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    • Handbell Podcast 125 Listener Feedback Show - Winners - Recorded 8/26/2008

    By Dean | August 26, 2008

    Introductions

    This show brought to you by Arnold, Michele, Larry, Lloyd, Sharon, Matthew, Marshall, Tim, Carolyn and Jim - Thank You for your continued support.

    Voice Mails and EMails

    Area Newsletters Updates

    August Giveaway Contest

    In August, we are giving away a copy of the new Ring of Fire DVD.
    To enter in the drawing for this fabulous prize, answer our podcast question of the week.

    May, June, July Contest Winners…finally!

    Shout out to the Chat Room

    Join these people in the chatroom: If you are in the chat room, you can discuss what is happening on the podcast

    Membership News

    Concert and Event Announcements

    All events can be found on the Handbell Community Site at http://handbellcommunity.com

    Podcast Question of the Week

    How to get involved with our podcast:

     
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    Handbell Podcast 125 - Alison Wood - Recorded 08/19/2008

    By Paul | August 21, 2008

    Sponsors

    handbell quarterly This show brought to you by Ringing Restorations -
    “Entrust the care of your bells to the very best!”

    LifeWay’s Handbells Quarterly - seven to nine new arrangements, four times a year. Call 800.458.2772 or visit lifeway.com/ for more information.

    August Giveaway Contest

    In August, we are giving away a copy of the new Ring of Fire DVD.
    To enter in the drawing for this fabulous prize, answer our podcast question of the week.

    Topics for discussion

    Community Forum Posts

    Interview - Alison Wood

    Executive Director of International Handbell Committee

    Movie -Jason Wells and Bass Bells


    Find more videos like this on The Handbell Community

    Music Review

    Title Gwerzy
    Composer/Arranger Armstrong and Snodaigh / Clint Hagen
    Octaves 5
    AGEHR Level 5-
    Publisher Peal Publishing
    Catalog  

    YouTube Video of Original song Gwerzy can be found here.

    How to get involved with our podcast:

     
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    Handbell Podcast 124 Listener Feedback Show - Were Back!- Recorded 08/19/2008

    By Paul | August 19, 2008

    Introductions

    This show brought to you by Michele, Larry, Lloyd, Sharon, Matthew, Marshall and Tim - Thank You for your continued support.

    Voice Mails and EMails

    Area Newsletters Updates

    August Giveaway Contest

    In August, we are giving away a copy of the new Ring of Fire DVD.
    To enter in the drawing for this fabulous prize, answer our podcast question of the week.

    Shout out to the Chat Room

    Join these people in the chatroom: If you are in the chat room, you can discuss what is happening on the podcast

    Community Blog Posts

    Membership News

    Concert and Event Announcements

    All events can be found on the Handbell Community Site at http://handbellcommunity.com

    Podcast Question of the Week

    How to get involved with our podcast:

     
    icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [30:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

    Topics: Podcast, Show Notes | No Comments »

    More Videos From the International Symposium

    By Paul | August 18, 2008

    International Symposium - Solo concert 1

    Find more videos like this on The Handbell Community

    International Symposium Concerts

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    More new photos

    By Paul | August 10, 2008


    Find more photos like this on The Handbell Community

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    Ren Fest Lunch

    By Dean | August 10, 2008

    Dean: Tim Waugh is Priest(MC) for the event. In comes Jester Michael (Glasgow). There is a processional of the royal court to the tune Lord of the Dance. King Michael Joy and Queen Debbie Rice. They are followed by their court, a flag bearer, the Royal Ringers, and the house Crests. The King and Queen take their thrones as their court bows and processes to their places. The King and Queen take their place at the royal table. They are joined by the royal court in a welcome song. The King and Queen call for a prayer of thanksgiving. The court sings a prayer. Sir Tim leads the Royal Ringers in song as the servants from the hall provide the appetizer for those in attendance. The King does a toast followed by the song Wassail. The Royal Ringers are now playing Wassail. The King calls for the feast to begin. The Royal Ringers play Festal Dance. Lunch is being served by the house servants. The King calls for the Jester to entertain the court. The Royal Ringers next play Riu Riu Chiu. During the song, the King, Queen and their court visit with those in the Royal Hall. While the Royal Court visits and entertains their guests, the Royal Ringers play Sing We And Chant It. The Royal Court sings another song. The Priest tells a story followed by another song from the Royal Ringers, Sing We Enchanted. The Royal Court graced us with another song followed by the Royal Ringers playing Coventry Carol. The Royal Court sings Greensleeves followed by the Royal Ringers playing the same song. (This is the Cathy Mocklebust arrangement – my favorite arrangements of this tune. Stunning.) The Jester bids us good night. The King, Queen, Court and Royal Ringers process out to the song Lord of the Dance.

