Handbell - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.953730

Composed by Geistliche Kirchengesang, Henry Smart, Michael Praetorius, Thomas Helmore, and Traditional English Carol. Arranged by G. R. Adkison. Christian,Christmas,Sacred. Score. 6 pages. Gary Ray Adkison #14447. Published by Gary Ray Adkison (A0.953730).

The First Christmas is an 84 measure, 4-5 octave, handbell choir medley of the Christmas carols: The First Nowell, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, and Angels from the Realms of Glory Parts of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming are scored for OPTIONAL 3 octaves of handchimes, but handbells can be substituted, if desired. Those two carol selections are reserved, reverent, soft and slow, in contrast to the first and last selections, which are much more exuberant in nature. This medley varies in tempo, volume levels, and style, throughout. Towards the end, there are tolls (swings) and a shake. It includes a brief introduction and an extended half-timed ending. Occasionally, there are descant lines and bass runs. I believe that this would be a level 2+ (2 plus) arrangement. The MP3 audio file provided is in a piano voice (patch) but suffices to demonstrate how this arrangement is generally meant to sound.

Handbell - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1302533

Composed by Jim Winslett. Christmas,Holiday. Score. 9 pages. Jim Winslett #892156. Published by Jim Winslett (A0.1302533).

A fast-paced medley of traditional holiday tunes, glued together with (and infiltrated by) the familiar motif from Ukrainian Bell Carol. 
Turn the tables on your audience's expectations as the familar gets twisted around and refreshed with this up-tempo take on Carol of the Bells, What Child is This, Coventry Carol, and We Three Kings.

Accessible to an intermediate-advanced group at the tempo suggested, or slow it down a bit for groups with a little less dexterity. 

Written for three octaves of handbells with optional 4th octave bass bells for added 'oomph'.

Handbell - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.821597

Composed by French Traditional, F. Mendelssohn. Arranged by Everall A. Peele. Christian,Christmas,Sacred. Score. 5 pages. Everall Aiken Peele #4293507. Published by Everall Aiken Peele (A0.821597).

Handbell arrangement of two familiar carols for 3 or 4 octaves (C4 - C8 - upper bells are optional). Suitable for church services or public presentations. Intermediate level - key of F. Includes unlimited license to copy: Buy one and make as many copies as needed for your group.

Handbell - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1358497

Composed by French Canadian Folk Song and Gustav Holst. Arranged by Mark R Lewis. Christmas,Folk,Holiday,Sacred,Traditional. Score. 8 pages. Mark R Lewis #942954. Published by Mark R Lewis (A0.1358497).

In Bleak Midwinter's Moonlight is a medley of two Christmas carols, In the Bleak Midwinter and Twas in the Moon of Wintertime. The first carol was originally written as a poem by Christina Rossetti and published in 1872. It has been set to music several times, but the tune most associated with the text, Cranham, was composed in 1906 by Gustav Holst. The second carol is a French Canadian Christmas carol first written by a Jesuit missionary in 1642. This tune is also called the Huron Carol.

This medley is written for 3-5 octave bell choir and goes back and forth between the two carols several times. Every time there is a key change, sometimes between related major and minor keys, and sometimes between two closely related keys. The melody is carried by the low, middle, and high ranges of the bells at some point in the piece and the accompanying voices are quite active throughout most of arrangement.

In Bleak Midwinter's Moonlight is between the level 3 and level 4 range of difficulty. There are definitely passages that will require work and the multiple key changes require multiple handbell changes, but bell changes are never very abrupt and accidentals only happen in the transition passages. The most difficult part will probably be making sure the melody is always heard even when it is buried below active accompaniment. A few times the bass bells have quick passages that will require sharing of bells or a lot of practice.

Season: Christmas
Range: 3-5 octaves.

Handbell - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.953721

Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, George Frideric Handel, and and John Francis Wade. Arranged by G. R. Adkison. Christian,Sacred. Score. 5 pages. Gary Ray Adkison #13523. Published by Gary Ray Adkison (A0.953721).

Joy, Ye Faithful, in This Night is a 78 measure arrangement for 4-5 octave handbell choir. It also utilizes OPTIONAL 2 octaves of handchimes . It is a medley of the Christmas carols: Joy to the World, Silent Night and O Come, All Ye Faithful. It starts out, joyfully, at a strong dynamic level, with Joy to the World. Then, it becomes soft for Silent Night, going into a CHORUS of O Come, All Ye Faithful that grows in volume to double forte, at which time the verse portion of O come, All Ye Faithful starts. At the next chorus, the dynamic progression is repeated, until the final chorus becomes triple forte at the very end. The handchimes are used simultaneously with handbells during Silent Night, but handbells can be substituted for the handchimes. That section is very slow and laid back, with its strong point being more exotic chords than the traditional carol. The first and last sections of the arrangement are faster (and louder), both with surprise key changes. The last section also features very full chords, in places, starting with the verse of O Come, All Ye Faithful. I would think that this is probably a level 2+ arrangement in difficulty---mostly because of the 16th notes in Joy to the World. The audio clip provided is in a piano voice (patch) but suffices to demonstrate how the arrangement is generally meant to sound.

Composed by Traditional Christmas Carols. Arranged by Diana Meux. For Handbell Choir,Handbells. Christian,Spiritual,Sacred,Christmas,Children's Music. Intermediate. Sheet Music Single. Published by Download Church Music