September 9, 2020

A New 8-bell Hymn Arrangement – Jesús es mi Rey Soberano

Jesús es mi Rey Soberano was written in 1920 by Methodist evangelist and hymn-writer Vicente Mendoza. It’s our most recent arrangement for eight bells! We recorded this video in April, before Larry’s shoulder surgery, and we played it once only. As a result, this sight-read is not a polished performance, but you should get the idea.

Looking at the video now, we can sense our tension as we each tried to make sure we didn’t miss any of the ritardando or a tempo markings in the score!

We enjoyed reading through this piece. We’ll definitely be giving it some more attention in the months ahead, aiming for more smoothness. It would be a fun challenge for a quartet, and could be good for social distancing, since there are no bell changes and no techniques that require tables.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play Jesús es mi Rey Soberano, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. Purchasing this arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group. Purchase also gives permission for you to use this piece in online and live-streamed worship services and performances. 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 on any printed materials.

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.

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!

September 1, 2020

Play Music on the Porch Day 2020 – at Bay View, Michigan

We had a great time taking part in our first Play Music on the Porch Day! This is a worldwide annual event that takes place on the last Saturday in August – but we’d never heard about it until very recently.

It so happened that we were at our summer cottage in Bay View, Michigan on the day of this year’s event… and our cottage has a porch! However, our cottage is next to a busy street, so it’s quite noisy. We decided it would make more sense to borrow a quieter porch, so we headed over to Evelyn Hall, and played handbell duets there for a couple of hours.

As this “performance” was very much a spur-of-the-moment event, we ended up with an audience of just one person, plus some passers-by. It was a good opportunity for us to bring out some of the pieces we hadn’t played since our street-performing sessions in Downtown Holland last summer! We propped a phone up on a table, and managed to get a few videos, admittedly with a terrible camera angle, but you’ll get the idea. The weather started off rainy with a strong breeze, but later the sun came out, and more people started to appear.

You can find more videos from Play Music on the Porch Day on our YouTube Channel!

We enjoyed doing this so much that we’re already planning more random porch music sessions at Bay View. If you missed the opportunity to take part in Play Music on the Porch Day this year, mark your calendars for the end of August 2021!

Play Music on the Porch Day - Michigan handbells

August 31, 2020

New Handbell Music – Simple Gifts – for 6 Bells and Piano

We’ve enjoyed playing music for 6 bells and piano in recent weeks. Larry has recovered sufficiently from shoulder surgery that he doesn’t need to wear a sling any more. Still, we’re enjoying this music. Larry’s been focusing on creating accompanied handbell music that’s interesting for the pianist too! Here’s a 6-bell arrangement we recorded in June – the popular hymn Simple Gifts.

This lively arrangement works well as a duet, but could also be played by a trio, with social distancing as required. If you’d like to play it, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. An mp3 piano accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately; useful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse at home.

More information about Choraegus handbell music

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 music for 6 bells and piano 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 such as church service bulletins.

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 everything we can to help!

music for 6 bells and piano - Simple Gifts

August 26, 2020

Free Handbell Music – The Spider Song – for 8 Bells

Here’s some free handbell music, as a thank you to everyone who’s purchased music from Choraegus this summer. It’s been a strange season for us, and for many other handbell musicians, as so many spring and summer performances were cancelled, and the upcoming fall/Christmas season still feels a little uncertain. We’ve been thankful that we have bells at home and plenty of music to play.

Handbell duets on the porch

We’ve also been enjoying spending time at our Victorian summer cottage in northern Michigan, where we can play handbell duets on the porch, to the sound of cars and trucks thundering past on US-31. The residents in 1887 never had to worry about traffic noise!

Yay! Free music!

This week we have another free 8-bell arrangement to offer you. Whether you call it Incy Wincy Spider or Itsy Bitsy Spider, you should recognise this early 20th-century children’s song. You can find our arrangement in the Freebies section of our music site. You’ll also find free music for Happy Birthday, Auld Lang Syne, Dona Nobis Pacem, and Alouette. In addition, there are printable covers for anyone who’s storing their 8-bell music in binders.

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’d rather just grab the free music and go, we don’t mind at all. It’s a good way to try our eight-bell music without having to spend any money! The Spider Song (or any of our other 8-bell pieces) could be a good way for a duo, trio or quartet to play some music that doesn’t have any bell changes, accidentals, or techniques that need tables or foam; perfect for social distancing!

To get your free sheet music, add The Spider Song to your cart on the Choraegus site, and click on the yellow “Check out with PayPal” button (don’t worry; PayPal won’t ask you to make any payment). 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. If anything goes wrong, please let us know, and we’ll find another way to get your music to you.

More information (the small print)

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!

August 20, 2020

New Handbell Music – 4th Surprisingly-Easy 8-Bell Christmas Collection

We’re pleased to announce the arrival of our 4th Surprisingly-Easy 8-Bell Christmas Collection!

We refer to our Surprisingly-Easy arrangements as “All of the music, but without the twiddly bits” If you’re looking for some new handbell pieces to enhance your worship service, but you don’t want them to take too long to learn, this collection could be the answer. If you’re part of a duo, trio or quartet, or you’re looking for music that your handbell choir can play while social distancing, these hymns could be what you’re looking for. These simple 8-bell arrangements are also ideal for holiday gigs! They’re great for playing at Salvation Army Red Kettles, or in places where space is limited. Forget tables and foam pads; simply take along your bells, sheet music, and music stands, and you’re all set!