     

    Paul: This was a wonderful idea full of amazing music both sung and rung. Tim Waugh did a great job putting everything together in such a short amount of time. Everyone looked like they were having lots of fun both on the stage and in the audience. The only criticism that I would have is that the dialog got lost in the large room without a microphone. Huzzah Ten pound for the king!

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    Pikes Peak Ringers under the direction of Kevin McChesney

    By Dean | August 10, 2008

    Paul: Fifteen ringers make up Pikes Peak Ringers ringing on 7 octaves of handbells.

    Dean: First song is Canticle by Arnold Sherman. First impressions of the group are mixed. I see very big arm movements. Many of the members of the group look like they are having a good time. This is a great piece for an opener. It felt a little on the slow side.

    Paul: Canticle by Arnold Sherman opens this program with a flourish. All the ringers are smiling.

    Dean: Next up on the program is Allegro Giocosso by G.F. Handel transcribed by Kevin McChesney. With this piece they pick up the pace a little. They are playing 7 octaves of Schulmerich handbells with 15 ringers. I am looking for a little dynamic contrast. This piece is played with little or no change in volume. Classical music is more fun to play then it is to listen to. For those who are programming classical music into their programs, you need to do a little extra with the dynamics and tempos to keep the interest of the audience.

    Paul: Allegro Giocoso comes from Handel’s “Water Music” and it is arranged by Kevin McChesney. Music from the classical period really takes a preciseness to the playing which makes it fun and challenging to play. This group is doing an adequate job of playing the difficult quick melodic lines.

    Dean: The third piece Offertory by Domenico Zipoli arranged by Kevin McChesney was performed by the Forte Quartet. The really were working hard to get all the notes. Some of the runs were a little rough. Again this was a classical piece played on handbells.

    Paul: The next song is played by a quartet from the group called “Forte”. This is another song from the classical period written by the lesser known composer Domenico Zipoli. The technical proficiency of this group is really top notch. The running melodic lines in the lower battery notes are hard to accomplish and this group did them without breaking a sweat.

    Dean: The fourth piece is Be Still My Soul arranged by Lorie Line, handbell setting by Kevin McChesney with Susam Hedgpeth on Piano. Good balance between the bells and the piano. They just picked up their bells in a wave. Interesting choreography. This is the first song where the soft is soft enough I needed to really listen to hear it. Wonderful. They have worked hard on their choreography. I find it a little distracting.

    Paul: An arrangement of a song by Lorie Line for handbells and piano. This group really moves together when playing. All of the motions of the bells are synchronized which makes for a striking presentation. Even the lifting of the bells of the tables has been carefully choreographed. It’s all very showy and, I found myself watching more than listening to the music.

    Dean: The fifth piece is Lord of the Dance, a shaker tune, adapted by Sydney Carter, arranged by Kevin McChesney. Once again, I am distracted by the choreography.

    Paul: A very nice arrangement of this song which again has lots of choreographed movements.

    Dean: The sixth piece is Carol of the Bells arranged by Lorie Line, handbell setting by Kevin McChesney. I love the dynamic contrast with the malleted bass bells. They are making strange noises. When the song gets loud and the bass ringers are ringing their bells, they are not as loud as when they are malleting them. Other then the yelping in the middle, this is very similar to a lot of other arrangements of this piece. At the end of this piece, they are rearranging the stage and taking a short break.

