September 17, 2020

Shall We Gather at the River – a New Arrangement for 8 Handbells and Piano

Following on from our popular arrangement of Be Thou My Vision, here’s our latest 8-bell title, Shall We Gather at the River?, arranged for handbells and piano. This beautiful hymn was written in 1864 by Robert Lowry.

“Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.”

This arrangement has no bell changes, and no tables are required. It could work well for playing in a worship service, with ringers playing from music stands, spaced apart to allow for social distancing.

Interested in playing this arrangement?

If you’d like to play Shall We Gather at the River, 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; perfect if you don’t have a willing accompanist, or want to rehearse at home.

Please read the following information:

Choraegus 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 online video-sharing. 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, designed to help you navigate the purchase and download process in a (we hope!) stress-free way.

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!

Shall We Gather at the River - handbells

September 14, 2020

New Handbell Music for Christmas – It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – for 6 Bells and Piano

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is our latest carol arrangement. Since Larry had his shoulder surgery in May, we’ve been enjoying the challenge of working on some handbell arrangements that can be played using only six bells, with piano accompaniment. Larry doesn’t need to wear his sling any more. However, he’s been putting it on for the last few 6-bell demonstration videos, because why waste a perfectly good sling?

Larry’s arrangement of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear has no bell changes, no shared bells, and needs no tables, so it would work perfectly for a small ensemble to play.

Would this piece work for your small handbell ensemble?

If you’d like to play It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, 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, for anyone who doesn’t have a pianist available or wants to practise at home.

And look! There are more!

We have several other arrangements of this hymn, all available from Choraegus, and all suitable for socially-distanced handbell groups:

An 8-bell (unaccompanied) arrangement

A 12-bell arrangement

An 8-bell arrangement of the traditional English melody NOEL, also used for this carol

Please note that sheet music from Choraegus 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. Purchase of 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 online video-sharing. 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, as well as 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 do what we can to help!

Christmas and holiday entertainment handbells with handbell duo Larry and Carla

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.

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 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 24, 2020

New Accompanied 6-Bell Music – Al die Willen te Kaap’ren Varen

We’ve been having fun discovering how much music can be made with just six handbells (with piano accompaniment and an optional sling). Our most recent arrangements have been hymns or Christmas music, but here’s something a bit different. It’s an arrangement of the traditional song Al die Willen te Kaap’ren Varen. We know it as the “Dutch Pirate Song”!

People often as us about handbell duets for Halloween, and we always seem to be stuck without an answer. This arrangement could definitely work!

Would this arrangement work well for your ensemble?

This arrangement works well as a duet, but could also be played by a trio, with social distancing as required. If you’d like to try 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.

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 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 13, 2020

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.

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

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 22, 2020

New 8-Bell Music – King of the Fairies

King of the Fairies is a traditional Irish hornpipe that’s one of the arrangements we enjoy playing during street performances. It’s one of those pieces that can be played with the repeated sections or without, depending on how long you want to play for! It’s another one of our pieces that could also work well for a socially-distanced handbell quartet, with no bell-sharing, and no need for tables.

In the last few weeks, we’ve been thinking a lot about street performances – normally a regular part of our summer. With Larry having shoulder surgery a couple of months ago, and the global pandemic, we haven’t yet done any street performances this year. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get out into the streets with our bells at some point before the cold weather arrives!

Would you like to play this arrangement?

If you’d like to play this arrangement, the sheet music is now 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 allows you to perform the piece, broadcast and/or live-stream it, and share a performance video on social media etc.

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. 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.

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!