; he’s not injured. The sling is the one he had for his shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, and he’s wearing it only for the video. What else would he do with his right arm otherwise?

This arrangement is suitable for 2-3 ringers. There are no techniques that need tables or foam, and no bell-sharing between ringers – so if you’re still observing social distancing, this piece could work well. Sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. We also have an mp3 piano accompaniment track available to purchase separately. This can be useful if you don’t have an accompanist, or for rehearsing at home.

Other handbell pieces for Easter

We have several other Easter arrangements for small handbell choirs:

Now the Green Blade Riseth – this dual-purpose (Christmas and Easter) arrangement of the NOEL NOUVELET tune is yet more proof that 6-bell music need never be boring. Fans of 7/8 will enjoy this one! For 6 handbells with piano accompaniment.

Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise – a joyous arrangement of the LLANFAIR tune, for 6 handbells and piano accompaniment.

Lift High the Cross – a triumphant hymn of celebration for Easter, for 8 handbells and piano accompaniment.

You’ll find lots more music for Lent, Holy Week and spring on the Choraegus site, so please feel welcome to browse. If you have questions about any of the pieces in particular, please ask us.

More information about our music

Our music scores are 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 the 6-bell arrangement of The Strife is O’er allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score).

Your purchase also gives permission for recording, broadcasting, live-streaming and sharing on video-sharing sites, church websites and social media. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) and the publisher (Choraegus) on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about Choraegus handbell music!

If you haven’t bought music from our site 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. We also have some free music available for download – so if you want to test the score-downloading process without spending any money, that’s a good place to start.

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!