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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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 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.

Any questions?

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 17, 2022

Those Were the Days – for Handbells and Kazoo!

“Those were the days, my friend,
We thought they’d never end,
We’d sing and dance forever and a day.
We’d live the life we choose; we’d fight and never lose,
For we were young and sure to have our way.”

Our latest handbell recording project is an exciting one! The song Those Were the Days was a top 10 hit in 1968, sung by Mary Hopkin. It started life as a Russian song – Дорогой длинною – which translates as By the Long Road. Boris Fomin composed the melody originally, with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky. Gene Raskin put English lyrics to the song, made a few changes to the melody, and a popular song was born! The song has now been recorded by many artists, in over twenty languages… and now it’s available for handbells!

(THOSE WERE THE DAYS Words and Music by Gene Raskin TRO-© Copyright 1962 (Renewed) 1968 (Renewed) Essex Music, Inc., New York, NY. International Copyright Secured. Made in U.S.A. All Rights Reserved, Including Public Performance For Profit. Used by Permission.)

More about Those Were the Days

Our arrangement is for 5-7 octaves of handbells, with some optional additional instruments – mandolin, tambourine, flute, wood block and… kazoo! We asked our expert flute-playing friend Rose Wiersma to join us for our demonstration video. Rose directs the Zeeland Community Band, and we’ve played handbells in some of their performances over the last few years. We didn’t know any expert kazoo players, so we had to play that part ourselves. Our mandolin skills are non-existent (and we don’t have a mandolin), but the interesting “thumb-damp shake” technique in the score makes it possible to manage without the mandolin and still achieve a similar effect. We had a lot of fun playing this piece, and we hope you will too!

Where to find the sheet music

Sheet music for Those Were the Days is available to purchase, download and print 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. See our licensing agreement for full details.

Choraegus handbell music will 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.

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!