Tag Archives: Christmas carol

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – for 8 Handbells and Piano

“God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!“

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is our latest addition to the Choraegus handbell music catalog. This traditional English Christmas carol has the alternative title Tidings of Comfort and Joy. This lively arrangement will be fun for anyone who enjoys mixed meter! We recorded our demonstration video in our Victorian summer cottage at Bay View in northern Michigan.

More information about this arrangement

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is an accompanied 8-bell arrangement. The meter switches between 12/8 and 5/4 to create a lively feel and provide some extra challenge! We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand duet, but you don’t need any special techniques to play it. This piece is suitable for 2-4 ringers, and sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. The piano score is included with the piece, and there is an mp3 backing track available to purchase separately. This can be useful if you don’t have a pianist available, or for rehearsing.

Buying handbell music from Choraegus

Your Choraegus music score will come to you in a download link, as a PDF file. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. You can order the music, download and print it on the same day, and be ready to rehearse!

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. You can find full details in our licensing agreement, and in our instructions about what you’re allowed to do with Choraegus music. 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 enjoy playing our music, please share our website link with other handbell musicians, and help us to get the word out!

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. Just about every question anyone’s ever asked us is there, along with answers. Please contact us if you don’t find the information you need, and we’ll be happy to help.

Gaudete – for 16 Handbells

Gaudete – for 16 handbells – is the latest arrangement from Choraegus. This arrangement is part of our continuing effort to show that music for small handbell choirs doesn’t have to be boring, and doesn’t necessary have to be easy to play. Our 16-bell music is designed for 2-3 octave groups looking for something interesting and challenging for 4-8 ringers. This new arrangement of this 16th century sacred Christmas carol is one that we’d be tempted to describe as “fiendish”, but in a good way, of course.

More information about Gaudete – for 16 handbells

This arrangement is available from Choraegus in two handbell ranges – C5 to C7 and G4-G6. Please check the bells-used charts on the Choraegus page for this piece. Our video shows the C5-C7 version, because that’s easier for 4-in-hand. If you have more than four ringers, you can pick whichever version you prefer. There are no bell changes, and no techniques that require tables or foam pads.

Click here to find out more, or purchase sheet music (digital download) on our Choraegus site.

There is also an arrangement of Gaudete! for 3-8 octaves of handbells.

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 what you’re looking for, please ask us!

Gaudete 16 handbells

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – for Handbells, 3 or 5 Octaves

“‘Twas in the moon of wintertime
When all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead
Before their light the stars grew dim
And wond’ring hunters heard the hymn:

Jesus, your King, is born;
Jesus is born!
In excelsis gloria!”

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, also known as the Huron Carol, is thought to be Canada’s oldest Christmas Carol. It was written in around 1642 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary in Canada. The tune is based on a traditional French song.

More information about ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime is for 3 or 5 octaves of handbells, with optional handchimes. It’s an exciting arrangement with a touch of mystery! There’s lots of activity for the bass bells, and the handchimes add a shimmer of magic.

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.

More information about Choraegus handbell music

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.

Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Huron Handbells

Swiss Handbell Music for Christmas – Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen

There was once a time… for a glorious few hours on a November evening… when we thought we might be able to start planning a performance for a super-exciting event in New York City. We were asked if we had any Swiss handbell music for the occasion, and we started thinking. Sadly, the performance was not to be, but we still made an arrangement of this Swiss Christmas carol. The thing with inviting bookings for the holiday season is that you never know when you might need to play Christmas carols from other countries. We like to be prepared!

Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen translates as Unto Us a Time has Come. It’s a lively traditional carol from the Lucerne region of Switzerland. We performed it for the first time last Christmas, for an online concert (but not in New York City).

More information about this arrangement

Our 8-bell arrangement of Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen is suitable for 2-4 ringers. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand duet, but there’s no requirement to play 4-in-hand, and no need for tables. Our 8-bell music is useful for small-group ringing, or for social distancing.

How to purchase the sheet music

If you’d like to play some Swiss handbell music, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print up to four 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.

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.

Swiss handbell music Christmas

New 6-Bell Music for Christmas – Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Are you looking for Christmas music that only needs six bells and a piano? If so, here’s a lively arrangement of Good Christian Men, Rejoice. Larry had shoulder surgery in May and doesn’t need to wear his sling any more… but he put it back on for our demonstration video. He did it for the sake of tradition, and also because Carla doesn’t want to give up any of the four bells she’s playing.

As with all our 6- and 8-bell arrangements, there are no bell changes and no shared bells. No tables are required, so this music could work well for socially-distant duo or trio.

Would you like to play this piece?

If you’d like to play Good Christian Men, Rejoice, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This can be helpful for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available, or wants to practise at home.

If you’d looking for an arrangement of this carol that doesn’t need piano accompaniment, we also have standard and “surprisingly easy” 8-bell arrangements available from Choraegus.

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchase of a 6-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score). 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. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials.

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 information you need, and we’ll be happy to help!