    Paul: It’s Dean’s favorite song! This arrangement is by Lori Line arranged for handbells by Kevin McChesney. Incredible dynamics in this piece that start in the bass. The middle section becomes syncopated and the ringers start yelping like they are in a Mariachi band because it has that flavor of Latin music. The treble bells play low towards the table and then bring the bells up all at the same time giving the sound a tower bell like crescendo.

    Dean: The seventh song is Carillon by Kevin McChesney. This is being performed by Forte. One ringer is playing two bell trees. There are two standing behind the table and one out front. This was a very nice piece for a quartet.

    Paul: Here is another selection from Forte, the quartet of Pike’s Peak Ringers. This time they have also included a bell tree. I have seen more bell trees at this event then I have ever in my life of handbells. This song is a bell tree solo accompanied by 3 other handbell ringers, one of which is standing in front of the table 4-in-handing. The ending visual of arms over head circling down was very effective.

    Dean: The eighth song is Book of Days by Enya and Nicky Ryan, arranged by Kevin McChesney. As I was looking over the concert program, I was waiting to hear this piece and one other later in the program. If you have been following the podcast for a while, you know I am a fan of new age music. I love the bass part on this piece. Especially with the lower 7th octave. Once again, I am distracted by the choreography. I think I need to close my eyes and listen.

    Paul: The next song is unpublished arrangement of an Enya song.

    Dean: The ninth piece on the program is Celtic Prayer by Julie Turner and Jefferey A. Hall. Closing my eyes for this one. It starts in the trebles. Nice quiet opening with the melody up high. They are bringing out the melody even when it drops into the battery. It could use a little more bass. There are some really cool little runs in the treble. Interesting use of marts. They transition into a chime part and then back out to bells. Very soft malleted chord at the end. Beautiful music.

    Paul: Julie Turner and Jeffery Hall composed this next song. It beings with a gentle Celtic melody which is very nice and well crafted. The B-section of the song speeds up and introduces a dance-like feel with grace notes in the typical Irish style. Now chimes are used as a third section begins in a very hymn-like setting. I am impressed with the crafting of this song by a yet unknown composer. At the end it returns to the A-section Celtic melody to finish the piece with a gentle chord malleted in the air.

    Dean: The tenth piece on the program is In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, arranged by Patricia Cota. Very soft bass mallets in the beginning, with a soft bell line above. The music is now building. The malleted bass is a little overpowering the treble bells. There was an eight note run in the middle that was amazing. This was a fun piece to listen to.

    Paul: Song begins with a statement of the melody as if played from a far. Bass bells malleted on the table very softly with a gentle but driving rhythm. Now the melody moves to the Battery bells as the driving rhythm continues in the bass and the trebles move to a gentle color part malleted in the air. Third statement of the melody grows a bit in volume and returns to the treble bells. Fourth melodic statement is loud and punctuated with mart-lifts in the upper battery/lower trebles. A disappointing ending with a shake-mart.

    Dean: There is an addition to the program. An Irish Blessing by Lorie Line. There will be a special guest. The choir starts out singing. After the first verse, the piano starts playing. The special guest is Debbie Rice. She is singing with the bells and piano in the back ground. This is the softest I have heard them play.

    Paul: Yet another Lori Line arrangement by Kevin McChesney begins with the ringers singing the traditional “Irish Blessing” in 4 parts. The piano takes up the music as the singers stop and then we see Debbie Rice step up to the microphone to once again wow us with her talents! Beautifully done.

    Dean: The eleventh piece on the program is Orinoco Flow(Sail Away) by Enya and Nicky Ryan, arranged by Kevin McChesney. I am very excited to hear this. I have always wondered what Enya’s music would be like on handbells. Closing my eyes again. I really like the chimes in the treble part. I really don’t know what to say about this piece. I think it could work, but this was not the performance I was hoping for.

    Paul: It looks like they have an extra 3-octave set of bells in addition to the 7-octaves on the tables. Kevin walks over and begins to play the low 2’s on this song. It’s a very repetitive song, but it does work well on handbells.