What’s in the collection?

This 4th Surprisingly-Easy Christmas Collection includes some of the more unusual Christmas carols from around the world:

Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
From Starry Skies Descending
O du Fröhliche
Pat-a-Pan
People, Look East
The Angel Gabriel
The Friendly Beasts
Joy to the World

How to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play any of these arrangements, sheet music for the collection and each individual title is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site.

As always, we recommend that you read the licensing agreement before buying music from us, especially if this is your first time downloading music from Choraegus. Please also 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. Purchasing an eight-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to four copies for your handbell group, and also gives you permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and sharing online.

Other hymn collections and Christmas collections are also available from Choraegus, as well as our standard eight-bell arrangements – some more challenging than others.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, please check our Frequently-Asked Questions first. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to help.

Handbell duo Larry and Carla - Christmas Handbells at Ridge Point Community Church, Holland, MI

August 17, 2020

New Handbell Music – 6-Bell Nyanyikanlah

Nyanyikanlah is our latest 6-bell arrangement. It’s a traditional Indonesian Batak melody that’s fun to play! It’s the setting for Hallelujah! Sing Praise to Your Creator, with English lyrics by David James Diephouse and Indonesian lyrics (Nyanyikanlah nyanyian baru bagi) by Tilly Lubis.

This cheerful 6-bell arrangement works well as a duet, but could be played with a trio of three ringers too. Perfect for social distancing!

How to get the sheet music for Nyanyikanlah

If you’d like to play Nyanyikanlah, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. An mp3 piano accompaniment track is also available to purchase separately. This can be helpful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse 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 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.

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!

August 10, 2020

New Handbell Music – Be Thou My Vision – for 8 Bells and Piano

Our 8-bell arrangement of Be Thou My Vision was commissioned earlier this summer for the Jubilate Ringers at St Anne’s Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. The Irish hymn tune SLANE is also the setting for the popular hymn Lord of All Hopefulness. We enjoyed making the demonstration video of this accompanied arrangement; it’s the first 8-bell duet we’ve played since Larry had his shoulder surgery in May!

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light“

Your handbell choir could play this arrangement as a duet or trio, or as a quartet with each ringer holding two bells. There are no bell changes, and there are no techniques that need tables or foam. This piece could be ideal for playing from music stands, spaced apart to allow for social distancing.

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play Be Thou My Vision, 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 useful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse 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, 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. If you don’t find the answers you need, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to help!

Be Thou My Vision - handbells and piano accompaniment

August 3, 2020

New Handbell Music – Kingsfold, arranged for 6 Bells and Piano

Kingsfold is one of the pieces we performed in the virtual concert at the recent HMA Area 12 “Handbell Encounters” conference.

Kingsfold is an old English tune, also known as Dives and Lazarus. We use it as the setting for the hymns I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say and When Life Well Lived Is At An End. It’s also the Christmas carol O Sing a Song of Bethlehem. People in folk circles know the song as the Irish ballad The Star of the County Down, and also as My Love Nell. Yes, it’s a very versatile tune!

Our 6-bell arrangement is suitable for 2 or 3 ringers to play. Handbell groups are looking for ways to keep playing, with fewer people and social distancing – and this is one of the ways!

Would you like to play this piece?

If you’d like to play Kingsfold, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. You can also purchase a separate mp3 accompaniment track. This could be useful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse at home.

Important information about Choraegus music

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 a 6-bell arrangement allows you to print 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.

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!

July 27, 2020

New Accompanied 6-Bell Music – Hyfrydol

We used to live in California before we moved to Michigan. We were excited to receive an invitation to teach and/or perform at the recent Handbell Musicians of America Area 12 online conference! We’re officially in Area 5 now, but our Area 12 friends will always hold a special place in our heart.

At the time the invitation arrived, Larry had only just had his shoulder surgery. For that reason, we didn’t feel ready to offer an online class. Instead, we prepared two brand-new 6-bell pieces for the virtual concert at the end of the conference. Hyfrydol is the first of those that we’d like to share with you.

A versatile secular and hymn tune!

Hyfrydol is a much-loved Welsh song, often used as a setting for the hymns Alleluia, Sing to Jesus, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. Our 6-bell arrangement could be played as a duet, or by a trio of three ringers if you prefer just two bells each. People have said that our six-bell music has been useful for handbell duos where one ringer is more experienced with 4-in-hand technique than the other, but you could just as easily have three bells each. Of course, if one of the ringers is wearing a sling, you have fewer options!

If you’d like to play Hyfrydol, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus, our music site. You can also purchase an mp3 accompaniment track. This could be useful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse 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 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 such as church service bulletins.

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!

July 24, 2020

Christmas Handbell Duets at the Kerstmarkt-Holland

November 27 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm UTC

Larry and Carla will be playing Christmas handbell music at the Kerstmarkt – an open-air European-style Christmas market located at the 8th Street Marketplace in Downtown Holland. Come and listen to beautiful festive music as you shop for unique, handcrafted gifts and locally-made holiday treats. Coffee and hot cider will be available to help you stay warm!

Free Event is free to attend, but tips for the musicians are always appreciated!