the advancement of this enjoyable musi­ cal activity. (1) Choirs: In the 1970s the number of choirs in America has increased dra­ BUilding from Scratch matically from 2500 choirs in 1971 to an estimated 25,000 choirs today. Festi­ vals held in thirteen locations across the country by the AGEHR during the CHARLES C. TAYLOR surroundings without disturbing the summer of 1978 drew over 6,500 handbell whole community. ringers as participants. Evidence such In addition to practicing the mathe­ as this indicates that this is one of the Charles C. Taylor is Associate Profes­ matical possibilities of , fastest growing areas in musical per­ sor of Music at Southern illinois Uni­ versity, Carbondale, Illinois. As Director the tower ringers began to experiment formance. of Music at the First United Methodist with tune ringing. Handbells often pro­ Where do the directors come from for Church in Carbondale, he has been direct­ vided more pitches 'than the tower , this rapidly growing performance me­ ing handbell choirs since 1975. which were frequently no more than five dium? Very little formal training exists, to twleve bells. These portable bells other than in workshops and clinics pre­ Through its fairly recent introduction were brought out at Christmas and on sented by practicioners of the art. From in church music programs, the art of other festive occasions for a "go" at the ranks of musicians trained as choral handbell ringing has become very closely melodies and simple harmonies. In the directors, as organists, as instrumental­ linked with choral music. While the eighteenth century larger sets of hand­ ists, all with a minimum of training in majority of handbell choirs exist as part bells were cast and a number of tune­ handbell ringing but with a practical of a church music ministry, they are by ringing groups were formed independent­ need and a lot of enthusiasm, come no means restricted to the religious field. ly of the tower ringers. By the mid­ those needed every year to fill the ex­ Handbells are in use in a limited way at nineteenth century tune-ringing reached panding demand for handbell choir direc­ all levels of education - elementary, its golden age, with "bands" handling tors. junior high and senior high schools, dozens of bells and playing from music Frequently a musician (more often colleges and universities, and in com­ scores in concerts and contests. (1) than not, a choral director) accepts a munity and senior citizen groups. English handbells were probably intro­ position in a church or school where Tower bell ringing has long been popu­ duced in America by the Peake Family there is a set of handbells; or a memorial lar in Europe and particularly in Eng­ Ringers in the 1830s, and to a larger gift may be available to purchase hand­ land. The British developed their own public by the Lancashire Ringers im­ bells; or the director sees the opportunity intricate system of ringing tower bells ported from England by Barnum in the to expand the capabilities of the music in a mathematical rather than a musical 1840s. Thereafter, except for an occa­ program by the purchase of a set of order, known as change ringing. Since sional touring company, handbells were bells. For whatever reason, there is a it was often cold and damp in the bell virtually unknown in this country until sudden necessity to develop a new skill. towers for rehearsal (and also unfair to well into the twentieth century when While it is possible for director and the neighbors to force them to suffer Margaret Shurcliff of Boston organized ringers to develop techniques together, through the clashing caused by new the Beacon Hill Ringers in 1923. Due it is better for the director to have some ringers) the English-type handbell was to her influence, a number of bands skill in ringing at the outset. Ask the developed in the seventeenth century to sprang up in the Northeast, and the handbell salesman for the name of the provide a simple and convenient method New England Guild of Handbell Ringers nearest handbell director. Contact that of practicing. (The term "English hand­ was formed in 1937. In the 1950s and director and proceed to learn all you can. bell" refers to the way the clapper is 1960s hundreds of ringing groups were You wiII find this person enthusiastic mounted in the bell to allow the ringer formed throughout the in and willing to share the knowledge and to have full control over the ringing of churches, schools and other organizations. skills they have learned. Ask if you might the bell.) The bell ringers could then The American Guild of English Hand­ attend a few rehearsals and ring with assemble in the church, in homes, or bell Ringers (AGEHR) was founded in them a few times. It is imperative that repair to the village inn where practice 1954. To the AGEHR and its publication a new director have some ringing ex­ could be