    Dean: The last piece is Ring of Fire – Movement 3 from Concerto for Handbell Choir and Orchestra by Kevin McChesney. Piano is being played by Susan Hedgpeth and Bonnie Linder. The piece starts out very loud and fast. Cool use of marts. I can see why they saved this piece for the closing number. There are a variety of techniques being used that add a lot of color to this piece.

    Paul: Tonight instead of an orchestra, they will be using a piano with 4 hands. This song alternates between 4/4 and 7/8 and I’m a sucker for anything in mixed meters. The handbells are treated like the solo instrument in this Concert. I would really like to hear the entire work with an orchestra.

    Dean: My overall impression is that this group needs to concentrate more on their music and less on the choreography. The music suffered when the choreography became the focus of my attention. When they just played the music, they were much better.

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    Saturday Showcase – 2008 AGEHR National Seminar

    By Dean | August 10, 2008

    Ron Bellamy with accompanist Michael Joy

    Dean: Ron processes in ringing a number of bells. His first piece is Lauda Anima arranged by Susan Luttrell and Arnold Sherman. A very rude hotel staff decided to fill the ice bucket during this song. Ron has a very fluid motion when he is ringing. Mart, Toss, Catch.

    Paul: Ron begins his portion of the program by walking in while ringing his first song Lauda Anima by Lutterell/Sherman. This is a quick and lively song with a catchy melody.

    Dean: Ballade by Kevin McChesney. Ron has amazing control over his playing. The dynamics and phrasing really brings this song to life. This is a very gentle piece. There is a section in the middle where the tempo increases. Wow, Ron moves from bell to bell with such speed and grace. Ron has a very nice way of taking us on a journey with his music. When he finished and the last chord faded away the room sat very still in the silence. Amazing.

    Paul: The next song is Ballade by Kevin McChesney. Ron tells the story of how this piece was written in memory of a boy who died while Kevin was still in High School. A very beautiful melody to accompany such a sad story. The song is written in ABA form with the A-section being very lyrical and uplifting in it’s tonality. The B-section of the song is livelier and has a very joyous feel. Then a return to the A-section to finish out the song. This sounds like a very fun solo to play. Ron is a very musical solo ringer. I am really enjoying watching him.

    Dean: Psalm of Love by Kevin McChesney. This song is a blend of familiar hymn tunes. There is a great interplay between the piano and the bells. Ron plays with a lot of feeling which is evident in his motions, the music he creates and his presence on stage. From this performance, I can tell that the music is the most important part of Ron’s performances. There has been a lot of time spent on how that music will be presented to the audience. Wow this is a very long piece for a solo artist. Beautiful.

    Paul: The third song is Psalm of Love arranged by McChesney. It begins with a statement of the tune Of The Father’s Love Begotten in cannon with the piano. After the introduction we move into another hymn tune (the title of which escapes me at the moment) on the bells with phrases of “Of The Father’s Love” in the piano. Ron is a very fluid performer as a solist. Many times soloists are choppy with their melody lines, but Ron excels at connecting the notes to make music. I wish that Ron had told us more about this song before he began to play it. I really like it when performers tell us about the piece before they play. I think it creates a better and more intelligent audience. I hate early clappers. After such a beautiful song, people stated to clap as soon as Ron damped his bells.

    Dean: His last piece is America the Beautiful arranged by Sueda Luttrell and Arnold Sherman. I am amazed that there is only one person playing this piece. It sounds so smooth. I love the change in style from the first verse to the second. The playing is so wonderful, I am just sitting here with my eyes closed listening. Fantastic mini concert.

    Paul: The last song is America the Beautiful by Lutterell/Sherman. Not being in the solo handbell world much, I was unaware of Lutterell until this year. This composer truly has a gift for writing solo music. Ron is very theatrical when he plays, and I mean that in a good way. He is able to dramatize the movements he is making to accentuate the affect of the song.

    Tampa Day School.

    Dean: This is one of three school that received a three octave set of handchimes donated by Schulmerich for the 50th year celebration of AGEHR. This is the first public performance for this group.

    Paul: The Tampa Day School is a special school for students with learning disabilities. This is their first performance outside of their school.

