Christmas Concert 2023

Christmas Concert 2023

As has become customary, Kinder ringers will be performing a Christmas Concert with Voices in Achord.

This will be on Saturday 9th December at 7.30pm at
Heaton Moor, Stockport.

This year we will be joining the choir in a new piece "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" to words by Longfellow.

We will also be reprising "Christmastime" and the eternally popular "Feliz Navidad". 

2023 Sale Autumn ClusteRing

Wheels on the Bus or tyres on the car
- Sale 2023
           

The Autumn Clustering at Sale Moor Methodists Church Hall was a very enjoyable day.

It started in rain and ended in sun and the teams and significant others from near and far enjoyed learning and listening to some new and familiar music.
“The Wheels on The Bus”, an arrangement of the well-known children’s tune by Sandra Winter was more challenging than anticipated.
It included singing, sshshing and lots of dynamics. It also provided plenty of opportunity for sound effects and improvisation by Josie.

Having arrived with a flat tyre on her car, our conductor visited a nearby tyre garage who saved the day like Angels from the Realms of Glory.

We reprised “Finlandia”, arranged by Malcolm Wilson in memory of Derek Jackson.

Marple rang Meadow Brook and Catherine’s Capers, Norbury rang Grandfathers Clock and Rule Brittania with the help of sub, Irene and Kinder rang Carillon and Marigold.
The Maghull duo rang the more contemporary,  Shake it off and Firework.

Brenda enjoyed going round meeting the teams with her raffle ticket books. The funds raised help to cover the cost of putting on the rally.  

2023 NorthWest Autumn ClusteRing

Noah's Flood Manchester International Festival 2023

  KINDER IN NOYE’S FLUDDE

Ringers from Kinder have played the handbell part for Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde on three separate occasions, but the recent involvement of our trio in a big-scale production in Manchester turned out to be quite different.

As part of the Manchester International Festival it was a co-production between Manchester Collective and Slung Low, a community -based theatre company from Leeds.  In keeping with Britten’s original stipulation only Noah, his wife and the voice of God (in this case Lemn Sissay, the poet, broadcaster and former Chancellor of Manchester University) were professional performers.  Most of the orchestral instrumentalists were young students from the Royal Northern College of Music, HalléYouth Ensembles, Olympias Music foundation and the Opera North Youth Company.  To say we felt a little out of our depth was putting it mildly. We were the oldest taking part by a good 30 years!  However, we were made to feel really welcome by everyone involved.

Our first run-through had been in the rehearsal rooms used by the HalléOrchestra.  A week later we were amazed on arrival at the second venue by the vastness of the warehouse space, next to Piccadilly Station, where the production was to take place.  We were shown the way through dozens of illuminated music stands, stepped over miles of cables and carefully avoided all the microphones before we could take our places.  There were sound checks for all the instruments before the final rehearsal, complete with the 180 children from Leeds who were to be the animals entering the Ark.

After a break for lunch it was time to entertain the sell-out audience.  All went well and ended to rapturous applause.  Having previously said that we would not undertake this venture again we found that working with the renowned, and very patient but exacting conductor, Nic Chalmers, had taught us a lot and the whole experience was so well organised that, this time, we really did enjoy it.

Huddersfield University HRGB Archives

HRGB ARCHIVE EXHIBITION

As already publicised, the HRGB archives, so carefully collated by Alan Hartley, now have a permanent home at Heritage Quay, the archive centre of Huddersfield University.  A special Open Day was held on 8^th July for everyone to view a selection of the exhibits.  There was also the opportunity to try out ringing and to watch a mini-concert given by Clifton Handbell Ringers.

Clifton played a very varied programme of pieces from their repertoire, ranging from calming to lively, old favourites to newer ones.  These included English Country Gardens, Pineapple Rag, Winter, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Teddy Bears Picnic and the exciting Dueling Banjos from the film “Deliverance”, amongst others.  They must have really impressed any non-ringing visitors with their 140+ bells and expertise.

Alan Hartley followed this by guiding everyone round the exhibition with explanations of what was on show.  Not only was it a history of HRGB but also included other handbell memorabilia.  Being able to see the famous Belle Vue Trophy was especially interesting.

There was then the chance, particularly for non-ringers, although others joined in, to “have a go” on Beverley Town’s 12-bell set, led by John Atkinson with his easy- to- read music. Each team had two rehearsals which then produced a very recognisable final “concert performance”.

The free exhibition is open until 5^th August and is well worth a trip over the border to Yorkshire for anyone interested in bells and bellringing history.