held in warm and comfortable OVERTONES is due much credit for perience in order to share it with others. The basic ringing technique makes use of a circular pattern with the hands moving down and away, directly in front of the body. As the hand reaches the point farthest from the body, the bell is rung with a snap of the wrist. The hand continues in its circle, returning to a position just in front of the shoulder. As the player picks up the bell, it should be held with the clapper facing up, the bell tilted slightly towards the player to get the clapper in the correct position, with the guard or collar of the bell solidly against the hand. (The firmness of the grip wiII be important as the group learns to control dynamics.) Follow the circular pattern described- above, ring:ng the bell with a snap of the wrist, and return it to the "ready" position near the

12 THE CHORAL JOURNAL shoulder. Since the tone travels from the Schulmerich Co. is also very directors is from those who have played rim of the bell to the ear, encourage useful for a beginning choir. This packet in choirs and "came up from the ranks". your ringers to keep the bell upright allows the director to determine where Handbells are cast from bronze, tuned as it rings and continues to vibrate on the ringers are musically before investing chromatically, and available in octave the return to the "ready" position. One in a library of music. sets (individual bells are also available). bit of imagery that works is to suggest Training is available for directors at A beginning set should be at least two to the bell ringers that the bell is filled clinics and workshops of the AGEHR octaves, with three octaves preferred be­ with a liquid and they are not to spill and sacred music workshops of various cause of the limitations on literature a drop. religious denominations. The Westmin­ available for the smaller number of bells. In addition to ringing the bells, the ster Choir College has short summer A total of five octaves - 61 bells ­ technique of dampening is important. courses for beginning and advanced levels are manufactured. It is advisable to buy Playing handbells without dampening is of skill, and will expand these offerings carrying cases at the time the bells are similar to playing the piano with the into the regular semester in the fall of purchased, both for ease of storing and sustaining· pedal down. The harmonies 1979. A few colleges have performing safety in transporting them. Manufac­ and melodic lines blur and are not dis­ handbell choirs and offer credit for par­ turers and their addresses are listed at tinct and clear. The basic techique for ticipation. One excellent source of trained the end of this article. dampening is to touch the bell rim to the shoulder, which should be cleared of ornaments, buckles, etc. so that no metall touches the bell. Some of the larger bells need to be dampened firmly along the body of the casting, as an overtone will still sound when only the rim touches the shoulder. From these two basic techniques, ring­ Available! ing and dampening,. proceed to scale patterns. This can be done with or with­ out notation. If notation is used, take time to make sure the individual ringer understands where his note is written ~ on the staff. As the group plays a scale, encourage them to listen so they will develop an evenness in tone. They must leai'n to··play a legato melodic line by Gustav lIolst dampening just as the next tone begins. It may be well to have each person play only one bell at the beginning, then add a bell in the other hand so that they are playing two consecutive scale notes. Practice chord ringing. making sure the group understands which notes are in the chord, and work for precision of attacks at various dynamic levels. Try chord changes (I-V, I-IV-V7, etc.) in various rhythm patterns, making certain that the group is responding to your beat pattern and dynamic indications. If they work to develop this response to beat and dynamics from the first rehear­ sal, this will help them develop musically at a much faster rate. Help them to look beyond the notes assigned to each person so they will see the music as a whole. Other techniques that you will en­ Orchestral Sets counter are plucking, similar to the piz­ Choral part $1.30 zicato effect in the string orchestra; Orchestral Set B (Str 55333) 35.00 thumb damping, another way of achiev­ 42.00 ing a staccato effect; the shake or tre­ Orchestral Set C (Str 88555) molando; the trill; and the tower swing. Extra Parts (each) .90 These are all described in detail in the excellent and inexpensive book, ]o'Yfully Ring! by Donald E. Allured. (2) In See your dealer or write: practical and concise form, this book presents all the information a beginning director needs to know. The music in­ novellO cluded, exercises and compositions for groups of various sizes, is published PUBucaTlons, Inc. 145 Palisade Street • Dobbs Ferry. NY 10522 separately. A Learning Packet published by the