    Dean: The first three songs, Jingle Bells, Silent Night Holy Night, Up on the House Top, are from Martha Lynn Thompson’s Ready to Ring Series. Its really great to see a group of elementary student learning our instrument. They gave the largest chimes to the smallest person in the group. They did a wonderful job with the three short pieces.

    Dean: Their final piece is Kum Bah Yah arranged by Barbara Brocker. Two of the students are playing the melody on bell trees. The remainder of the group is providing accompaniment on the chimes. Barbara has joined them on her own bell trees. This is a great example of what can happen when we get musical instruments into our schools.

    Paul: It is a joy to watch this group of students with learning disabilities excel at something so wonderful. They are doing a really nice job with the songs they are playing. Their last song is a song with 2 bell trees and accompanied on chimes. What a tremendous experience for these young people. The audience is giving the group a standing ovation. Good for them.

    Barbara Brocker

    Barbara opens her portion of the concert with A Day of Celebration by Kathie Mackie arranged by B. Brocker.

    Her second piece is Meditation from the Opera Thais by J. Massenet/P. Taffanel arranged by B. Brocker.

    Her third piece is Christmas Tree-O arranged by B. Brocker.

    Her fourth piece is Pachebel’s Canon by J. Pachelbel arranged by H. Hopson, bell tree solo arrangement by B. Brocker.

    Her fifth piece is Amazing Grace arranged by B. Brocker.

    Her last piece is Symphonia on Hyfrydol arranged by Kevin McChesney. She is joined by Ron Bellamy. They play the opening section of this piece as a duet from the tables. Then when they move to the bell tree part they are joined by about 30 other ringers each with their own bell trees.

    Dean: This is an area of handbell ringing that I have not seen very much. Its like solo ringing only much faster. Barbara makes the bells sing. Her musical phrasing is wonderful and her use of different mallets adds a lot of color to the performance.

    Paul: Barbara has a very unique idea of playing solos on bell trees. I have not seen this before this week and I am really intrigued by it. I am amazed that she is able to do fast songs and slow songs and not be hindered by the fact that she is unable to damp any of the bells. It is obvious that every song has been in the same key because she has not changed her bell trees at all. Either that or she has all the chromatics on the tree. Barbara never talked before any of her songs, which made it a bit uninteresting for me to listen to.

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    13th International Handbell Symposium Final Concert

    By Dean | August 8, 2008

    Dean: Paul and I are sitting in the very back row of the bleachers. We are looking down over this very, very large room. In front of us we see the 850 ringers from the International Symposium, the entire Distinctly Teen participants, two grand pianos, a 20 person choir, the Orlando Concert Band, two conducting platforms and a whole bunch of people here to listen to this concert. The bleacher hold about 750 people and they are mostly full. Lots of room noise. Band members warming up. People talking and taking photos. The band is not tuning up.

    Paul: As I sit here in anticipation of the final concert for the international Symposium, I am struck by the amount of people crammed into the rather large section of risers. It’s good to see so many people here to listen to this concert. Listening to bits and pieces of this concert throughout the week I am excited to hear all the songs in their entirety. It will be a truly once in a lifetime experience.

    Dean: The concert begins with the usual announcements. The concert opens with selections performed by the Orlando Concert Band. They played three numbers. There are a number of people walking in during the performance. They should just wait until the piece has finished.

    Paul: The concert begins with selections from the Orlando concert band. They are a very good concert band, but I am here to listen to handbells.

    The Symposium Massed Choirs

    Dean: Carmina Burana by Carl Orff/William Griffin Conducted by Deborah Rice (USA). Assisted by Jennifer Hughes and Michael Helman, Piano and the Orlando Concert Band. Debbie Rice takes the podium. The ringers rise and get ready to play. Bells up. From the opening chord I am struck with awe. They have really worked on their dynamics. When I listen to massed groups, there is always a little separation in the chords. With this group, that separation has been minimized. The addition of the Orlando Concert Band realy adds to this piece. Love the Gong. The second movement of the piece starts with flute and piano. The chimes are very haunting. There is this ominous sound behind the playing. Once again I am stunned by the control Debbie Rice has over her musicians. The third movement of the piece is back to the loud, in your face, sound, with the addition of the full band and the pianos. As I look out over the room, everyone is moving together. Its visually exciting to watch. What a powerful piece to do with a large group of handbell ringers.

