Handbell - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1001565

By Trini Lopez. By Lee Hays and Pete Seeger. Arranged by Mark R. Lewis. Contemporary. Score. 8 pages. Mark R Lewis #6433781. Published by Mark R Lewis (A0.1001565).

This is an arrangement for 2-4 octave handbell choir of If I Had a Hammer.

This protest song was written in 1950 in support of the progressive movement. The song was written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays for the folk group The Weavers. It was made famous by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary and the singer Trini Lopez whose versions both charted in the top 10 on the charts in the 1960s.

This version is arranged for 2-4 octave handbell choir and makes heavy use of mallets for most of the piece. There are some very quick changes between using mallets and normal ringing and there are a lot of syncopated rhythms throughout the piece. These challenges make this arrangement ideal for smaller bell choirs that are still at a intermediate or higher playing ability. Even though the song is not specifically intended for church services, the message of the song can be incorporated into quite a variety of religious themes.

The arrangement is in the key of C with no accidentals. The piece would be classified as Level 3+ using the AGEHR guidelines. You can find other arrangements by Mark R Lewis at http://www.makingjoyfulmusic.com/storefront.html.