Good Christian Men Rejoice - handbells and piano

New 6-Bell Christmas Music – O Little Town of Bethlehem

Larry is originally from California, and Carla is from England. In the last ten years, it’s been fascinating to discover how we each use different words and phrases. We still occasionally exchange puzzled looks when one of us says something that seems to make no sense. “More bang for your buck”… “Bob’s your uncle” – we’re still finding phrases that cause confusion, even after so many years together! Another fun discovery has been that some of the hymns and Christmas carols that are so familiar here are sung to completely different tunes in the UK. One of these is O Little Town of Bethlehem. Here, we sing it to the tune ST. LOUIS, whereas in the UK this carol is sung to FOREST GREEN. That’s the tune used for our latest arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem, for six bells and piano.

As with all our 6- and 8-bell arrangements, there are no bell changes and no shared bells. No tables are required, so this music works well for socially-distant handbell performances.

How to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play O Little Town of Bethlehem, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately, for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available, or wants to practise at home.

If you’d looking for an arrangement of this carol that doesn’t need piano accompaniment, we have standard and “surprisingly easy” 8-bell arrangements available from Choraegus.

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchase of a 6-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score), and 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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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 all the answers, and we’ll do what we can to help!

Angels We Have Heard on High – New Music for 6 Handbells, and Piano

Larry’s shoulder is making a good recovery since he had extensive surgery on it in May. He doesn’t need to wear a sling any more, and is gradually building up more strength. Since his shoulder surgery, we’ve still been enjoying putting together new music that only needs six bells. Today, we’re pleased to bring you our latest arrangement – Angels We Have Heard on High.

As with all our 6- and 8-bell arrangements, there are no bell changes and no shared bells. No tables are required, so this music works well for socially-distant handbell performances. The GLORIA hymn tune is also used in the UK as the setting for the carol Angels from the Realms of Glory.

If you’d like to play Angels We Have Heard on High, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately, for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available or wants to practise at home.

We have other versions of this piece!

We have several other arrangements of this carol. All are available from Choraegus, and all are suitable for socially-distanced handbell groups:

An 8-bell (unaccompanied) arrangement

A “Surprisingly-Easy” 8-bell arrangement

Another (completely different) version for 8 bells; same tune, different key

A 12-bell arrangement

An SSA a capella arrangement

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchase of a 6-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score), and 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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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, and we’ll do what we can to help!

Christmas bells!

New 6-Bell Music for Advent and Christmas – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Looking for 6-bell music for Advent? As handbell choirs cautiously plan for the fall rehearsal season, and look forward (perhaps with some uncertainty) to upcoming Christmas performances, we’re pleased to offer another 6-bell arrangement that would work for a handbell duo or trio. It’s the beautiful carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – for six handbells and piano.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.”

If you’d like to play O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This could be useful for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available or wants to practise at home.

Other versions of this hymn, available from Choraegus:

An 8-bell (unaccompanied) arrangement

A “surprisingly-easy” 8-bell arrangement

A 16-bell arrangement

An arrangement for 3-5 octaves of handbells and 3 octaves of handchimes (Level 3+)

Information about Choraegus handbell music

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchase of a 6-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score). 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. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials.

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. If you don’t find the answers you need, please contact us, and we’ll do what we can to help!

6-bell music for Advent - O Come, O Come Emmanuel

New Handbell Music for Christmas – Angels We Have Heard on High

We’ve been playing one of our 8-bell arrangements of Angels We Have Heard on High since Christmas 2014. A couple of years ago, Larry was inspired to write a completely new arrangement of the same carol, in a different key. We’ve played it for the last couple of Christmases, but for some unknown reason, we’ve never made it available on our music site. Finally, here it is!

This arrangement is a little more challenging than the first arrangement, but it’s fun!

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play Angels We Have Heard on High, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. There are three demonstration videos on the same page. If you want this one, make sure you select Standard Version 2 when you add it to your shopping cart! 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 gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming, and sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details. Please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, printed materials, and social media.

Please note that our music is designed to be downloaded as PDFs, so you’ll be responsible for printing your own music. 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 stress-free way.

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 do what we can to help!

Angels We Have Heard on High - 8 bells and piano
Christmas bells!

New Accompanied 6-Bell Music for Christmas – Silent Night

Too early for Christmas music? Can we have a Silent Night for handbells this early in the year? We’ve definitely heard of “Christmas in July”! This seems like a good time to introduce our latest arrangement for six bells, a piano and an optional sling!

We recorded this version of Silent Night for handbells and piano several months ago, in a desperate attempt to make a Michigan spring day look like Christmas. We failed, of course. No amount of red clothing or poinsettia music-stand decorations will disguise the sunshine outside! Well, at least we tried, and you’ll get an idea of how the music should sound.

Feeling Christmassy?

If you’d like to play Silent Night, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately, for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available or wants to practise at home.

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement allows you to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score), and 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 title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites and social media, and in any printed materials such as church service bulletins.

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.

Looking for a version that doesn’t need piano accompaniment?

If you’re looking for handbell pieces that don’t need accompaniment tracks and can be played by 2 – 4 ringers, we also have an 8-bell version of Silent Night that you might like to try!

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 do what we can to help!

Silent Night - handbells and piano