    Paul: Carl Orff’s seminal work begins the concert with Debbie Rice at the baton. It involves not only the handbells, but the concert band and 2 pianos as well. This is an incredible arrangement by William H. Griffin, no words can describe the raw power of 850+ ringers and a concert band all playing together. At first when I read they were going to play this I was a bit skeptical about how it would sound. Now there is no doubt that this is a handbell masterwork! It’s too bad that this is the one and only performance of this song. Word from the board is that this was a one-time performance and after the concert all the music must be turned in and destroyed.

    Dean: The Bells in My Heart by Kazuko Okamoto Conducted by Toshikazu Yoshida (Japan). This is a great second piece. It is very different from the first. With very gentle moments and some fast and furious moments. The director has one of the largest batons I have ever seen. His control is also amazing. The ringers respond to his movements like he has been their director for years. What a wonderful piece. This is the fourth time I have heard a piece from this composer and I have to say that I am very impressed with her work. I will be asking some of the music distributors to carry her works. I cant wait to play some of them.

    Paul: Written by a Japanese composer. A very lyrical piece that has a unique sound that I have not heard in most handbell compositions. It sounds very familiar and yet foreign to my ears. It is really a synthesis of the “traditional” handbell sound and the Japanese style of writing. I am amazed at how well this very large group of ringers is accomplishing the dynamics of this song. The director Yoshida has amazing control over this group and it is no wonder he is here representing his country on the podium.

    Dean: Introduction and Toccata on “The Day Thou Gavest” arranged by Graeme Morton Conducted by Carmel Daveson (Australasia). The piece starts of with mallet rolls and and chimes, then moves to bells. The tune is familiar to me. There seems to be a lot going on and the melody gets a little lost behind the wall of sound. The more I listen to massed playing, the more I fell there are songs that are not meant to be played in a massed setting.

    Paul: Song begins with a crescendo rolled chord. The composer Graeme Morton is a well known Choral composer/conductor in Australia and I am excited to see his name on a handbell composition. Once again I am confronted with sounds that are at once familiar and stretch my imagination. The trebles are playing an ethereal wave of sounds as the chimes slide a melody underneath which is at once taken up by the treble bells as the wave sound continues down into the battery. The melodies and tonalities of this song are very deceptive, as is the case in the Australian choral music that I have heard. Just when you think it’s going to resolve itself one way, it turns or sets you on the edge. A very lovely and unique song. On the final chord the bells are run, slowly raised above their heads and then back down to the table. Not only making a beautiful looking ending, but creating a crescendo, decrescendo to finish the piece.

    The Distinctly Teen Choirs

    Dorian Dance by Michael Joy Conducted by Tim Waugh (USA). I love this piece. They Distinctly Teen groups are way in the back of the room. Everyone is leaning in, ready for the piece to start. Tim Waugh starts them out with his very enthusiastic directing. The teens are responding very well to his direction. What a fantastic piece and what a great group to perform it.

    Paul: At this point in the program the Distinctly Teen ringers play Dorian Dance led by Tim Waugh. They are way in the back of the huge ballroom.

    The Symposium Massed Choirs

    Dean: Dancing Raindrops by Patricia A Thomson Conducted by Susan Carscadden-Mifsud (Canada). The piece starts out very soft with thumb damped bells. There is a rain stick, or more then one. There are many repeated notes sounding like a gentle rain shower. Ouch bad ritard. More rain sticks. The piece ends with a soft section and more rain sticks. Its a nice piece.

    Paul: Susan Carscadden-Mifsud from canada is the director for the next piece. Song begins with thumb damped bells to paint the picture of “raindrops”. The addition of the rainsticks could have been nice if they were farther away and not so prominent. I really love how martellatos sound in this room. Either the ringers are really accomplished at doing them gently or the room is very kind because they sound marvelous.

