Choraegus handbell music is now on Sheet Music Plus!

This year has seen an exciting development; after years of publishing handbell music only on our Choraegus website, Larry has branched out, just slightly, and now has several pieces available from Sheet Music Plus. The SMP site has been a huge help when arranging titles that are still under copyright, especially when communicating with copyright holders directly proved to be less than successful.

What’s available on Sheet Music Plus?

Winter Wonderland

We’re excited about two recent Christmas arrangements! The first is Larry’s arrangement of Winter Wonderland. Richard Bernhard Smith wrote the lyrics for this song in 1934, and Felix Bernard added the tune. There have now been more than 200 covers of this music!

Sleigh bells ring – are you listenin’?
In the lane snow is glist’nin’,
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight.
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland!

Our five-octave handbell arrangement is Level 5, which makes it a fun challenge for handbell choirs. We enjoyed making our demonstration video!

Click here to find out more, or purchase Winter Wonderland for your handbell group!

I Wonder as I Wander

The second Christmas arrangement is I Wonder as I Wander. In 1933, John Jacob Niles heard a bit of music from Annie Morgan, a Appalachian girl, and used it as the basis of his song. This medium-difficulty arrangement for just 8 handbells provides ample room to express the interpretation of the carol. Two transpositions, F5-A6 and Eb5-G6, are provided, the latter fitting within the range of a two-octave set of handbells. We enjoyed having a snowy backdrop for our demonstration video, because the snow arrived early in Michigan last winter, and stayed for a while!

I Wonder as I Wander is available from Sheet Music Plus.

Carol of the Drum

Continuing with Christmas music, Carol of the Drum is one of our most popular 8-bell arrangements. Written by Katherine Davis in 1941, the tune is based on a traditional Czech Christmas carol, and most often known as Little Drummer Boy. Our 8-bell arrangement is available in two versions; one more straightforward than the other.

Click here for more information about the standard version of Carol of the Drum

Click here for the “surprisingly easy” version

Bring Me Sunshine

Bring Me Sunshine was written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee in 1966. In the UK, it was used for many years as the theme song for the popular comedy show Morecambe & Wise. Larry’s arrangement is for 3 octaves of handbells, and it’s fun to play. If you need a charming, lighthearted selection for your spring program, this Level 3 arrangement fills the bill!

Click here to find Bring Me Sunshine on Sheet Music Plus

Cavatina

The beautiful, haunting classical guitar work Cavatina was written by Stanley Myers. It was based on music originally written for the movie The Walking Stick in 1970. Myers expanded the piece, and it was recorded by guitarist John Williams. It’s now most famous as the theme tune for the 1978 film The Deer Hunter.  Larry’s arrangement of Cavatina is for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells.

You’ll find the score for Cavatina on Sheet Music Plus.

Enjoy browsing Sheet Music Plus!

We hope you’ll enjoy browsing our selection of handbell music on Sheet Music Plus. You’ll find more of Larry’s arrangements there soon! If there are any popular songs you’d like to see an arrangement for, you’re always welcome to contact us to suggest it. As always, if you have any questions, please let us know!

Winter Wonderland handbell music Sheet Music Plus

New 2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus

We’re excited to add some new 2-octave hymn arrangements to the Choraegus website! We enjoyed making demonstration videos of all these new titles, which are accessible arrangements that range from Level 2- to Level 3+. Even though only two octaves of handbells are needed for these pieces, they have a full sound, and enough challenge to keep life interesting, without being overwhelming. If you’re already making plans for Christmas worship services, you might also like to take a look at our recent Christmas arrangements for 2 octaves.

Here are the newest arrangements, with links to the relevant pages on our music site, and demonstration videos:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

This is a Level 2 arrangement of the ROYAL OAK hymn tune. It’s a lively arrangement, with thumb-damping to add to the joyous mood. Watch our demonstration video below, and find more information on the Choraegus website.

For the Beauty of the Earth

The hymn tune DIX has always been an interesting one to us, as a US/UK couple. Here in the USA, it’s used here as a year-round hymn, but in the UK it’s more often used with the text As With Gladness, Men of Old, and sung as an Epiphany carol. Whichever version you decide to use, this is an accessible Level 2- arrangement, and you can find it on the Choraegus website. Here’s our demonstration video:

It Is Well With My Soul

This is a popular hymn by Horatio Spafford and Philip Bliss. The tune is VILLE DU HAVRE, and this arrangement is Level 2+. Our demonstration video is below, and you can find the music available to download from the Choraegus website.  

My Jesus, I Love Thee

The hymn tune GORDON is from the 19th century. You can find the music for this gently flowing arrangement on the Choraegus website, and watch our demonstration video below:

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need is sung to the hymn tune RESIGNATION, and the lyrics are based on Psalm 23. It’s a popular hymn for Good Shepherd Sunday. Our 2-octave Level 2 arrangement is available to download from Choraegus.

O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

This is a hymn that dates all the way back to a 15th-century Latin text by an unknown author. The tune is DEO GRACIAS, also sometimes known as AGINCOURT. This new 2-octave arrangement is Level 3-, and you can find it on the Choraegus website.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

LOBE DEN HERREN is a 17th-century German hymn. This new 2-octave Level 3 arrangement is available from Choraegus. You can watch our demonstration video below:

That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright

That Easter Day uses the 15th-century hymn tune PUER NOBIS. Interestingly, this tune is also used for the Advent hymn On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry, so this arrangement can easily be used for both those occasions in the church year! It’s a lively Level 2+ arrangement, available to download from Choraegus. Here’s our demonstration video:

When Morning Gilds the Skies

This is the hymn tune LAUDES DOMINI. It’s another Level 2 arrangement that we enjoyed playing. Watch our demonstration video below, or click on this link to find When Morning Gilds the Skies on the Choraegus site!

Other 2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus

We have other 2-octave arrangements available too! Click on each title to find more information and demo videos:

Be Thou My Vision (SLANE)

Blessed Assurance (ASSURANCE)

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (NETTLETON)

ENGELBERG (When In Our Music God is Glorified, All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King Divine)

Eternal Father, Strong to Save (MELITA)

How Great Thou Art (O STORE GUD)

Kum Ba Yah

Lift High the Cross (CRUCIFER)

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place (LANDÅS)

Now Thank We All Our God (NUN DANKET)

Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)

The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended (ST. CLEMENT)

WOODLANDS

CLICK HERE FOR CHRISTMAS 2-OCTAVE MUSIC!

How to purchase 2-octave arrangements

Music scores for our 2-octave arrangements are 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 permission to print up to 15 copies for your group.

Please note that Choraegus handbell music is designed to come to you as a downloadable PDF file. 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.

Your purchase of the full-choir license also allows you to perform, broadcast and live-stream the piece as part of a concert or worship service. There’s no need for any additional license or fee. We ask that you credit the arranger (Larry Sue) and publisher (Choraegus) in any printed media such as concert programs, and online (in video descriptions). Please 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 by email or on our Facebook page!

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.

2-octave hymn arrangements from Choraegus handbells