Music for handbells, ensembles, and concert bands

Catalog Handbells – Soloist – Small ensemble – Full choir – Multiple choirs – Flexible choir Concert Band Other Ensembles – Brass – Clarinets – Saxophones Purchase sheet music from Purchase digital downloads from	“Allegro” #4 The Rejoicing from Royal Fireworks Musick George Frederic Handel, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-004 Level 3 for 4-7 ringers 3 octaves of handbells Performance time: 2 minutes Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download This arrangement of the Royal Fireworks Musick's fourth movement is a wonderful opener for any event because its first notes command the audience's attention. Its playfulness involve its quick tempo and dynamic contrasts, and there is only one accidental in the entire piece. The arrangement is for 4, 5, 6, or 7 ringers using three octaves of handbells, and the piece is Level 3 when played with seven ringers. Assignments are included for the quantity of ringers. These assignments are for bells sets that use tables, and no four-in-hand or shelley technique is required. The history surrounding the six-part suite entitled Royal Fireworks Musick is very colorful. The arranger recommends learning more about this musical work.
	The Celebrated Canon Johann Pachelbel, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-007 Level 3 for 5-6 ringers or for 3-4 ringers + keyboard 3-4 octaves of handbells Performance time: 3 minutes, 30 seconds The performance time can easily be shortened or lengthened. Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download The ever-popular canon by Pachelbel pleases any audience as a sacred prelude, wedding procession, meditative interlude, background music, or featured composition. The piece is Level 3 when played with four or six ringers. Full assignments are included for the quantity of ringers, along with performance notes. This arrangement includes a heavy barline each time the ostinato pattern begins again. With this aid, the piece can be stopped on the downbeat following a heavy barline at any time, or it can also be repeated by restarting at any heavy barline. In this way, “The Celebrated Canon” can be extended or shortened to fill any unpredictable time length.
	“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” from Cantata No.47 Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-005 Level 3 for 4-7 ringers 2 octaves of handbells Performance time: • 3 minutes, 15 seconds with repeat but without optional DC al Fine • 6 minutes with repeat and optional DC al Fine Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is an audience pleaser, both in the sacred setting and as secular meditation or wedding music. This setting combines the melody and the popular eighth-note counter-melody together, all in only two octaves of handbells. The effect is simplistic without being simple, and truly joyous when performed flowingly. The arrangement is for 4, 5, 6, or 7 ringers using two octaves of handbells, and the piece is Level 3 when played with seven ringers. Assignments are included for each quantity of ringers. This piece may also be performed by four- or six-in-hand ensembles without tables, although it should be noted that there are seven accidental bells required (six of them infrequently).
	Promised Land American folk melody, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-002 Level 2 for 5-8 ringers 2 octaves of handbells or handchimes Performance time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download The arrangement is for 5, 6, 7, or 8 ringers using two octaves of handbells or handchimes. Assignments are included according to the quantity of ringers, and the piece is Level 2 when played with seven or eight ringers. This piece may also be performed by four- or six- in-hand ensembles without tables. Combining flowing lines with block chords, this arrangement of the familiar hymn tune is reminiscent of a music box. The melody is played both in the bass and the treble lines, and the easy rhythms never advance beyond the eighth note value. Every ringer is kept busy with lots of ringing, LV, some shakes, and minimal accidentals. There are a two "gathering points" where the ringers regain those who are lost or no longer together with the group's rhythm.
	“Sabre Dance” from Gayne Ballet Aram Khachaturian, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-014 Level 4 for 5 ringers 3-4 octaves of handbells + percussion Performance time: 3 minutes, 30 seconds Listen Purchase sheet music This arrangement of “Sabre Dance” is sure to charm both audience and ringers alike. Showmanship plays heavy role, since the piece practically requires flashy movements and facial expressions. It is a familiar tune, repetitious, and its difficulty lies in its speed. The arrangement is for five ringers using three or four octaves of handbells plus optional percussion. Extensive performance notes and bell assignments are provided, and the piece is Level 4 when played with five ringers. The optional percussion include slide whistle, kazoos, pitched tone bar or triangle, two pitched wood blocks, and tambourine with drum. If you don't have these instruments, feel free to substitute what you have available. Mallets are required, and you may choose whether or not the high bell ringers will use the four-in-hand technique.