    Dean: Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him! By Fred Gramann Conducted by Keith Rowland (United Kingdom). Keith does not use a baton when he directs. He uses his whole body, much as a choral director would. I love the upper chimes with the melody on this piece. Now the chimes have moved down into the battery, then the whole thing on bells. The dynamic control is amazing. Debbie Rice is now singing. Is there anything Debbie cant do? Now the whole room is singing. WOW. The blending of the voices and the bells are wonderful. I think this is the first time the bells have drowned out the voices. Amazing. I hope some day to ring under the direction of Keith Rowland.

    Paul: Keith Rowland from the UK directs this Fred Gramann arrangement. A single melody line begins this song and then is joined by ascending arpeggios that sound like angels in the clouds. I am amazed at how well the single melody notes are together. The chimes begin with the melody “Hyfrydol” which crescendos and then ends with a single bell note. We temporarily waver between major and minor tonalities as we head into the transition of the piece. Debbie Rice now steps up to the microphone and begins to sing the melody of the hymn tune with a beautiful soprano voice…is there anything this woman cannot do!!?!?! Chills as the entire 850 ringers join in with the hymn tune while they ring. What a glorious sound! The voices end on a held note and then are cut off to allow the last measure of the song to sound on the bells. Amazing!

    Dean: Moon Over the Ruined Castle by Rentarou/Kazudo Okamoto Conducted by Kunihiko Taniuchi (Japan). Another piece from Kazudo Okamoto. What a haunting beginning. The crescendoed shake with the melody underneath is wonderful to listen to. The composers use of the different tonality of the chimes adds a lot to this piece. It has become very clear that we should be looking at the Japanese for their leadership in the handbell world. Their composers, directors and choirs are simply amazing. And this composer in particular really understands the instrument and how to get the most from it. The ending just took my breath away.

    Paul: Kunihiko Taniuchi conducts the next song written by a Japanese composer. Quick shakes in the trebles begin the song with a soft bell/chime melody underneath. It is at once gentle and sharp sounding. The a-section ends with a single bell note and the b-section is taken up on all chimes. This section ebbs and flows with crescendos and decrescendos bringing forth a beautiful lyrical melody painting this picture of “the ruined castle” in our minds. Again I am amazed at how the Japanese composers have taken our handbell sound and mixed it with a uniquely Japanese sound to create sonorities that are so engaging. The third section has quick descending arpeggiated treble bells while the battery/upper bass take the melody. The end is a wall of sound with descending bell lines and chords, shakes with the final chord on the bass bells/chimes. Wonderful.

    The Festival Handbell Choir – Conducted by David Weck (USA)

    Dean: Morning Has Broken arranged by Joel Raney. This song starts with chimes and triangle. It adds a bell melody and Joel Raney playing piano with the groups. The use of bells with chimes and the marted bells makes this piece very interesting to listen to. What is usually a very soft and flowing piece is punctuated with little surprises. Wind Chimes! I love wind chimes. David has great control over the ringers. Every change in tempo and style were exactly what they should be. This is a piece I will have to look at for my group.

    Dean: Carnivale by Michael J. Glasgow. Concert whip and ratchet…Cool. Having met Michael Glasgow this weekend, I can really see his personality in this piece. Slide whistle. Juggler. Acrobat. Even the director is having a little fun with this piece. Sword swallower. A whole lot of silliness and some great handbell ringing too. What more could anyone ask for.

    Paul: I was drafted to play in the festival choir, so I am not going to review it, but rather tell a few things about being in it. It is always wonderful to ring under David Weck. Of all the conductors I have rung under, David is by far the clearest and most accomplished musical leader. We first played Joel Raney’s new arrangement of Morning has Broken. A beautiful piece with low chimes and a very “early morning” feel to it. Then we played Carnivale by Michael Glasgow. This is a hoot of a piece that mimics carnival music. David added all sorts of people doing different things like juggling and other circus type things. However, as he was doing the additions he made it clear that he would not be doing this if the music we were playing was not being played so well. It must be good music before you add the other stuff because the music is the most important.

