Christmas Collection III
For many centuries, carols have been played in English churches on the small sets of handbells that were primarily used for practicing tower bell changes. Up to 1984, very few of these arrangements had been written down, which led to the publication of "Christmas Collection I". This was followed in 1993 by a companion volume, "Christmas Collection II" with twelve more carols for the same twelve handbells. Virtually all carols possible for twelve handbells have already been published, so this third Christmas Collection is arranged for two chromatic octaves of twenty-five handbells. As in the other two collections, the stems of the melody are in the opposite direction to the harmony or counter melody. The tune should always be prominent.