We celebrated our recent arrival in Holland, Michigan by spending a couple of hours playing our handbell duets on 8th Street. Thank you to everyone who stopped to listen to our music!
We had fun being street musicians in Holland today!
Downtown Holland is a great place to play music. We arrived armed with a street performers’ permit, and a map of approved locations. After that, it’s just a question of finding a spot along the street where you won’t be in anyone’s way. Then you have to park the car in a location not too far from your chosen performance spot. After that, you simply hope that people will enjoy the music you have to offer. We enjoyed playing our handbell duets in Holland today!
8th Street, where we played handbell duets
You can book us to play handbells at your event!
We had some enquiries about our availability to play our duets at other events. The answer is yes, you can book us to play handbells at your wedding, church service, party, Christmas event, wine-tasting… well, the list goes on. We’re new to West Michigan, so we have lots of dates available in the coming months!
Check out our YouTube channel to see some more of our duets. If you’d like to book us for your event, request a copy of our current fee schedule, or have any questions, please get in touch!
At the start of the Fourth of July weekend, we drove out of the San Francisco Bay Area, and headed for the first stop on an exciting and long road trip!
We spent the first couple of nights in Oakhurst, 14 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. On Saturday, we drove into the park to spend the day there.
Sentinel Beach
Yosemite National Park has 1,200 square miles of mountains, waterfalls, meadows and ancient sequoias The views are breathtaking, and there are endless opportunities for walking. If you’re not into hiking in the heat of the summer, you can also to tour the park by car. When you see something interesting, you can get out of the car and follow one of the short trails. These are very accessible, even for families with young children.
Bridalveil Falls
We took the opportunity to play a few handbell duets while we were at Yosemite. It was the Fourth of July weekend, so the park was quite busy. That made it a challenge to find a place that wasn’t too crowded with people. We’ve read that four million people visit the park annually – and we became convinced that most of them were there this weekend!
Eventually we found somewhere quiet, and played our handbells for a while. Here’s a recording of “America, the Beautiful”, which seemed appropriate for the holiday weekend:
This was our second trip to Yosemite since Carla moved to California in 2012. It’s a place that Carla spent years wanting to visit, when she lived in England – and we’re happy to have been able to go there together. It’s truly a breathtaking experience!
Half Dome
For more photos from our weekend at Yosemite, check out our Facebook page!
Children of the Heavenly Father is our latest 8-bell piece. It’s an arrangement of a tune that is thought to have originally been a Swedish folk melody.
We played this hymn for the first time at Burlingame United Methodist Church, California, at their Father’s Day service last month.
Our 8-bell arrangement is straightforward to play, and would also be suitable for a trio or quartet.
Would you like to play this arrangement?
If you’d like to play Children of the Heavenly Father, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.
When you purchase Choraegus music, the music score will come to you as a digital download. That means you’ll be responsible for printing it yourself, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase of this 8-bell arrangement will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell choir. Please don’t pay for more copies than you need!
If you’re not familiar with buying our music online, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to make the process as stress-free as possible!
Any questions?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our handbell music, you might like to check our Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the answers you seek, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Until recently, we thought Chloe’s Passion was one of our favorite traditional Irish jigs. Then we suddenly discovered that it isn’t a traditional Irish jig at all. Chloe’s Passion was in fact written by Dr. Angus MacDonald, a piper and folk musician from Scotland. Now it’s one of our favorite Scottish pieces instead!
Dr. MacDonald was kind enough to give us permission to arrange the piece for 8 handbells – and here it is!
Larry gets the opportunity to play the D5 bell, and we love the richness it adds to the sound of the piece.
More about the sheet music for this arrangement
If you’d like to play Chloe’s Passion, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.
When you purchase music from Choraegus, please note that it will come to you as a digital (PDF) file. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase of this 8-bell piece will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group. Please see our licensing agreement for full details.
If you’re buying Choraegus handbell music for the first time, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed the guide to make the purchasing process stress-free!
Any questions for us?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, please check our Frequently-Asked Questions, in case the answer is there. If you don’t find the information you need, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help!
Here’s a new piece for 8 handbells! Tripping Up the Stairs is a traditional Irish jig. It’s short but oh-so-sweet, and lots of fun to play.
