40 Days in the Desert

Haunting and heroic at the same time, “40 Days in the Desert” captures struggle and victory within the same breath. Written in single pulse 3/4 time, the strong melodic lines are supported by even stronger chords in c minor, with shifts in harmonics to G Major that brighten the mood briefly: Perfect for Lent, Passion Week, or any meditative moment in worship. When using the subtitle “The Ghost of Success” for secular concert and festival, the audience might be reminded of an Anime theme, which is not surprising since the composer, William Peters, was in 7th grade when he wrote this piece. He asked his handbell teacher (Kath Wissinger) to look at it and see if it would work for bells. With some very minor editing, William’s score showcases a new creative talent in handbells and beyond.

40 Days in the Desert

Alleluia

This lively piece based on a Honduran melody is ideal for Easter Sunday, Eastertide, Ascension, or Pentecost. The text to this hymn is "Aleluya, el Señor resucitó" which translates to "Alleluia! Christ is risen from the dead."

Alleluia

Avengers, The

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has delighted moviegoers for more than a decade, and Alan Silvestri's score for the first Avengers team-up movie set a new musical standard for superhero film music. This arrangement for 3-6 octaves uses multiple handbell techniques and optional percussion to capture the adventurous spirit of the original.

Avengers, The

Calvary Melody

Unlike most original handbell compositions, "Calvary Melody" is a Level 1+ piece. And while quite accessible for any ensemble, this thoughtful and tender work is worthy of more advanced groups when subtle dynamic changes and careful attention to the melody are performed.

Calvary Melody

Christ Has Arisen Alleluia

Lively and with a joyous sense of celebration, this traditional song from Tanzania will be a divine addition to any Easter celebration. Handbell musicians will enjoy the driving rhythm. Worshippers will be uplifted by the simple, yet beautiful, African melody.

Christ Has Arisen Alleluia

Contrast

This haunting, expressive original composition is reflective of the more somber moments in life, which help us to better appreciate the joyful times.

Contrast

Entertainer, The

"The Entertainer" is the first in a series of Scott Joplin pieces arranged by Jessica Lok for handbell quartet. The entire piece is performed using mallets with a few martellato lifts in the middle to create contrast and bring excitement to the piece.

Entertainer, The

First Arabesque

Claude Debussy's "First Arabesque" is a classic of impressionistic piano repertoire. This faithful transcription for 3-6 octaves handbells and optional 3-5 octaves handchimes preserves the gentle, flowing style of the original.

First Arabesque

Fun With Chopsticks

"Fun With Chopsticks", arranged for handbell quartet by John Behnke, takes you on a fun musical journey where the melody is played in both high and low bells, in a minor key, with mallets, and with a fun, surprise ending.

Fun With Chopsticks

Griffin's Hornpipe 1 (Praise God's Name With Dancing)

This catchy original Celtic tune in ABCA form is easily learned and will brighten any concert, festival, or worship service (with the subtitle "Praise God’s Name with Dancing" based on Psalm 149:3). A great L2 teaching piece for form, eight notes, and beginning bell tree as well as for blank key signature modes (Dorian and Ionian).

Griffin's Hornpipe 1 (Praise God's Name With Dancing)

Griffin's Hornpipe 2 (Praise God's Name With Dancing)

Showcase from one to eight bell tree ringers accompanied by their fellow ringers all within 3 octaves (with more opt. bells) in this reproducible score This catchy original Celtic tune in ABCA form is easily learned and will brighten any concert, festival, or worship service (with the subtitle "Praise God’s Name with Dancing" based on Psalm 149:3).

Hungarian Dance No 5

This classical piece by Johannes Brahms is arranged for handbell quartet by Phoebe Yeung. Ring, TD, and mallet techniques are clearly designated for each ringer. When all four ringers are malleting, it is as though 8 mallets are dancing on the table.

Hungarian Dance No 5

I Love to Tell the Story - A

This gentle L2 rendition of the beloved hymn tune HANKEY features an easy optional Bell Tree obbligato, adding a soft sparkle to the rich chording and simple melody. Two non-compatible scores offer different range possibilities.

Score A is for 2 octaves with optional C5-C6 or C6-C7 Bell Tree.

I Love to Tell the Story - A

I Love to Tell the Story - B

This gentle L2 rendition of the beloved hymn tune HANKEY features an easy optional Bell Tree obbligato, adding a soft sparkle to the rich chording and simple melody. Two non-compatible scores offer different range possibilities.

Score B is for 3 or 5 octaves with optional B-flat3 and F5 to F6 Bell Tree.

