Vinyl and Shellac Recordings of Handbell Ensembles
Bristol Folk Publications are looking for information about recordings of Handbell Ensembles on Vinyl and Shellac for a forthcoming book "British Bell Records" in a section about "Church Bells, Tower Bells, Carillons and Handbells".
Mark Jones would be interested in any information members have about recordings in the following list.
He has already found a 45 rpm record of Norbury playing Estudiantina and Minuet and Trio and any other information would be appreciated.
Mark Jones - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Handbells (ensembles only - solo records not part of research)
78s (all double-sided 10" discs unless stated)
THE FAMOUS BARNARDO MUSICAL BOYS: Legend of the Bells “Les Cloches des Corneville”/Chiming Bells of Long Ago (Columbia, 4362, June 1927)
THE FAMOUS BARNARDO MUSICAL BOYS: In a Monastery Garden/Levanto Polka (Columbia, G 9106, June 1928)
THE FAMOUS BARNARDO MUSICAL BOYS: The Chimes of Rouen/The Bells of St. Mary’s (Regal, MR 503, 1932)
SPLICED SURPRISE MAJOR: I/II (Private release via Personal Recordings, prob. July 1937, 12”)
Reissue of above (Private release via Personal Recordings, May 1960, 12”)
LEICESTER DIOCESAN GUILD OF BELL RINGERS: Stedman Cinques (Leicester Cathedral)/Cambridge Surprise Major on Handbells (Recosound, 1952)
NORBURY HANDBELL RINGERS: Estudiantina/Minuet and Trio (Times, around 1953)
7” records
It’s Christmas with the Thurlstone Bell Orchestra (Private release via Deroy, DEROY 956, 1975, 7” LP)
It’s Christmas Once Again with the Thurlstone Bell Orchestra (Private release via Look, LK/EP 6375, 1979, 7”)
THE CONCORD RINGERS: Sounds Appealing: Belle of the Ball/Forgotten Dreams (Ridgeway Music, RF-CS, prob. October 1982, 7”)
LPs with unknown release dates
GNOSALL ST. LAWRENCE SCHOOL BELLRINGERS: Title unknown (Deroy, 10”)
THE NORTHWICK HANDBELL RINGERS, WORCESTER/NORTHWICK MANOR JUNIOR SCHOOL HANDBELL RINGERS, WORCESTER: Music on Handbells from
Worcester (Private release via Happy Face, MMLP 2023, 1980s)
LPs with known release dates
THE THURLESTONE HANDBELL RINGERS: Thurlestone Bells Number One (Private release via Deroy, DEROY 750, 1972)
ECCLESFIELD HANDBELL RINGERS: Ecclesfield Handbell Ringers (Private release via Saydisc, CP 108, May 1974)
GNOSALL HANDBELL RINGERS: The Sound of Bells Volume 1 (Private release via Hollick & Taylor, HT/LPS 1497, July 1976)
THURLSTON BELL ORCHESTRA: Thurlstone Bells No. 2 (Private release via Look, LKLP 1-6063, December 1976)
SOUND IN BRASS: Music by Sound in Brass Handbells (Saydisc, SDL 274, January 1977)
THURLSTON BELL ORCHESTRA/GNOSALL HANDBELL RINGERS: Sparkling Bronze (Grosvenor, GRS 1059, December 1977)
THE PRICE HAND BELL RINGERS: The Price Ringers (Private release via Great Western Records, DM 014, June 1978)
SOUND IN BRASS HANDBELLS: Handbells in Harmony (Saydisc, SDL 289, December 1978)
GROSMONT HANDBELL RINGERS: Four in Hand (Saydisc, SDL 298, 25 October 1979)
BELLES & BEAUS: Belles & Beaus (Saydisc, SDL 315, 1980)
THE OTTERY ST. MARY HANDBELLS: The Ottery St. Mary Handbells (Exon, EAS 32, pres. late 1980)
LAUNTON HANDBELL RINGERS: Modal Melodies (Saydisc, SDL 307, November 1980)
CHANGE RINGING ON HANDBELLS GROUP: Change Ringing on Handbells (Saydisc, SDL 310, February 1981)
GNOSALL HANDBELL RINGERS: The Sound of Bells Vol. 2 (Private release via Saydisc, CP 128, 1982)
VARIOUS: Ringing Clear (Saydisc, SDL 333, November 1982)
THE THURLSTONE BELL ORCHESTRA: Cubley Brook (Private release via Look, LKLP 6740, 1983)
KENNET & AVON HANDBELL RINGERS: Kennet & Avon Handbell Ringers (Private release via Saydisc, CP 129, July 1983)
THE PARKTOWN TUNE RINGERS: For the Joy of Ringing (Label unknown, prob. December 1983)
BELLES & BEAUS HANDBELL RINGERS: Ring in England (Private release via Saydisc, CP 132, November 1984)
The following all include minimal handbell content.