We’ve read that the “tripping” doesn’t refer to the type of stumbling that Carla usually does (more often on the way down the stairs than up, though), but instead refers to dancing with quick, light steps. So much better!
This jig is popular at open mic nights and folk festivals, and we’re pleased to be able to offer this arrangement for just 8 bells.
Would you like to play this tune?
If you’d like to play Tripping Up the Stairs, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.
When you buy music from Choraegus, it will come to you in digital (PDF) format. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase of this 8-bell piece entitles you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group. Please see our licensing agreement for full details.
If you haven’t bought music from us before, we recommend our step-by-step guide!
Any questions?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
We’re excited to be able to add a new video to our selection of handbell duets with organ accompaniment! Over the last few years, we’ve very much enjoyed being part of the music ministry at Los Altos United Methodist Church. We’ve led Monday evening rehearsals with the Alleluia Ringers, and played handbells in Sunday morning services.
One of the highlights for us has been collaborating with some of the talented musicians at the church. We’ve added handbell parts to choir anthems, used our bells to accompany congregational singing, and performed in concerts for the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s been so much fun to hear music played by Senior Organist T. Paul Rosas in the morning services. Paul has written accompaniments to a couple of our 8-bell pieces too!
It’s been a long time coming, but we finally managed to get a video of Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee with organ accompaniment. We’re grateful to Los Altos UMC for this recording from the last of three morning services on May 22nd, 2016:
We also have a recording from the summer of 2015, when we performed this piece in our concert with Philadelphia Bronze in King of Prussia, Organist Ross Boerner is the Director of Music Ministries at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church:
Would you like to play our handbell duets with organ accompaniment?
If you’d like to play Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus. You can buy it either with or without the organ accompaniment.
You might also like to take a look at our other organ-and-handbells collaboration, which we published earlier this year. Come Christians, Join to Sing is also available from Choraegus. We played this on Easter Sunday!
Any questions?
We’re always happy to answer questions about buying or playing our music. If you have questions, please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.
Finlandia is our latest arrangement for 8 handbells.
Some of the history of Finlandia
The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius wrote Finlandia in 1889. It was originally the Finlandia Hymn; part of a symphonic poem. Sibelius then reworked it as a standalone piece, as part of his Masonic Ritual Music. The Finnish poet Veikko Antero Koskenniemi wrote words for it in 1941, and it became popular as a national song for Finland, although not the official national anthem.
In 1752, Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel had written a hymn in German: Stille meine Wille, dein Jesus hilft siegen. In 1855, Jane Laurie Borthwick translated it into English as Be Still, My Soul.
“Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He, faithful, will remain. Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
Another popular hymn sung to the Finlandia tune is We Rest on Thee, written in England by Edith G. Cherry in 1895. This Is My Song is another hymn that uses the same tune, with words written in 1934 by Lloyd Stone. It’s also the tune used for Gweddi dros Gymru (A Prayer for Wales), which is widely considered to be the second Welsh national anthem.
With thanks to Los Altos United Methodist Church for allowing us to rehearse and record this piece in their beautiful sanctuary.
Would you like to play Finlandia?
If you’d like to play this arrangement the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.
When you buy music from Choraegus, please remember that it will come to you as a digital file (PDF). You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase of this 8-bell arrangement will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your handbell group. Please see our licensing agreement for full details.
If you’re new to buying music from Choraegus, you might find our step-by-step guide helpful!
Any questions?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help!
On Easter Sunday we had the opportunity to be part of the celebrations at Los Altos United Methodist Church. We played a couple of our new hymn accompaniments (coming to our website soon!) as well as specially-arranged handbell parts for two choir anthems.
Easter Sunday at Los Altos United Methodist Church
We also enjoyed collaborating with LAUMC’s talented Senior Organist, T. Paul Rosas. Paul recently wrote an organ accompaniment to Come Christians, Join to Sing. We played the 8-bell arrangement with organ and handbells at the three morning services on Easter Sunday. It was a lot of fun! Here’s a recording from one of the services:
Our thanks go to Los Altos United Methodist Church for making this recording available to us.
Would you like to play this piece?
If you’d like to play this piece, the music is available for purchase and download from our music site.