	“The Spring” from The Four Seasons Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-001 Level 3 for 4-7 ringers 2-3 octaves of handbells with optional sound effects Performance time: 3 minutes Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download This delightful arrangement of the first movement of "The Spring" is perfect for any energetic moment, regardless of season. Its charm comes from its quick tempo and dynamic contrasts, complete with the sounds of the spring season (perhaps add a bird whistle, rainstick, props, poem, or a nature slide show). The arrangement is for 4, 5, or 6 ringers using two or three octaves of handbells (or handchimes). Complete assignments and performance notes are enclosed, and the piece is Level 3 when played with six ringers. This piece may also be performed by four- or six-in-hand ensembles without tables. The piece is in rondeau form, which means that it has a recurring theme (similar to a refrain) and verses that extremely differ from one another. Rondeau form is usually explained by letters, where A equals the recurring theme, and each other letter like B or C indicate completely differing verses. The form then looks like this: ABACADAE etcetera. Because of its consistency, both audience and performers alike will look forward to the next time that the A theme appears.
	“The Swan” from Carnival of the Animals Camille Saint-Saëns, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-011 Solo options: 2 octaves of handbells or handchimes, or other instrument Accompaniment options: 4-5 octaves of handbells, or keyboard Performance time: 3 minutes Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download This arrangement of “The Swan” is for 4 ringers using 4-5 octaves of handbells plus a soloist. Complete assignments are included, and the piece is Level 4 when played with four ringers. Enclosed are solo parts for violin, viola, cello, Bb clarinet, or two octaves of handchimes. This piece may also be performed with the accompaniment part played on a keyboard, so that the soloist may perform without the handbell quartet. Instructions for assigning the handbell quartet plus performance notes are included. “The Swan” was originally written for cello solo with orchestral accompaniment as part of an orchestral suite entitled “Carnival of the Animals.”
	“Trepak” Russian Dance from The Nutcracker Peter I. Tchaikowski, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-003 Level 3 for 5-7 ringers 2 octaves of handbells Performance time: 1 minutes, 15 seconds Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download This Russian dance is always a familiar favorite with audiences and performers. Although it has many accidentals and some quick rhythms, the clearly laid out arrangement is easy to read and interpret. The tempo is quick although the written note values never exceed an eighth note value, and all rhythmic patterns are reinforced with many ringers playing block chords. When the dynamics are performed, this arrangement is a showstopper. This arrangement is for 5, 6, or 7 ringers using two octaves of handbells, and the piece is Level 3 when played with seven ringers. Assignments are included according to the quantity of ringers. The arrangement is very true to the orchestral score by Tchaikowsky. The arranger recommends listening to an orchestral recording of the composition to gain insight into interpreting the piece with handbells.
	“Vivace” from Sinfonia in G Johann Friederich Fasch, arr. Cheryl (Sutton) Baker – BFX-008 Level 3 for 5-10 ringers 3 octaves of handbells Performance time: 2 minutes, 45 seconds Listen Purchase sheet music Purchase digital download “Vivace” is a lively piece, arranged from Sinfonia in G for string orchestra. True to its name, the speed is a fast 6/8 but its repeated pitches make it easier to perform (we all know how ringers love to play their note several times in a row!). Add the dynamic contrasts, and this arrangement sparkles. The arrangement is for 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 ringers using 3 octaves of handbells, and the piece is Level 3 when played with ten ringers.  Separate assignments are included for the quantity of ringers.

Grass Valley, CA 95945

530-272-6228

Cheryl (Sutton, Baker) Woldseth, proprietor

cheryl@bronzefx.com