This MonthDavid R. Davidson Composition Contest Announced Master Series 2014 – Options for Every Handbell Musician! Member Spotlight: Jean Hillman
Member Rewards
Offer expires 9-15-2013 FeaturedResource
Music educator Marilyn Lake brings you “Handchime Curriculum for Schools,” based on the nine content standards in music education (MENC). Handbell Musician Resources are free to all current Handbell Musicians of America members. Visit Handbell Musician Resources>> Announcements
National Events
|
 |
[trackable_share]
David R. Davidson Composition Contest Announced
The Davidson Composition Fund was created in October 2009 to encourage the composition of original works for advanced handbell ensembles. Works selected for awards from this fund will illustrate the high musical standards embodied by Maestro David Davidson. The winning composition will be premiered at Distinctly Bronze East in October 2014. See all the details and submission guidelines here: https://handbellmusicians.org/news/davidsoncontest/ Master Series 2014 – Options for Every Handbell Musician!
Master Series returns in 2014 offering four class options for handbell musicians of all levels:
All event activities will take place at the Cincinnati Airport Marriott, January 31 through February 3, 2014. Event registration is now open. See all the details and register today here: https://handbellmusicians.org/events/master-series-2014-registration-now-open/ Member Spotlight: Jean HillmanI have been ringing bells for close to 40 years in bell choirs and a quartet. But it was only 12 years ago, at the age of 70, I started solo ringing. There were probably 3 things that brought this about. First, my daughter, Ellen Woodard, had been ringing solos for some years and became very good at it; she encouraged me to try. Second, our new music and arts coordinator at church encouraged me to try and offered to accompany me, even if it was just to ring solos for our own amusement. Third, I wanted to buy a CD of Christine Anderson’s solo ringing to give my daughter as a Christmas gift. In my e-mail to Christine, I mentioned I admired all who solo rang and would love to also do it, but unfortunately, at the age of 70, felt I was too old. Christine e-mailed me back saying her father had taken up solo ringing at about that age, and I should “go for it.” I started with Christine Anderson’s red book (Songs for the Solo Ringer). The first pieced I chose was “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” and I worked so hard on it, making appropriate marks as to how and when to change bells, that by the time I was to ring for the first time in church I practically had it memorized. Even now I can “ring” it while going to sleep, with all the right changes. As time went on and I worked on more pieces, it became second nature how and when to switch bells. That made it possible for me to sight read solos fairly easily. I guess when one reaches this point, one is really a solo ringer. I have several favorites, but “Morning Joy,” arranged by Christine Anderson, which combines “Morning Has Broken” and “Ode to Joy,” will always be at the top of my list. A close second is “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” arranged by S. Ford. I will be 82 on August 31, and I have been asked to ring a solo in the church I attend in the summer the next Sunday. If the church can borrow the bells, I will ring “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Watch for “Misterium” Coming Soon
Attendees of National Seminar in Portland, Oregon, were treated to an exclusive preview of the first Virtual Handbell Ensemble’s performance of James Meredith’s “Misterium.” Around 435 individual handbell musicians from 27 states and seven countries, including Australia, Canada, England, Estonia, Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.S., submitted over 575 recordings. The project will soon be complete and will premiere on YouTube and the Handbell Musicians of America website. Music Notes from John BehnkeHappy New Year!
Yes, I know that January 1 is the actual start of a new year, but for educators, church musicians, and parents, the new year seems to begin around Labor Day. That’s when school starts up again, church and handbell choirs resume their practices, and the summer vacations are over. With the start of this new year, you can either be depressed that summer is over or you can approach the new year “With a Joyful Spirit.” I’m hoping you choose “With a Joyful Spirit.” This month’s highlighted piece is Paul McKlveen’s “With a Joyful Spirit,” AG35319. It’s a Level 3 piece and is the winner of the 2013 Area 2 Festival /Conference Composition Contest. I asked Paul what inspired him to write this piece and he said, “I actually wrote it several years ago and had submitted it to an earlier Area 2 composition contest, but it wasn’t chosen as the winner. When I decided to enter it last year, I did some editing to make it a little shorter and tweaked it as well. As I recall, I wrote it because I wanted to write something that had repeated notes on the offbeat similar to what Sallie Lloyd did with her original work ‘Reverberations.’ For example, check out measures 13 through 32 and look at the B4/C5 part. I really liked the sense of drive and momentum in “Reverberations” and wanted to write something that would convey the same idea.”
Paul said, “I currently have a part-time job where I serve as the handbell program coordinator at First Presbyterian Church in Neenah, Wisconsin. In this role I direct one handbell choir and participate in/lead a handbell quartet. I also volunteer as the website administrator for Area 7, and continue to compose and arrange, when time permits, handbell music.” And what does Paul do in his free time? Well, he said, “Actually, my involvement in handbells is my hobby. I have a B.S. in computer science and a B.S. in mathematics, and I’m currently employed in the Information Technology department at Schneider National Inc.” If you don’t know, Schneider National is a huge trucking firm that sends orange trucks all over the country. My ringers will testify to the fact that this piece is just plain fun and puts one in a joyful spirit. It’s filled with techniques, as Paul said, which explains why it won the Area 2 composition contest. Congratulations, Paul, and thanks for sharing your insights with us. If you are an educator, a church musician, or a parent, Happy New Year! May you approach this new year with a positive and joyful spirit. And maybe Paul’s new piece may just be the one to keep you in that good mood throughout the year. Heck, how can you not be a good mood, when you ring bells? Please take a listen to AG 35319, With a Joyful Spirit by Paul McKlveen here at http://www.lorenz.com/product.aspx?id=AG35319 Until next month, John Behnke |
The third David R. David Composition Contest is now open and accepting submissions.