When you buy music from Choraegus, please remember that the music will come to you as a PDF file. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. See our printing guides for more information about this!
If you’re new to buying Choraegus music, you might find it helpful to look at our step-by-step guide. We designed this guide to take you through the process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, you might like to look at the Frequently-Asked Questions. It’s possible that someone else has already asked the same question and received an answer! If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
During our trip to England in February, we enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with a few of our friends from the world of handbells. We’ve already posted about our rehearsal with Pizzazz Handbell Trio and Quartet. We also had the chance to visit our friend Meg from Inspiration International. This is a Berkshire-based handbell project that’s very important to us.
More about Inspiration International
Inspiration International is a project which grew from the community work of Inspiration – an initiative of Finchampstead Handbell Ringers in Berkshire, England. The group’s mission is to enrich the lives of the young and elderly in the Berkshire community. We take handbell music into the lives and homes of those who sometimes feel forgotten by society. Pioneered by Meg, the leader of Finchampstead Handbell Ringers, the group has visited and entertained the residents of many care homes in the area. They have volunteered to share their handbell music with social groups and at community events.
Carla first worked with Meg and Sally from Inspiration when she needed to take a trio of handbell musicians to perform at Heathrow Airport in 2011. The group entertained airport travellers during the busy Christmas rush. Meg and Sally were happy to be involved, and they had a great time sharing their music at the airport.
The trio at Heathrow Airport, Christmas 2011
After that, Carla joined Meg and Sally in taking their handbell music to people in the Berkshire community. They visited many care homes and community groups. Space is often limited in care homes, so it was a huge advantage to be able to perform as a small group playing 4-in-hand. The group was honoured to be nominated for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2012.
When Sally decided to focus on other projects for a while, Meg and Carla started playing duets. That’s when Larry started arranging music for eight bells!
Meg and Carla at the “All the Bells” event in Wokingham, 2012
Carla’s move to California, and Meg’s continued work in the community
When Carla moved to California in August 2012, it was a challenge to see how we could continue the “Inspiration” project across the miles. We really wanted to find a way! So, using the powers of modern technology, we’ve been working together to prepare and record music that Meg can use for performances. From the original Inspiration grew the new Inspiration International. Meg continues to visit care homes and community groups in Berkshire. She adds her live handbell-playing to pre-recorded tracks made more than 5,000 miles away in California.
A happy reunion in England
It’s a rare treat for us to be able to get together and rehearse as a group! Of course, we were determined to find some time to catch up with Meg during our visit to England in February. We enjoyed a lovely home-cooked meal, and caught up on some of the news and chit-chat. Then we dropped Meg right in at the deep end with some brand-new and unpublished 12-bell music!
Here’s a video of one of the pieces we tried; it’s the traditional Scottish melody Flow Gently, Sweet Afton. It’s not a note-perfect demonstration, but it should give you an idea of how the piece could sound, with a little more rehearsal time!
Would you like to play this piece?
If you’d like to play this arrangement, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus. Please see our step-by-step guide and licensing agreement for full information about buying our music online.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Inspiration International, please check out the group’s Facebook page!
Here’s our latest 8-bell arrangement; it’s the popular hymn He Keeps Me Singing.
We know this hymn as a lively and joyful melody. However, we recently read about the circumstances that led Luther Burgess Bridgers to write it – and they were far from happy. He was a pastor and evangelist who wrote the hymn after his wife and three sons had died in a house fire while he was away preaching.
“There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low, Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still, In all of life’s ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know, Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go.”
Our thanks to Los Altos United Methodist Church for allowing us to rehearse in their beautiful sanctuary. It’s the place where we had our wedding ceremony in September 2012.
Would you like to play this arrangement?
If you’d like to play this piece, the music is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.
When you buy music from Choraegus, it will come to you as a digital download; a PDF file. That means you’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. Your purchase of this 8-bell arrangement will entitle you to print up to 4 copies for your group. Please see our licensing agreement for full details.
If you haven’t bought music from Choraegus before, we recommend our step-by-step guide! We designed this in an attempt to take you through the process in a stress-free way.
Any questions for us?
If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, you might like to check our Frequently-Asked Questions. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
