Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy created this lovely Christmas hymn in 1840; it appears in more than 440 hymnals and is a perennial Christmas favorite, arranged hundreds of times for a variety of instruments throughout the world. Kurt has penned a fresh, creative setting for handbell solo, piano accompaniment, and optional flute or other C-instrument.
It is filled with expression and flowing accompaniment lines, with a contrapuntal C-instrument part that is perfect for this score. It is mostly Rung, but a few LV passages and Shakes add interest for the listener. It begins in Eb major with a lovely modulation to E-major leading to an increase in tempo and a bit of excitement before it returns to a lovely, peaceful ending. This is a wonderful addition to the handbell soloist’s repertoire.