7” records
MOODY CHORAL CLUB AND HANDBELL CHOIR: Some Bright Morning (Cathedral Recordings, CRL 101, 1963, EP) - only one handbell track
VARIOUS: The Sound of Bells (Record Books, LYN 746 & LYN 747, November 1964, 7” LP, with book) 1st track Moody Choral Club.
LPs
The Washington Peal (Record Books, RB 9/1, November 1965)
Music from Dartington (Saydisc, SDLB 246, 1973)
THE CHOIR OF ST. SWITHUN’S EAST RETFORD: Sing We Merrily (Pad, PAD 056 S, 1975)
St. John’s – 1975 (Private release via Sound News Studios, SM 76, 1975)
Saddleworth Christmas (Pennine, PPS 148LP, 1978)
Enchanted Carols (Saydisc, SDL 327, December 1981)
Pleasures and Treasures (Saydisc, SDLC 362, September 1986)
Music and Folklore from Devon: Just One More Song (The Daylight Company Ltd., LD5030, 1987)
US-pressed LPs distributed in the UK
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE WOMEN’S GLEE CLUB & HANDBELL CHOIR: A New Song to the Lord (Super Records, SR-2028, 1962) Sold on 1963 UK tour.
CALVIN HANDBELL RINGERS: Joyful Bells (Omnisound, N 1014, 1977) Imported in relatively large numbers during 1978.
Christmas at Norbury 2023
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This year Norbury Handbells had enquiries from new Care Homes we had not visited before. One of the entertainments managers said it had been on her bucket list to see handbells played live. As with any new venue, the space and layout is often an issue and it sometimes comes as a surprise how much room we take up with 120 bells, tables, foam and music stands. The day centre at Handforth was very spacious and we enjoyed playing to an appreciative audience of clients and staff. Sometimes we get requests for tunes which are not in our repertoire, such as “Walking in the Air”, but Jingle Bells and White Christmas always go down well. We played one concert after our Christmas Meal Out which is usually out last meeting before Christmas and a well-deserved sigh of relief after the business of Christmas. It was lovely to see how beautifully the homes were decorated for Christmas and that we had added to their celebrations.
Maghull Christmas Concert 2023
Maghull Christmas Concert 2023
Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers will be performing a Christmas Concert with Bronze Carillon at St Andrew's Church, Maghull.
The program of Festive Music will begin at 2pm on Sunday 10th December 2023.
Entry is free but a retiring collection will be taken.
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
Northwest HRGB Autumn ClusteRing
Sale Moor Methodist Church, 299 Northenden Road,
Sale
M33 2PP
Saturday 14th October 2023
10.30am to 4pm
MASSED RINGING MUSIC: The pieces will be:
- Reflection on Finlandia – Malcolm Wilson’s arrangement. NW members should already have copies of this – if not please contact Irene Merson.
- Angels From the Realms of Glory arranged by Ryan Price – This is available free, only to HRGB members, through HRGB Sales. If you can’t download it, contact Irene.
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The Wheels On The Bus – Sandra Winter’s arrangement. Will be sent by email.
We assume that teams will play 2 individual items, duration up to 4 minutes each. You are reminded of the need to comply with copyright legislation - all teams will be required to sign a declaration on the day.
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Please bring one raffle prize per team and remember your packed lunch and mug
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.
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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 8th 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 5th August and is well worth a trip over the border to Yorkshire for anyone interested in bells and bellringing history.
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Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers 40th Birthday
Maghull's 40th Birthday Concert
On 1st July 2023 Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers held a concert to mark 40 years since their founding.
The concert kicked off with Good King Wenceslas, an unusual choice for a hot midsummers day. However Beth explained that Good King Wenceslas was the first piece the team ever played in public, this being at their first rally in 1983.
The team used the original bells for this piece and the band included founding members Simon and Molly Rennie.
Then came Grazioso by Arnold Sherman a piece which brought back memories of the Canada International Symposium which Maghull attended in Toronto, Canada.
The next piece was Birthday Rag, highly appropriate for the 40th celebration and continued with Siya Hamba. This piece of music, which makes use of the African Drum which Simon brought back form a trip to Africa, really got the feet tapping.
The team played a "Pirates of the Caribbean Medly" and "Phantom of the Opera", a favourite of thier long time supporters Marjorie and Jean, now sadly no longer with us.
Then Mountain Mist by Cynthia Dubrinski with Robert accompanying on the flute which had been a favourite of their musical director, Judith Barker. Next came the lovely Meditation on Blaenwern arranged for the team by Malcolm Wilson.
And finally the concert closed with Highland Cathedral, a favourite of Maggie's and purchased for the team by her husband.
Following the excellent concert came the cutting of the cake by Simon and Molly, raffle and refreshments. The team's archives were available to browse and the excellent cake was distributed.
Gallery - Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers 40th
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