SEPTEMBER 1979 13 HANDBELLS. of handbell music, and has available a nique is called for. A covering for the free pamphlet, H andbell N alation, which tables of material that is not slick or of Handbells are "transposing" instru­ each director should request. a hard finish will keep the bells from ments, in that they are notated an octave In addition to bells, the handbell choir rolling when they are put down quickly. lower than the actual sound. The ranges needs other equipment, such as tables, Corduroy or "Velite" blanket material of handbell sets, as notated in printed music stands, etc. The eight-foot portable will work well. Covers are used to dress music, are as follows: tables with folding legs, commonly found up the tables, and can be either custom in church dining rooms, can be used by fitted or just draped over the tables. In a handbell choir. However, tables de­ any event, the material should be selected signed for handbells, either commercial to travel well and not wrinkle easily. or home-made, may be more practical. :Music stands especially suitable for Once a choir becomes proficient and is use on top of the bell tables are available known in its community, there will be as follows: 1) a three-ring notebook invitations to play for many occasions, with a special hinged section which -.. and tables of six-foot or even four-foot serves as a support when the book is length can be transported easily in a opened; or 2) a flat metal stand with station wagon. The height of the tables a wire support on the back which allows - 3 OCTAVE also is important, and if possible, should the music to be elevated. Other types of be adjustable if groups of different ages stands. including floor stands, may be are to use the same equipment. If there used if the bell ringers can conveniently are extremes of height within the choir, reach the music. Two players can share adjust the tables for the taller players a stand, which helps when it comes time and make small portable boxes for the to turn a page. I~ shorter players to stand on. If any of Players need to wear gloves to protect the players wear bifocal lenses, the music the finish of the bells. The moisture and stands need to be adjustable for their oils present on the fingers can tarnish -, vision. the polished bronze finish. For a long­ I.. I' Tables need to be padded with a cover­ time only white gloves were available ing of foam rubber at least two inches for this purpose, but with the popularity -+ oe.'TPlvt; .:e: thick. This serves to dampen the sound of bell ringing, other colors are now s OC:f'AVE. when necessary, keeps the bells froD.1 available. Inexpensive gloves may be rolling when they are lying on the table, used for rehearsal. The director may The AGEHR is encouraging the use of and still allows them to resonate slightly prefer to have special gloves that are standardized notation in the publication when the plucking, or "pizzicato" tech- used only for performance. Gloves are­ available from bell manufacturers, bell equipment suppliers, and band or drum and bugle corps supply firms. School of It is necessary from time to time to polish the bells to remove tarnish. An Music excellent polishing paste called "Simi­ chrone", available in auto supply stores, will do the job effectively. At the end of each rehearsal a few minutes of shining with a special cloth impregnated with jeweler's rouge will keep the finish in good condition and lengthen the time be­ tween polishing parties. The players should be encouraged to take pride in the care and appearance of the bells. If cared for properly. a set of hand­ bells will require little expense for main­ tenance. The parts of .a bell are very simple. If any part other than the bell casting itself is broken, it is easily and inexpensively replaced with the tools furnished with a set of bells. Bells do­ not get out of tune unless they are handled carelessly and the casting is chipped or nicked, necessitating a re­ placement. :Husic available for handbells now comes from many sources. Transcriptions. of compositions from choral and instru­ mental literature was once heavily relied on. Now, many original compositions for handbells alone are available, as well as bells with various combinations of voices and solo instruments. The AGEHR and some religious denominations have en-

