November 13, 2023

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – a new version!

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is a popular 19th-century carol. We recently recorded a brand-new 8-bell arrangement, in the beautiful Crouse Memorial Chapel at the Bay View Association in northern Michigan.

More information about this 8-bell arrangement

Sheet music for It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is available to purchase and download from Choraegus. When you look at the page on the Choraegus website, you’ll see that there are two arrangements of this carol. This one is Version 2. Make sure you add the correct one to your shopping cart! This version is less challenging than our earlier version, and more straightforward for a trio or quartet group to play.

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 you permission to use this piece in online and live-streamed worship services. 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.

Please note that our music 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.

If you haven’t purchased music online from Choraegus before, you might like to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this with pictures, to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a stress-free way.

Looking for more of a challenge?

If you’re looking for a more-challenging version of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, try Version 1, available from the same page on the Choraegus website. This version has a lot more running notes, and is fun to play, but definitely takes a bit longer to get the hang of.

Other versions of this carol available from Choraegus

We did mention that this is a popular carol… so yes, we have other arrangements too. There’s one for 6 bells with piano accompaniment, a popular 12-bell arrangement, and an 8-bell arrangement of the NOEL tune that’s more frequently used in the United Kingdom and other countries. Plenty to choose from!

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!

November 8, 2022

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.

June 16, 2022

Free Handbell Music for 8 Bells – Doxology

It’s been a while since we offered some free handbell music – so here’s an arrangement of the Doxology (Old Hundredth). This tune was first published in the 16th century, and has been attributed to Louis Bourgeois. It’s used as the setting for Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow and All People That on Earth Do Dwell.

Our score package contains two transpositions. The first is in G5-G6, our usual eight-bell range. The second is D5-D6, which accommodates space-line assignments (for a quartet). This is the traditional singing key in most hymnals. There are also two ways of playing this piece, so you can pick the rhythm that feels more familiar to you. We demonstrate both in our video.

This arrangement is offered to you free of charge, as a thank you to everyone who’s supported Choraegus over the years. You’ll find it in the Freebies section of our music site. There’s also free music for Happy Birthday, Dona Nobis Pacem, Auld Lang Syne and several other pieces.

There’s no obligation to make any other purchase from Choraegus to get the free handbell music. Of course, we hope you’ll take a look at other titles we have to offer, but if you want to grab the free music and go, we don’t mind at all. It’s a good way to try our 8-bell music without having to spend any money! Our 8-bell music is designed to be played by 2-4 ringers. If you wanted to play this piece with more than 4 ringers, you could double the notes an octave lower, or add some handchimes.

Instructions for downloading the free handbell music

To get your free sheet music, add it to your cart on the Choraegus site, and click on the yellow “Check out with PayPal” button. Enter your details, and click “Confirm Order” (there’s no need to click on the PayPal button a second time). Then check your email inbox. If the download link doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder, and it might be there.

As always, we recommend that you read the licensing agreement before buying music from us (or claiming your free music), especially if this is your first time downloading music from Choraegus. You won’t receive anything in the mail, and will be responsible for printing your own music.

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!

Free handbell music for 8 bells Doxology

May 16, 2022

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing – for Handbells (1 octave), Piano and Flute

Did you ever watch the Kalamazoo Ringers’ online Christmas concert for 2021? If you missed it, the recording is still available to watch on the group’s official YouTube channel! One of the pieces we prepared for that concert was an exciting mixed-meter arrangement of the Christmas carol Hark, the Herald Angels Sing – for one octave of handbells and piano – with an additional flute part available to purchase separately.

Holland-based musicians Gary and Martha Matthews joined us for this performance:

More about Hark, The Herald Angels Sing

This arrangement uses 12 handbells between G5 and G6. We demonstrate it using 4-in-hand, but if you have more than two ringers, that’s not a requirement. The piece starts with a piano introduction, the flute joins in, and then the handbells join the fun, moving through a variety of meters – 7/8, 4/4, 2/4, 6/8, 9/8, 10/8 and 11/8. It’s a super-fun challenge for capable handbell musicians! If you prefer to play this piece without the optional flute part, it works just fine with just the handbells and piano.

Sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

About Choraegus handbell music

Choraegus handbell music is designed to be downloaded as PDF files. 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 the number copies needed for your handbell group. Please don’t pay for extra copies when one single payment will cover everything! 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 the publisher (Choraegus) on video-sharing sites, social media and concert programs. 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!

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!

March 28, 2022

Go to Dark Gethsemane – for 6 Handbells and Piano

“Go to dark Gethsemane,
ye that feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see,
watch with Him one bitter hour,
Turn not from His griefs away;
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.”

Go to Dark Gethsemane is a hymn for Lent and Holy Week, telling the story of the events in the Garden of Gethsemane, the days leading up to the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. The text was written by James Montgomery and first published in the 1820 Selection of Psalms and Hymns. The tune is REDHEAD No. 76, by English organist and composer Richard Redhead.

Our arrangement of Go to Dark Gethsemane uses just six handbells, with piano accompaniment. Again, no need to worry about Larry’s arm being in a sling; he just put it on for the video. After he had his shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, we started playing 6-bell music out of necessity, and we divided the bells between us accordingly. Now that Larry’s shoulder is working properly again, we could obviously take three bells each – but have you ever tried taking a bell away from a 4-in-hand treble ringer? Let’s not go there. Here’s our demo video:

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 accompanied handbell pieces for Holy Week and Easter

We have several other arrangements for small handbell groups and piano accompaniment:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – a 6-bell arrangement of one of the most profound hymns of all time, for Holy Week, and particularly for Good Friday.

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.

The Strife is O’er – a 6-bell arrangement of the VICTORY tune. Alleluia!

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 Go to Dark Gethsemane 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!

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?

Other handbell pieces for Easter

We have several other Easter arrangements for small handbell choirs:

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).

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!

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!

November 5, 2021

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken – for 8 Handbells

Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken is our most recent 8-bell arrangement. It’s an 18th-century English hymn, written by John Newton, who also wrote Amazing Grace. The tune used for this arrangement is Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser, written by Joseph Haydn – most often referred to in hymnals as AUSTRIA.

More information about this arrangement

Our 8-bell arrangement of Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken is suitable for 2-4 ringers. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand duet, but there’s no requirement to use 4-in-hand. There’s no bell-sharing, and no accidentals to pick up mid-piece, so if you have a small ensemble, this piece can be played with no need for tables or foam pads. Perfect for social distancing!

How to purchase the sheet music

Sheet Music for Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (standard version) is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. There’s also a Surprisingly Easy™ arrangement of this hymn – so you have a choice! Purchasing either of these arrangements 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. We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell 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.

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.

PS If you missed the outtake video of Still, Still, Still that we shared on our Facebook page, now might be a good time to watch it! We apologise for the advertising on our YouTube videos. We didn’t ask for it, and don’t make any money from it. It’s one of the reasons for our gradual switch to Vimeo!

October 17, 2021

The Heavens Declare Your Glory – 8-Bell Music

The Heavens Declare Your Glory is J.S. Bach’s hymn tune FAITHFUL. It’s a versatile hymn for use in worship year-round! Here’s our new 8-bell arrangement:

More information about this arrangement

Our 8-bell arrangement of The Heavens Declare Your Glory is suitable for 2-4 ringers. We demonstrate it as a 4-in-hand duet, but there’s no requirement to use 4-in-hand. There’s no bell-sharing, and no accidentals to pick up mid-piece, so if you have a small ensemble, this piece can be played with no need for tables or foam pads. Perfect for social distancing!

How to purchase the sheet music

Sheet Music for The Heavens Declare Your Glory (8-bell version) 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. We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Choraegus handbell 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.

Looking for full-choir music?

If you’re looking for music for 3-5 octaves, you might enjoy our full-choir arrangement of The Heavens Declare Your Glory. This version is also available to purchase and download from Choraegus.