Tag Archives: small ensemble

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

12- and 16-Bell Music for Christmas

We’ve recently had several enquiries about 12- and 16-bell music for Christmas. This type of music can be useful for small ensembles, or for choirs that still need music suitable for social distancing. Here’s what’s currently available from Choraegus; click on a title to find out more about each piece!

12-bell Christmas music

Angels We Have Heard on High

The Christmas carol Angels We Have Heard on High is sung to the French tune GLORIA. It’s a carol of rejoicing!

Angels, from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE)

Here’s a moderately challenging arrangement that will add to your Christmas ringing!

As with Gladness Men of Old (DIX)

Here’s our 12-bell arrangement(s) of the 19th-century Epiphany carol As with Gladness Men of Old, sung to the hymn tune DIX. This versatile arrangement can also be played with the title For the Beauty of the Earth – suitable for more than just the holiday season!

Away in a Manger (MURRAY)

There are several tunes for Away in a Manger, but this is the melody that’s most often sung in the USA.

Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella

In the French carol Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella, a young girl is sent to bring a torch/candle to bring light to the stable where the Christ Child sleeps.

Ding Dong, Merrily on High

Ding Dong, Merrily on High is a 16-century tune that we now sing as a Christmas carol. It’s especially popular with handbell people, and audiences too!

In the Bleak Midwinter

Here’s our arrangement of Gustav Holst’s famous Christmas song In the Bleak Midwinter. For handbells and piano.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Edmund Sears wrote the words to It Came Upon the Midnight Clear in 1849, and it’s sung on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (just with different tunes). This arrangement is to the American melody, CAROL, composed by Richard Storrs Willis.

Still, Still, Still

Our piano-accompanied, twelve-bell version of Still, Still, Still will be a nice addition to your collection of Christmas music! Please note, however, that it’s in G major (i.e. with F#5 and F#6) rather than the usual C major. For handbells and piano.

We Three Kings

We Three Kings tells of special visitors on the first Epiphany. It’s often sung as a carol throughout the Christmas season.

What Child is This/Greensleeves

This versatile English melody can be played with the Christmas title, but also as a secular piece at any time of year!

16-bell Christmas music

From a Distant Home (ISLA DEL ENCANTO)

This joyous Puerto Rican Christmas carol From a Distant Home fits beautifully into sixteen bells!

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL)

This beautiful Advent carol is an interesting and fun challenge for 16 handbells!

The First Nowell

Our 16-bell arrangement of The First Nowell is an exciting and lively celebration of Christmas!

Sleeping Beauty Waltz

It’s not a traditional Christmas tune, strictly speaking, but if you’re looking for a secular piece for a holiday performance, this arrangement from Tchaikovsky’s ballet could fit the bill!

Wexford Carol

If you’re a fan of unusual Christmas carols, and rich, dissonant chords, you’ll enjoy this arrangement of a traditional Irish Christmas song.

More about Choraegus handbell music

Music from Choraegus is designed to come to you as a PDF file, ready for you to download. You’ll be responsible for printing your own music, and you won’t receive anything in the mail. You can purchase music, download it on the same day, and be ready for your next rehearsal without having to wait!

Purchasing a 12-bell arrangement gives you permission to print up to 6 copies of the music for your handbell group. If you purchase a 16-bell arrangement, you can print up to 8 copies. 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.

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 and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.

Any questions?

We hope you’ll enjoy playing some 12- and 16-bell music this Christmas! 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!

16-bell music for Christmas
Christmas bells!

He Leadeth Me – 12-Bell Music from Choraegus

He Leadeth Me is a hymn composed in 1862 by William Bradbury, with lyrics by Joseph H. Gilmore. The hymn was inspired by the words of Psalm 23. Here it is, arranged for 12 handbells:

12-bell music can be a great summer project!

We often hear from handbell directors and musicians about continuing to rehearse and play during the summer months, when the full group isn’t always available. 12-bell music can be useful for these occasions. Choraegus 12-bell music is designed to be interesting to play, with some level of challenge. Small-group music doesn’t have to be boring! We demonstrate this piece using 4-in-hand, because there are only two of us, but the arrangement is suitable for 3-6 ringers, with no special techniques required. It would sound pretty on handchimes too!

