March 14, 2022

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need is our latest 12-bell arrangement. Isaac Watts wrote the hymn text, based on Psalm 23, in 1719. The tune is the 19th-century RESIGNATION.

Our demonstration video features the two sheep we found in 2011 on our first trip to Empire, Michigan. There’s a store there called The Miser’s Hoard, with a fascinating selection of antiques, gifts and home goods. We liked these sheep enough to take a photo of them, but we were still in our long-distance relationship, 5,347 miles apart. Flying back to California and England with sheepish souvenirs couldn’t be a priority for us.

A year later, we were finally able to close the distance. During our first trip to Michigan in the summer of 2012, we went back to The Miser’s Hoard, and bought the sheep… and now they live in our home with us.

Enough about sheep, though. Here’s our demonstration video!

More about this 12-bell arrangement

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need is suitable for 3-6 ringers. As with most of our 12-bell music, the score is available in a choice of two handbell ranges – either C5-G6 or F5-C7. No special techniques are required, and there’s no bell-sharing, and no need for tables. If you’re looking for small-ensemble music for Good Shepherd Sunday, this could work! Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

Buying handbell music from Choraegus

Choraegus handbell music is 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 please don’t pay for more copies than you need! A practice track is also available separately – useful if your ringers need to practise their parts without the full group being available.

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 arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as church service bulletins. We appreciate your help in getting the word out about Choraegus handbell music – and if you make a video of your handbell choir playing this piece, we’d love to see it!

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?

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!

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need handbells

March 10, 2022

I Sing the Mighty Power of God – for Handbells, 3-5 Octaves

I Sing the Mighty Power of God is the latest offering from Choraegus. The hymn tune is ELLACOMBE; a very versatile tune throughout the church year. It’s also used as the setting for the Palm Sunday hymn Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, and for The Day of Resurrection, and Come, Sing with Holy Gladness.

We had a lot of fun with this piece, and we think your handbell choir will enjoy it too. There’s an interesting challenge for the treble ringers, with the combination of melody notes and thumb-damps, and plenty to keep the bass ringers occupied too. The tune has become a bit of an ear-worm for us in the last couple of weeks!

More information about I Sing the Mighty Power of God

I Sing the Mighty Power of God is for 3-5 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.

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.

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.

March 7, 2022

Handbell Music about Snow!

Snow is a big feature of winter in Michigan. Since we moved here in 2016, we’ve grown to love waking up to snow-covered views from our windows, and having to go outside and shovel the driveway. Larry’s become an expert at using the snowblower, and has even written some handbell music about snow!

We’ve just gone through the time of year sometimes referred to as “Fool’s Spring” here. Fool’s Spring is generally followed by Second Winter. We’ve had a couple of weeks with the sun attempting to shine through the clouds, and the snow has been melting away, leaving us with just the occasional patch of ice, and those murky-looking snow-mountains that accumulate in local parking lots. Just when we start to think that warmer weather really is here to stay… an overnight fall of snow reminds us that winter’s not over yet!

Rather than make another video of the two of us playing this 3-octave handbell piece, we thought we’d show you some snowy scenes from where we live. If you live in a warmer climate and you’ve never driven through snow, our video will give you a view from the passenger seat!

More information about Snow

Snow is for 3 octaves of handbells, Level 1+. 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.

More Choraegus handbell music about snow and winter weather

Good King Wenceslas – an 8-bell challenge for Christmas!

Hoe Leit dit Kindeke (Cold is this Little Child) – a chilly Dutch carol, arranged for 8 handbells

In the Bleak Midwinter – this English carol arrangement is available for 8 or 12 handbells

Jingle Bells – dashing through the snow… for 8 handbells with piano accompaniment

See, Amid the Winter’s Snow – an 8-bell arrangement of this traditional English carol

The Snow Lay on the Ground – another lively English carol

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – the Huron Carol, currently available in two 8-bell versions, but coming soon for full choir!

Winter Dance – a 5-octave, Level 4 arrangement of Seiichi Kyoda’s wonderful, wintry piece

Any questions?

March 2, 2022

Ukrainian Music for Handbells – While on the Sea

While on the Sea is a traditional Ukrainian folk hymn. The original title is Страшно бушует житейское море, but the English title is the only one we can pronounce! We’re thankful to Stephan Bilak (1926-2004) for the English translation:

“While on the sea, hear the terrible roaring!
See how the boat of my life rolls with me;
In fear of death and in deepest of anguish,
Lord, hear my prayer, watch my soul on the sea.“
(This translation ©1974 Abilene Christian University Press)

The hymn is hauntingly beautiful, often sung a cappella without accompaniment – as a prayer to God for protection from the stormy waters of life. There are videos on YouTube, where you can listen to it sung in the original language.

About our arrangement of While on the Sea

Our arrangement is for 8 handbells and piano. The sheet music is available to purchase and download 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 available accompanist, or for rehearsing at home.

Choraegus is donating all proceeds from this arrangement to UNICEF. When you purchase the sheet music, you’ll be helping to support the relief effort for children and families in Ukraine. Please help us to spread the word, by sharing the video with your friends in the handbell world!

More information about Choraegus handbell music

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 (While on the Sea) and arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

If you record your group playing any of our music, we’d love to see your videos!

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 27, 2022

8-Bell Music for Palm Sunday – All Glory, Laud and Honor

Here’s some new 8-bell music for Palm Sunday! It’s an arrangement of All Glory, Laud and Honor (ST. THEODULPH), for eight handbells with piano accompaniment. We think your small ensemble will enjoy playing this one!

