This Month
Space Still Open for Virtual Winter Workshop
National Seminar Pre-Registrants May Now Complete Registrations
Scholarships Available for National Seminar
Like many non-profits, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed Handbell Musicians of America in the middle of difficulties, but therein lies an opportunity to
Renew Our Vision
Refresh Our Mission
Refocus Our Future Together
Handbell Musicians of America remains committed to uniting people into a diverse musical community that advances the art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication.
National Events
GO HERE to find out more about all our national events.
Become a Sustaining Partner
Upgrade your membership to SUSTAINING PARTNER and play an important role in ensuring the future of Handbell Musicians of America. As a SUSTAINING PARTNER
- You are CONNECTED to the handbell community
- You are IN PARTNERSHIP with other handbell musicians
- You are NURTURED through education and resources
Help build a pension for the Guild, by contributing to the HERITAGE FUND
Announcements
HANDBELL MUSICIANS OF AMERICA MAILING ADDRESSES
Please note that any PAYMENTS sent to the Guild should now go to the following address:
Handbell Musicians of America PO Box 221047 Louisville, KY 40252
This includes membership renewal, contributions, event registration payments, invoice payments, etc.
All GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE that DOES NOT include a check payment should should be sent to:
Handbell Musicians of America 201 E. Fifth Street Suite 1900-1025 Cincinnati, OH 45202
Spaces Are Still Open for Our
Virtual Winter Workshop February 26-27
There is still time to register for the Handbell Musicians of America Virtual Winter Workshop. This is an opportunity to work with a wide range of expert instructors on an assortment of handbell related topics. During this stressful time of the pandemic, when we can’t gather in person, take advantage of this chance to learn, grow and share your enthusiasm from the comfort of your own home.
The only equipment required is your computer and a solid internet connection. Having bells at home may enhance the experience of some of the courses but are not required. Instructors include Paul and Stevie Berryman, Marie Clyatt-Larson, Mitchell Eithun, Linda Krantz, Venita MacGorman, Kristen MacGorman Maupin, Derek Nance, Michèle Sharik, and Kathleen Wissinger. The two-day virtual workshop will include twelve sessions with nine different one- to four-session track options. Registrants will be able to attend 12 sessions live and then have access to watch the recordings of all sessions for a week following the event.
National Seminar Pre-registrants May Now Complete Registration and Select Classes
As a National Seminar pre-registrant, you may now complete your registration and select your classes before registration opens to the rest of the membership on March 1.
We have many fine classes to choose from, but early registration is recommended to ensure the best choices are available. We recommend looking over the class descriptions and schedules and completing your registration as soon as possible.
SeminarClasses Registration Info
We look forward to seeing you this summer in The Valley of the Sun!
Scholarships Available for National Seminar
Thanks to the generosity of contributors who fund our various scholarships, we are pleased once again to offer a number of them for National Seminar, some of which cover all or part of registration, lodging, and travel expenses.
Video of the Month
Here’s a fun video by The RingNYC, a community of handbell musicians residing in New York City. The RingNYC provides various ringing opportunities throughout the season for junior and senior high schoolers, college students, young professionals and beyond. This cover of “Happy” is arranged by CJ Caminiti and the group describes it as “for handbells, percussion, and your best moves.” To learn more about The RingNYC, have a look at their website at https://theringnyc.org.
Brian’s Music Notes
with Brian Childers
Rejoice! The Lord is King
arr. Susan E. Geshke
AG 3081
3 Octaves, Level 3-
This wonderful Susan Geshke arrangement is one you don’t want to miss. This setting opens with a fanfare of eight measures, moving straightaway into a bold statement of the tune in 4/4. Following a quick transition into 6/8, the second verse (and third if taking the indicated repeat) uses a running eighth note pattern to highlight the lilting melody with echoes and marts in the accompaniment. The final verse returns to 4/4 and moves to a close with another fanfare. This great setting is fun to ring and a great addition to both worship and concert settings.
Open the video below to hear the background from the composer and to hear and see a scrolling recording.
More on the background of “Rejoice! The Lord is King”
Charles Wesley (1707-1788), composer of over 6500 hymns, composed the text for “Rejoice! The Lord is King.” Wesley published 30 books of his poetry when he wasn’t preoccupied with preaching alongside his brother, John. In the “Wesleyan Hymn Book,” 623 of the 770 hymns utilize texts written by Charles Wesley.
The tune DARWALL most commonly associated with this hymn was composed by John Darwall (1732-1789). Darwall was the son of a pastor who attended Manchester Grammar School and Brasenose College, Oxford, England. He became the curate and later the vicar of St. Matthew’s Parish Church in Walsall, where he remained until his death. Darwall was a poet and amateur musician. He composed a soprano tune and bass line for each of the 150 psalm versifications in the Tate and Brady New Version of the Psalms of David (l696). In an organ dedication speech in 1773 Darwall advocated singing the “Psalm tunes in quicker time than common [in order that] six verses might be sung in the same space of time that four generally are.”
(Source: Hymnary.org)
Until next month,
Brian Childers
Music Adviser