Two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Would you like to play He Leadeth Me?

If you’d like to play He Leadeth Me (12-bell version), the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

When you buy Choraegus handbell music, please note that it’s 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 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 such as concert programs.

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.

Other versions of this hymn are available

If you don’t have a large enough ensemble to play He Leadeth Me – 12-bell version, we also have an 8-bell arrangement of this hymn, suitable for 2-4 ringers. Alternatively, if you have an entire handbell choir, you might enjoy our 3- or 5-octave arrangement, also 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!

He Leadeth Me 12-bell

All Glory, Laud and Honor – 12-Bell Music from Choraegus

All Glory, Laud and Honor is our newest 12-bell arrangement. It’s a traditional Palm Sunday hymn, so we’re a little late for this year. Looking on the bright side, though, there’s plenty of rehearsal time before Palm Sunday 2022! It can also be a useful hymn for general use, especially when a lively tune is needed.

No need for tables or foam!

As with all Choraegus 12-bell arrangements, this piece has no bell-sharing, and there are no accidentals to pick up mid-piece. As there are no techniques requiring tables or foam, this arrangement can be played from music stands. In recent months, many handbell choirs have been observing social distancing, and 12-bell music can work well for this. It can also be great for handbell choirs during the summer months when the full group isn’t available.

The music is suitable for 3-6 ringers, and two versions are available – either using bells C5-G6 (as in our demo video), or using F5-C7.

Where to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play All Glory, Laud and Honor, the sheet music is available to purchase and download from Choraegus.

When you buy Choraegus handbell music, please note that it’s 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 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 such as concert programs.

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!

Count Your Blessings – for 8 Handbells and Piano

It’s been a while since we published any new accompanied 8-bell music – so here’s a lively arrangement of Count Your Blessings, for handbells and piano. This piece could work well for a Mother’s Day or spring worship service!

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.“

As with all our 8-bell arrangements, this piece involves no bell changes, no picking-up of accidentals mid-piece, and no shared bells. You won’t even need tables or foam!

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play Count Your Blessings, 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; useful if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or if you want to rehearse at home without the rest of your ensemble.

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

Count Your Blessings - handbells

New 8-Bell Music – The Ash Grove / Let All Things Now Living

Here’s our latest 8-bell arrangement – the traditional Welsh tune The Ash Grove. This melody also used as the setting for the hymn Let All Things Now Living. We prepared this video in May, before Larry had his shoulder surgery, as offertory music for our church’s online Zoom service.

We’re playing this arrangement as a four-in-hand duet, of course – because there are only two of us. However, it could also work for a trio or quartet, playing from music stands, with no bell sharing. It’s an ideal piece for social distancing!

How to get the sheet music

If you’d like to play this hymn arrangement, 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 – so you only need to pay once. You can also 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.

Other options to consider

If you’re looking for a version of this piece suitable for a larger handbell choir, we have two other options you might like to consider:

Let All Things Now Living/The Ash Grove – a Level 3 arrangement for 3-5 octaves of handbells.

Let All Things Now Living – Available from From the Top Music, this fun and challenging arrangement is written in 11/8 time and filled with rhythmic changes and stopped techniques. It’s a lively and exciting arrangement for 5-7 octaves of handbells and 3 octaves of handchimes – the perfect Level 5+ piece for an advanced handbell choir.

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.

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 do what we can to help!

The Ash Grove - Let All Things Now Living

New 8-Bell Music from Choraegus – I Want Jesus to Walk With Me

Thanks to everyone who’s been playing our music during this time of social distancing. Our latest 8-bell arrangement is the hymn I Want Jesus to Walk With Me. We recorded our demo video in March, before Larry had his shoulder surgery… and wow, doesn’t it look cold outside those windows? Now that summer has arrived in Michigan, we’re used to seeing the trees much less bare-looking!

