Brethren Keeps Ringing

I got an e-mail today from a lady who lives in Denver. I knew her from Martin. She wrote that she was playing bells at her new church and she had asked the director if they had ever played any of my pieces. The director - at that time - said she didn't remember ever playing anything with my name on it. then this past week in rehearsal she brought out a new song. It was "Brethren"! The lady who wrote me told me she stopped the rehearsal and told everyone that she knew me and that we were in Martin at the same time.

How fun is that?

We started "Brethren" at Hilldale this past Sunday too.

Hilldale's handbell choir at festival.

It was already in their library. They did great playing through it for their first time. It takes playing it for awhile to get comfortable with all of the key changes, the syncopations and the marts at interesting times. The music says it is a level 3, but I've always thought it was a level 4.

This site handbells.com brought to you by Gold Coast Music co. lists it as level 4. I think that is more acurate.

How Beautiful

Twyla Paris has written many beautiful songs. Her lyrics and her melodies are all so lovely. One of my favorites is How Beautiful. I have sung it many times for worship services and for weddings. My choirs have sung it.



A few years back I felt that it would make a lovely handbell piece, so I crafted an arrangement that I think captures the simple beauty of the piece.






Here is a description written by the folks at Handbell World.


How Beautiful: Paris, T.,,RW
Twila Paris' beautifully crafted melody is combined with Lyndel Littleton's skill at setting it for handbells in this 3, 4, or 5 octave setting. The beauty shines through gently syncopated accompaniment, playful staccato technique at just the right place, and shimmering mallets on suspended treble bells. Make the text available to your listeners for greater effect.

I think I'll order it for my handbell choir this week.

As the Deer

Here's a review of my arrangement of As the Deer published by Ringing Word (A division of Jeffers Handbell Supply). If you are looking for an easy arrangement of a lovely praise chorus, you'll love this one.



As the Deer
Review: Here's a set-up you don't see often, an arrangement JUST for three octaves with no parentheses! The favorite praise chorus is set in fast four, making good use of all the bells in the three octave range. The melody appears in upper and lower registers. Opportunities for expressive ringing through use of crescendos, diminuendos, and dynamic variance will strengthen and challenge your choir's skill toward the level II repertoire.

Published by: Ringing Word Publications Copyright: 2003
Composer: Nystrom, M.
Arranger: Littleton, R. Lyndel
Octaves: 3
Level: 1+
Rating: Easy
Classification: Hymn Tune , Praise and Worship , Beginning Music - step 2, "Very Easy"
Technique: LV (Let Vibrate)
Voicing: Handbells, No Choral
Instrument: Handbells OR Chimes
Bells Used: Three Octaves: 24 Bells

TMG Handbell Choir 1

What a fun surprise to find this arrangement of Promised Land on Youtube. They did a nice job with it.