14 THE CHORAL JOURNAL couraged original compositions through word in education, the handbell choir contests or by commissioning works. The offers that opportunity within a small AGEHR also provides a service to its group setting. members by listing all American com­ Collections of music and individual positions, arrangements and collections, compositions which have proven them­ complete with publishers and addresses, selves are: in A Catalog of Music for English for two-octave sets; THE UNIVERSITY Handbells(3) , edited by L. Campbell H:/1Ilns for Handbells, arr. Robert E. OF OKLAHOMA Bunting and updated on a regular basis. Scoggin, Abingdon Press - some ar­ SCHOOL OF MUSIC It is not necessary for the director to rangements are for three octaves wait until the choir has learned a special Ring Gut 1, arr. Klein, Shawnee Press handbell composition to make use of the - 24 Christmas Carols CHORAL group in a church service. It is possible Immortal, Invisible, from "Joyfully for a handbell choir to play hymn tunes Ring I", Allured, Broadman Press ACTIVITIES as they are printed in the hymnal, with Christmas Songs for Ha 11 db ells, arr. the limitations of the given bell set in Beck, Concordia - includes an excellent mind. A two-octave set (G4 to GG) can medley of four familiar carols Dennis Shrock, play the soprano and alto parts; a three­ for three-octave sets; octave set (C4 to C7) can add the tenor H)'mn TUlles for Handbells, Vol. 2, Director part; and a four-octave set (G3 to G7 ) arr. Roy T. Scoggins, Jr., Broadman includes the ranges of all four singing Press parts, unless there is an unusual low F God, That Madest Earth and Heaven. in the bass part. Other possible uses to and America The Beautiful, from "Joy­ enhance congregational singing with very fully Ring 1, arr. Allured, Broadman simple uses of handbells is to have them Press play the introduction to the hymn; to Ring Alleluia, Starks, Flammer play descants on hymns; or to use the Fanfare for Bells, McCleary, Choris­ bells to introduce a new hymn. Directors ters Guild will also see opportunities for arranging Miniature, Zabel, Choristers Guild ­ and composing as they become acquainted solo for flute or violin with published handbell literature. Silver Bells, arr. Livingston, Flammer Anyone can pick up a bell and make Reverie in G Minor, McGee, Flammer a sound with it. However, if the direc­ FOOTNOTES tor's goal is to have a group playing 1. Tufts, The Bell Ringers' Handbook, music in a relatively short time, it is Delaware Water Gap, Harold Flammer, best to choose ringers who have some Inc., 1965. 2. Allured, Joyfully Ring, Nashville, music reading ability. This is a different Tenn., Broadman Press, 1974. technique than any other kind of music 3. Bunting, A Catalog of Music for reading in that the player is responsible English Handbells, AGEHR Director of for a limited number of pitches (usually Publications, 72 Lake Morton Dr., Lake­ two notes with any accidentals that oc­ land, Fla. 33801. cur in the music). This really brings Manufacturers of handbells are: home to the player the accurate reading Bell Foundry, Ltd. of rhythms so that his pitches will fit 34 PUBLIC into the musical whole. London, England Pettit and Fritsen (Dutch bells) An important function the director available from PERFORMANCES must assume in preparation for teaching Whittemore Associates, Inc. a piece of music to the group is the 3 Wexford Street 1978-79 assignment of bells. The Allured book(2) Needham Heights, Mass. 02194 Schulmerich , Inc. is very helpful to the director in this Carrillon Hill 20 programs respect. For a handbell set of two octaves Sellersville, Pa. 18960 (25 bells), eight ringers are required; Malmark, Inc. 28 performances for three octaves (37 bells), ten or 21 Bell Lane 12 student recitals eleven ringers are needed; and for larger New Britain, Pa. 18901 bell sets the director may find that as I. T. Verdin Co. 2021 Eastern Ave. works performed with orchestra few as ten or as many as fifteen ringers Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 can be used, depending on the capability Bach - Cantata "4 Additional information is available from: -Mas in A (BVW 234) of the ringers and the requirements of Beethoven - Ninth Symphony a particular composition. The director American Guild of English Handbell Britten - SI. Nicolas soon learns that it is important to keep Ringers -A Ceremony of Carols P.O. Box 10123 Buxtehude - Das neugeborne kindelein the better ringers busy, and to assign Winston-Salem ...NG--2'T:t6l!l"""--_~~: Charpentier - Epithalamium (1694) the less capable ringers the easier parts, Haydn - Missa brevis SI. Joannis de Deo Hindemith - Apparebit repenlina dies or fewer bells. Monteverdi Magnificat a 7 Assignments within a bell choir can CHORAL MUSIC RENTAL - Gloria Concertata Schutz - Musikalische Exequien literally be tailored to the varied abilities Large selection, reasonable rates. Write Stravinsky - Mass of a given group of ringers, challenging for listing, terms and rates - New York Vivaldi - Credo the talented and giving encouragemen - In exitu Israel Choral Society, 165 W. 57 St., New York, - Laetatus sum to those of lesser abilities. In this da New York 10019, Att: Mary Robbins when individualized instruction is a key

SEPTEMBER 1979 15