    They Symposium Massed Choirs

    Dean: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God arranged by Cathy Moklebust Conducted by Jae-Weoul Song (Korea). This week it has been rare that I recognize a tune. I have played this piece. It has a fun malleted bass line. I know this piece is not the easiest to play. WOW loud chimes. The bells really are playing soft enough that the chimes come out above them. You can tell that the director has taken the time to bring out the parts of the music that are important while keeping control over the dynamics. I am very impressed with that performance and its even more impressive that this was a massed group.

    Paul: One of our own Handbell Community members is the next conductor. Jae-Weoul Song takes the stage to conduct this arrangement by Cathy Moklebust. The song opens with the melody and then the melody in parallel 4ths as the trebles do some random (or what seems random) like ringing. I enjoy that Cathy has not used the square metered version of this hymn tune. She has kept it livelier by sticking closely to the original un-metered version. In the middle, however, the square metered version of the chorale is heard on a full compliment of chimes as the treble bells shimmer underneath. To listen to this piece with a massed choir is like hearing the hymn played on a mighty pipe organ. The bass line is malleted to sound like the pedals of the organ as the song ends. Very original and very fun to listen to.

    The Symposium Massed Choirs, The Distinctly Teen Choirs, and Chorus

    An American Tapestry by Arnold Sherman Conducted by Jason Wells (USA). Assisted by Jane Holstein and Joel Raney, Piano and the Orlando Concert Band

    Dean:

    1. March. - As Jason Wells steps up to the podium, he moves the music stand away. If you have never seen Jason direct, his whole body is involved. This is not your typical march, there are a lot of different things happening. Fast repeated thumb damped notes, slow sections, loud and soft spots.

    2. Jazz Rag. The Jazz style is very hard to do on handbells. Some people are having difficulty with the syncopation. With the addition of the piano, band and chorus, this has rounded out the music. This is a fun piece to watch. Everyone is really getting into the music. I see many people dancing along with the music.

    3. Spiritual. After a nice intro, this piece starts hopping. A great representation of a rousing spiritual. With close to 1000 ringers and only about 20 singers, its amazing that we can still hear them. Great dynamic control from the ringers. There is so much sound in this room, I feel like I am at a rock concert.

    Paul: The final number of the concert will be conducted by Jason Wells and was written by Arnold Sherman specifically for this event! It is a song for everyone who has participated tonight: Massed ringers, Distinctly Teen, The Orlando Concert Band, Joel Raney & Jane Holstein on the piano, as well as a vocal choir. The first movement is a March and sounds very Sousa-like. The trebles are doing little tremolos doubling with the flutes in the concert band. As is typical in the march style, the ending broadens out and crescendos in a final statement of the theme. The second movement is jazz rag which will feature the vocal choir. The opening of the second movement sounds vaguely like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Then it grows and adds the pianos and choir to sound more like a traditional ragtime song. Then a transition into another section that hints at Gershwin. What an interesting piece. Arnold Sherman really has captured this style and also created a new style of Gershwin-rag-jazz. The third movement is a Spiritual. This movement begins with “study war no more” a slower version of the ending of the melody to “Down by the riverside”. Then it picks up and we hear the traditional spiritual “down by the riverside” in the faster tempo we all know. How amazing that with all these ringers, the syncopation of the melody has not gotten faster or dropped any beats. This just confirms the high caliber of ringer that attends this event! What a great ending to the concert…a wall of sound with band, choir, handbells, and dual pianos. Jason is about ready to fly off the podium.

    Dean; Conclusion. For a massed concert, this was one of the best concerts I have been to. For the most part, the ringers were together, they followed the directors, and they created wonderful music.

    Paul: As I watched this concert I am struck by how rude and completely oblivious audience members are to the rules and decorum of concert listening. People walk in the door and across the front of the ringing area without a second thought. As a music educator I am challenged and saddened by this. It is obvious to me that we need to teach adults as well as children how to be a respectful audience.

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    Internation Symposium News

    By Dean | August 8, 2008

    The local all news channel will be covering the International Symposium all day today.  They will be doing short segments every half hour.  I tried to find a live feed on their site but I was unsuccessful.  You can find the news station at: http://www.cfnews13.com/

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