More about All Glory, Laud and Honor

As with all our 8-bell arrangements, this piece is designed to be played by 2-4 ringers. There are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece, no bell-sharing, and no need for tables or foam. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but there’s no requirement to use that technique, if you have four ringers! The piano accompaniment will give ringers confidence that even if they miss a note (as we all do, from time to time), the music will still go on!

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’re interested in 8-bell music for Palm Sunday, and you’d like to play All Glory, Laud and Honor, you’ll find the sheet music available to purchase 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 available accompanist, or for rehearsing at home.

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 (Larry Sue) on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins. We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell music, and if you record your group playing any of our music, we’d love to see your videos!

Other arrangements of All Glory, Laud and Honor

If you have more than four people available, you might also enjoy our 12-bell arrangement. Here’s the video for that one! Sheet music is 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!

February 23, 2022

Blest Be the Tie that Binds

“Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.“

Here’s our 16-bell arrangement of this popular hymn:

More information about Blest Be the Tie that Binds

This hymn arrangement is available in two handbell ranges – C5-D7 and G4-A6, making it suitable for a 3-octave handbell choir to play. If you have 2 octaves from G4 to G6 plus the extra A6 at the top, that would also work. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers. There are no bell changes during the piece, there’s no bell-sharing, and no need for tables and foam.

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 title (Blest Be the Tie that Binds) and arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) 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 handbell music, and if you make a video of your performance, we’d love to see it! You’re welcome to share your video on our Facebook page if you’d like to.

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!

February 20, 2022

Rescue – an Original Handbell Composition

“Rescue does not occur only through great violence and clamor;
sometimes it is a candle seen from the midst of terrible darkness”.

Here’s a new video of an original handbell composition that’s particularly special to us. Larry wrote this piece in 2018, and dedicated it to Carla. Rescue was performed for the first time in that same year, by the BronzeFest Choir at the Handbell Musicians of America Area 8 Conference. We didn’t manage to get a video of the final concert performance, so we recently decided to make a recording of our own.

More information about Rescue

Rescue is for 3-7 octaves of handbells, with optional 3 octaves of handchimes. It’s a Level 3 piece, and it could be made more straightforward by playing the whole piece with bells only.

Would you like to play this piece?

Sheet music for this original composition for handbells 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 arranger (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?

February 14, 2022

Five – an Original Composition for Handbells

We made another 5-octave handbell video! Five is an original composition for handbells, written in celebration of our 5th wedding anniversary, back in 2017.

This piece has an interesting story, because Larry wrote it as a surprise anniversary gift. He shared the sheet music with the Carillon Choir at Third Reformed Church here in Holland, and they played it for the first time during one of the morning services. It was such a romantic and sweet gesture. As it’s an original composition, it was easy to turn the music into a nice prelude for the service.

We didn’t get a video of the whole piece that morning, and we decided a couple of weeks ago that it was time to record it ourselves. We published the video in time for Valentine’s Day!

The fun thing about Five is that there are secret 5s in the music – so it’s a bit of a treasure hunt – starting with the number of octaves and the key signatures, of course. Larry didn’t make it a Level 5 piece, though; it’s a Level 2+, and quite straightforward to play.

Would you like to play this piece?

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 arranger (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?

Original composition for handbells - by Larry Sue

February 3, 2022

Level 1 Handbell Music – Newness

We had a request for some Level 1 handbell music – so here’s an update to our recent post about Newness.

Newness is an original composition for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells. It’s turning out to be a versatile piece! If you play it without the handchimes, it’s around Level 2 in difficulty. It’s fairly straightforward, but with a running 8th note/quaver line. If you add the optional handchime part, the challenge level is taken up a notch for several of the bell assignments. Here it is, played in full – the 5-octave version:

Now available in a Level 1 version!

By request, Newness is now available in a simplified, Level 1, version! The 8th note/quaver runs are gone, and the whole piece has nothing smaller than quarter notes/crotchets to deal with. We didn’t make another video for this version, but the audio track is below for you to listen to. As it’s an original composition, there’s also no problem if your handbell choir needs to play it more slowly than we did.

We’ll be looking to see if we can get some more Level 1 handbell music arranged for 3-5 octave handbell choirs. In the meantime, there’s a lot more spring handbell music available from Choraegus, including titles for Lent and Easter – so take a look, and we hope you’ll find something to interest you!

How to purchase the sheet music

Sheet music for Newness is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. Make sure you select the version you need for your choir. In common with most sellers of downloadable sheet music, we don’t usually offer refunds for files/scores that have already been download – so please choose carefully. 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 arranger (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!

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?

January 31, 2022

All Things Bright and Beautiful – Handbell Music for 16 Bells

All Things Bright and Beautiful is an English hymn with lyrics written by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848. It’s sung to several different tunes, the most common being ROYAL OAK. This tune dates back to at least the 17th century, and was first published with the All Things Bright and Beautiful lyrics in 1915.

Here’s our 16-bell arrangement:

More information about All Things Bright and Beautiful

This hymn arrangement is available in two handbell ranges – C5-B6 and G4-F#6, making it possible for 2-octave handbell choirs to play. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand piece, but it’s suitable for up to 8 ringers. If your handbell ensemble is playing from music stands, or observing social distancing, this could work!

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

Other arrangements of All Things Bright and Beautiful

We have more arrangements of All Things Bright and Beautiful, all available to download from Choraegus. Theres:

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 (All Things Bright and Beautiful) and arranger of the piece (Larry Sue) 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.