Performed by the Sanctuary Choir at our church last Sunday. I’m the second from the right on the first row. A cantata is a biblical story told through song and narration. Most of the music was specially composed by Pepper Choplin, but you’ll hear a few traditional carols scattered in.
Blessed Christmas to you all.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 KJV).
This is the card our son gave his dad last year:
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Christmas is the perfect time to listen to handbell choirs. Here at ARHtistic License, it’s an annual tradition. So here are some wonderful performances by some of the best handbell ringers on the internet.
Joy to the World, Pine View High School Handbell Choir:
Zion Handbells play The Little Drummer Boy:
These young Praise Ringers perform Greensleeves beautifully:
Pat-a-Pan, St. Olaf Handbell Choir:
Mary Did You Know, FBC Eastman Handbell Choir
Blue Christmas, Carolina Brass:
This Christmas Bell Choir concert is nearly a half hour long. Songs played are Angels We Have Heard on High, Welcome Christmas, The First Noel, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Carol of the Bells:
Can’t get enough Christmas handbells? Check out these posts from past years: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019.
Ringing Praise, the handbell choir at my church (of which I am a member) has an annual tradition of spending an evening together at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix during their Las Noches de las Luminerias. I’ve posted about it before.
On Friday night, eight of our eleven members met at church and divided ourselves into two cars for the trip to the garden. Each of us had brought along food to share, and after we parked, the first order of business was dinner, tailgate style. Passersby commented what a good idea that was. Our fearless leader, Christine Soll, gave each of us a lighted necklace so we could find each other in the garden. (Click on the photos to enlarge and see captions.)
In the garden, the paths were lit by luminarias, and the plants were illuminated with lights.
There were many beautiful “trees” made out of plants.
Photo by Suze Scott.
We tried several times to get a group picture, and other people volunteered to take pictures of us, but cellphones don’t always take good group portraits at night. At least, not when they’re blown up for the blog post. I think the best one we got is this selfie Christine Soll took, although it’s hard to see the people in the back.
Starting at lower left, moving toward the back, and then to the front again, these lovely ladies are Shelley Mardany, Suze Scott, Heidi Maxson, Nancy Moellering, Christine Beatty, Karen Koslow, me, and Christine Soll.
Musicians were scattered throughout the garden.
The Sugar Thieves:
And in the Webster Auditorium in Dorrance Hall, the Dayspring Methodist Bell Choir played, so of course we had to go listen. Their set contained about 10 songs.
Between sets, we were able to talk with some of the ringers. We admired their cute clip-on lights for their music and the way their binders were decorated with ribbon to look like gifts. We were impressed the ringers who played two chimes in each hand.
We had a wonderful time and look forward to going back next year. Maybe someday we’ll even be featured performers at the Garden.
Interesting ideas. Lovely quilts. Crafts to make.
Two and a half hours, but don’t let that scare you. It’s gorgeous, one of the most polished performances I’ve ever seen. You may want it playing in the background all day.
This is the season that calls out for handbells. Here are some wonderful performances.
Carol of the Bells, Bethel University Handbell Ensemble:
Marche from the Nutcracker Suite, Raleigh Ringers:
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Daejeon Handbell Choir, South Korea:
Silent Night, Andrea Feist:
A Christmas Medley (Hark, the Herald Angels; The First Noel; Away in a Manger; Angels from the Realms of Glory; What Child Is This; O Come All Ye Faithful; all played by a soloist identified only as Mary; also, Good King Wenceslas occurs in the piano accompaniment):
Hallelujah Chorus, Forté Handbell Quartet:
Coventry Carol, done on handchimes:
Sing We Now of Christmas Played by the Resounding Ringers:
Glory performed by The RingNYC:
Remember the Angels played by Bells Angels. This piece was written in memory of the victims of 9/11:
A Christmas handbell and orchestra concert from South Korea. This is over half an hour long but so good; if you can’t listen to it all now, do yourself a favor and be sure to come back to it:
A Ballade on Auld Lang Syne:
Tonight I’ll be playing handbells at one of my church’s Christmas Eve services.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Neat stuff floating in our creative juice this week.
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