Handbell Music Review

Volume 13

by Camille Ream

Handbells Etc.

Edmonton, Alberta

 

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Festive Praise - Geschke 23 Octaves Level 1 (also available in a compatible edition for 45 octaves)

 

Great piece for beginning choirs! The music is full of quarter and half notes and includes shakes, echos, and martlifts and ends with a ringtouch.

 

 

Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior - Arr. Moklebust 23 octaves Level 1+

 

This meditative piece is on complete contrast to Festive Praise. It is based on an old French tune. Its pace is Andante. This could be easily done on bells and chimes or bells alone or chimes alone.

 

We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder - Arr. Stephenson 345 octaves Level 2-

 

The old song has a new twist - it's all on mallets and only 57 measures! Each ringer will likely need 2 mallets. With any mallet piece, keeping the tempo is a challenge. If you are up to the challenge, try this showy piece.

 

The God of Abraham Praise - Arr. Smith 345 octaves Level 2

 

This old Hebrew melody will work well for a beginning choir looking for something a little harder. It includes some techniques, a couple of key changes and then some eighth note passages for a bit more challenge. It would work well at any time of the year.

 

The Works of Thy Hand (A Morning Meditation) - Moklebust - 3456 octaves Level 3+ with flute

 

This wonderful original music is based on "Morning Meditation" written by Ken Cochrane as well Psalm 8. The music is extremely descriptive. Ms Moklebust writes "The music is thus a description of that predawn walk: the moon and the starts are still out, a bird sings quietly, the peacefulness of the hour, the anticipation and beauty of the sunrise, the marvel of creation.

 

Five Four Waltz - Lowenberg 345 octaves Level 4

 

Not sure how to dance to this, but it sure if fun to play. We rang this in JUBILOSO! this season and once you get the rhythm, the ringing is easy! You just need to keep counting to 5 instead of 3 or 4!