Ionian Columns (Strong Faith)

Go boldly into quarter notes!! Written with developing ringers in mind, "Ionian Columns" focuses on the Ionian mode, using the key signature of C Major. Block chords represent the stately historic columns, and the melody, the scrolled decorations at the top. Harmonic seconds, gyros, optional mallets on tabled bells, double voicing, and carefully isolated parts provide many teaching moments. Use the sacred subtitle "Strong Faith" for worship settings.

Ionian Columns (Strong Faith)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" lyrics were written by Edmund Sears in 1849 and set to music in 1850 by Richard Storrs Willis. Phoebe Yeung has arranged this carol as a handbell quartet using singing bells and suspended mallets at the beginning to accentuate the silence of a starry night.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Jingle Bell Calypso

This is a very cheerful arrangement of the familiar Christmas song "Jingle Bells". The arranger brings this joyful tune from a wintry Christmas to glorious Summer. The audience will enjoy the essence of an extraordinary Christmas experience through this fast, vibrant, and vivid piece.

Jingle Bell Calypso

No Greater Love

The delicate, intricately-woven melodic line of "No Greater Love" will capture your listeners' hearts from the start.

No Greater Love

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Tower Swings and Echos provide warmth and tenderness to this arrangement of the revered PASSION CHORALE. At Level 1+ it is attainable by any ensemble but even groups with more experience will find a challenge in perfecting the musicianship of their techniques.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Overture

"Overture" is an exceptional original composition. With a range from 3 to 7 octaves of handbells and 3 to 6 octaves of handchimes, along with optional orchestra chimes (or auxiliary bells), timpani, wind chimes, suspended cymbal, tam tam, tambourine, snare drum, triangle, and vibra slap, this piece promises to be an exciting experience for both performers and audience.

Overture

Quiet Prayer

Perfect for a quiet moment in worship or concert, this piece features a lovely melody with a simple ostinato in the lower bells. Ideal for a Bell Tree duet (sharing one bell), it can also be played as a solo by omitting the embellished voice, or as a 12-bell 4iH Trio or a ringing ensemble.

Quiet Prayer

Rondo from Horn Concerto No 4

The rousing final movement from Mozart's popular Horn Concerto No.4 is faithfully transcribed for handbells using mallets and optional handchimes to evoke the energetic interplay between soloist and orchestra.

Rondo from Horn Concerto No 4

Salamander Tales and Gecko Antics (Faithful Devotion and Joyous Day)

Level 1 fun with our favorite amphibians! Two perfectly paced pieces for ringers moving from whole and half notes to quarter notes, with the added enticement "Everyone gets to play flats – including Gb!" Your ringers will be excited to have "real" music with a fun colorful cover that they can confidently learn and perform.

Salamander Tales and Gecko Antics (Faithful Devotion and Joyous Day)

Santa Lucia

"Santa Lucia" is a traditional Neapolitan song. In this arrangement for handbell quartet, Christine Chan has R1 & R2 using two simultaneous techniques (mallet roll and shake) to imitate the sound of a ukulele.

Santa Lucia

We Three Kings

For this arrangement of the popular Christmas carol, Jessica Lok chose 6/8 time to give a new flavor to the piece. She integrated various contrasting techniques to fully engage the performers and provide visual and auditory effects for the audience.

We Three Kings

What Child Is This

This well-known, lyrical Christmas carol is also known by the traditional name "Greensleeves". For this handbell quartet arrangement, different techniques are incorporated to showcase the musicality of each ringer as all four parts pass the melody and accompaniment between them.

What Child Is This

Who Is This - A

This little-known Southern Harmony gem enthralls with a unique form, minor mode and intriguing melody. These L3 arrangements explore three variations (verses) utilizing martellato statements and interesting harmonies. In addition to the traditional Lenten text associated with this tune, two insightful new hymn texts for Epiphany and Palm Sunday expand liturgical-use possibilities.

Two non-compatible Level 3 scores allow for different bell and vocal ranges. Score A is for 2 octaves with optional A6, F3-F4, and vocal solo or unison hymn.

Who Is This - B

This little-known Southern Harmony gem enthralls with a unique form, minor mode and intriguing melody. These L3 arrangements explore three variations (verses) utilizing martellato statements and interesting harmonies. In addition to the traditional Lenten text associated with this tune, two insightful new hymn texts for Epiphany and Palm Sunday expand liturgical-use possibilities.

Two non-compatible Level 3 scores allow for different bell and vocal ranges. Score B is for 3-7 octaves with optional vocal solo or unison hymn.

Who Is This - B

You Are There with Me (Psalm 139)

The gentle melody of this handbell adaptation of Ron Mallory's choral work of the same name expresses Psalm 139's assurance that God is with us in all circumstances.

You Are There with Me (Psalm 139)