This African-American spiritual is a song of lament, but also an assurance that Jesus walks beside anyone who’s suffering. It’s often heard during Lent and Holy Week, but can be used year-round in worship services.

“I want Jesus to walk with me,
I want Jesus to walk with me,
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trial, Lord, walk with me,
In my trials, Lord, walk with me,
When the shades of life are falling,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my troubles, Lord walk with me,
In my troubles, Lord walk with me,
When my life becomes a burden,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.”

Would you like to play this piece?

This arrangement is straightforward to play, and could also be suitable for a handbell trio or quartet. 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 – so you only need to pay once – and to use this piece in online and live-streamed worship services. 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.

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, 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!

I Want Jesus to Walk With Me - 8 handbells

New Accompanied 6-Bell Music – Canto de Esperanza / Song of Hope

Larry’s recovery from shoulder surgery is going well! He’s been seeing a physical therapist, and doing exercises throughout the day. It will still be a while before he can go back to playing our 8-bell duets, or picking up those heavy bass bells. In the meantine, he’s been enjoying the challenge of writing some music that only uses six bells. The sling is optional, of course.

Our latest 6-bell hymn arrangement is the popular traditional folk tune ARGENTINA. It’s the setting for the hymn Song of Hope, or Canto de Esperanza, with lyrics by Alvin Schutmaat. Suitable for any time of year, this lively piece will bring joy and hope to a worship service.

If you’d like to play Canto de Esperanza, 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.

Things to know 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 this 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. 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.

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!

Canto de Esperanza - Song of Hope - for handbells

New 12-Bell Music – Give Me Jesus

Larry’s been writing a lot of new music in recent weeks, as he continues his recovery from surgery. His son J.C. recently came to visit (currently studying in Alabama). We enjoyed an opportunity to play through a few of the new 12-bell titles. The first to be available from Choraegus is the African-American spiritual Give Me Jesus.

New 12-bell music – Give Me Jesus

This piece proved not to be too difficult for the three of us to play, and would also work for six people with two bells each, of course. The video was recorded on only our third attempt at playing the piece – so it’s not perfect, but you’ll get a good idea of how it sounds. We’re playing the C5 to G6 version, but (as with all our 12-bell pieces) it’s also available for F5 to C7.

Would you like to play Give Me Jesus?

If you’d like to play this piece, the sheet music is available to purchase, download and print from Choraegus. If you’re new to buying Choraegus handbell music, we recommend our step-by-step guide. We designed this to keep the buying process as stress-free as possible!

Any questions?

If you have any questions about buying or playing our music, please get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to help. We also have a list of Frequently-Asked Questions!

We hope you’ll enjoy playing this piece. More 12-bell arrangements will be coming soon!

Give Me Jesus - 12-bell music

Handbell Music Suggestions for Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter

It’s that time of year when people start contacting us to ask about handbell music for Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter. Here are a few suggestions!

For full handbell choir, we have an original composition called “Meditation“, with the alternative title “Lenten Piece”. It’s a thoughtful and contemplative piece for 2-5 octaves of handbells. This demonstration video is by Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble.

This piece is available for purchase and download from Choraegus.

Are you looking for music for a smaller group?

If you don’t have a full handbell choir to work with, we have music arranged for twelve or eight bells too. For Lent, Holy Week or Good Friday, you could look at our twelve-bell arrangement of “There is a Fountain“, shown in the rehearsal video below. This and other twelve-bell hymns are available from Choraegus.

We have lots of eight-bell pieces suitable for this time of year. You can find all of our published eight-bell hymn arrangements in a repertoire list on this website. Sheet music is available to download and print from Choraegus. As an example, we have a straightforward but effective arrangement of “O Sacred Head“, suitable for 2-4 ringers.

There are many wonderful hymns for Easter. Our arrangement of “Come Christians, Join to Sing” has a version for eight bells with organ accompaniment by T. Paul Rosas, who played it with us at Los Altos United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday in 2016.

Thank you for considering our handbell music. If you need more information, check out some frequently-asked questions, and contact us if you don’t find what you’re looking for!

Handbell music for Lent, Holy Week, Easter and spring