Ring the Changes
Have you ever heard the beautiful sound of church bells pealing in the distance on a summer’s afternoon? This evocative music, a tradition called change ringing, was brought to America from English country churches and continued in communities wherever there is a church bell tower in operation. In order to practice their skills, ringers often play handbells, considerably easier on the arms than the massive tower bells.
Handbell ringing, in fact, is as much a performance tradition as change ringing, and today choirs across the US participate in one of the most joyful forms of music making. Performing frequently at Christmastime, choirs, with typically five to 30 members, welcome newcomers into their circles.
Relatively straightforward to pick up, handbell ringing is a great creative outlet for a budding musician, especially if you would like to play in a house of worship but don’t want to join the vocal choir. “It doesn’t matter if you have laryngitis, you can still play!” jokes Choir Director Bonnie Beth Derby, from St. James Roman Catholic Church in Syracuse, New York.
Handbell choirs are associated with Christmas, but how often do they practice and perform? Robert Nohavec, a choir director from Salt Lake City, says his group actually performs every five to six weeks. The choir is booked for everything from holiday services to spring festivals to events for local organizations. And every year in Utah more than 40 bell choirs from around the state travel to Salt Lake City for a bell ringing festival. With 220 ringers in the same room you can imagine how the air fills with an ethereal sound.
Being part of a handbell choir is great way to experience the camaraderie of a dedicated group of music makers. But it is a commitment. Once you join a choir, you become integral to practice and performance, and it can be difficult to miss a session. Derby explains that if one person misses a rehearsal at St. James, the choir can compensate. However, if there are a few people missing, it becomes hard to rehearse. That’s because a handbell choir is similar to a soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (SATB) vocal choir—members from each section have to be present in order for a song to be played properly.
Nevertheless, you don’t need to be an accomplished musician to ring the bells. Some musical background, such as piano lessons, is helpful, but choir directors happily accommodate all levels of experience. Derby, for instance, tells about one of her choir members who can’t read music but in spite of that is very eager to learn. “And he is very dedicated,” she adds. “As long as you are willing to take on a new challenge and practice, you’ll be an asset to any choir,” she continues.
Beginners will most likely start with one octave songs or well-known, popular tunes such as “Amazing Grace” or “The Servant Song.” With less notation and more straightforward rhythms, a handbell choir uses these songs as a point to grow from. A more advanced bell choir can cover as many as seven octaves and perform music with various rhythms and techniques. A repertoire for an advanced choir can include arranged versions of Sibelius’s “Finlandia,” Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, or Corelli’s “Variations on a Theme.”
A beginner will have to learn how to care for their exquisitely crafted instruments. During rehearsals and performances, ringers must wear gloves to prevent fingerprints from getting on the handbells. This avoids the etching effect of body salts and acids that damages the bell surface and can cause bells to go out of tune. Bells also must be polished after each use to prevent them from tarnishing. Proper day-to-day instrument care means the bells will have a long life and continue to produce the same beautiful singing tones.
For those interested in joining a handbell choir, a good way to look for a choir is by researching on the Internet. The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) maintains a website at www.agehr.org. There, would-be ringers can access information about learning events, seminars and festivals, and local choirs, many of which have their own websites.
If you are up to the challenge and would like to be part of a vibrant music making tradition, you should find a choir in your area looking for new members. You won’t be disappointed with one Christmas-time concert. In fact, the guild lists events throughout the year, including the Distinctly Bronze festival in Norfolk, Virginia, in October and the National Festival, held next June in Dayton, Ohio.
