Summer Event 2019
Northwest Summer Event at Halton 2019
The Theme of the Summer event this year was
Music from Stage and Screen with various teams in the Spotlight.
Workshops on techniques and transitions were well received.
These were especially helpful for new members, Appleby, who had borrowed the William Hartley loan set of bells and were using Phillip and Donald Bedford's music in number notation. They had started ringing handbells after finding a set of bells in the back of a dusty cupboard in the belfry.
A quiz including clapping rhythms similar to the TV game show Face the Music dummy keyboard round was very challenging. It was won by ringers from Kirby Lonsdale Team.
Dean and Marron Valley ringers dressed as the cast for the ringing of a "My Fair Lady" complation and a French Tricolour Flag was flown for Greystoke's "Les Miserables".
Baby Max conducted Maghull ringing "Nearer my god to thee" and added his own sound effect of a raspberry at the end.
Kirby Lonsdale's contribution of The Muppet Show Theme, complete with Kazoo, made for cutting sattire on the current state of politics.
Techniques Workshop Handout
See the photos at Gallery - 2019 Halton
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Massed Ringing |
Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves |
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Techniques workshop |
Beth McCord referring to a recent article written by |
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Greystoke |
Les Miserables Compilation |
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Appleby |
The Bells of St Mary's, Ode to Joy, Daisy Bells |
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Kinder |
Lullaby of Broadway, Valse Lente from Coppelia, If I were a rich man, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Miss Marple |
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Maghull |
Favourite Things, Nearer My God to Thee |
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Dean and Marron Valley |
My Fair Lady Compilation |
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Transitions workshop |
Hall of the Mountain King, Eleanor Rigby, Dance Suite, Parade of the Tin Soldiers, Virginia Mountain Suite, |
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Tantony |
G&S Little Buttercup, O Sole Mio, Lambeth Walk, |
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Kirby Lonsdale |
Colonel Bogie, Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory, The Muppet Show theme |
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Purdue Handbells Glasgow Concert
PURDUE BELLS
& PURDUE VARSITY GLEE CLUB
of INDIANA, USA, IN CONCERT
FRIDAY 17th MAY 2019
at RUTHERGLEN NEAR GLASGOW.
It was with great excitement when my husband and I set off to drive to Carlisle, park up and catch the train to Glasgow, after checking in to the Grand Central Hotel, we then took a taxi to Fernhill & Cathkin Parish Church, Rutherglen, of course we were a wee bit early. I started talking to a man with an American accent, I said I was representing the North West, HRGB. He hadn't heard of "Cumbria".
I told him we had the smallest church, the highest mountain and the biggest liar.
He said come and meet the Bell Ringers, he explained to them who I was, well what a joy and welcome they gave us. I was invited to have a group photo with the Bell Ringers.
They were a joy to hear, so happy and smiling. Then the Varsity Glee Club Young Male Voice Choir entered the Church, running up both side aisles and the centre aisle. Their voices were stunning. Then the conductor said the choir are going to sing, especially for the ladies.
"You are My Sunshine"
All of a sudden each young man ran to a lady, went down on one knee, held the lady’s hand and sang to them.
Yes,I was included, I never stopped smiling.
At the end of the concert, I was given one of their posters as a "memory" of that wonderful evening!
Norma Parke, bell ringer with Dean, Marron Valley and
the Tantony Ringers.
Marvellous NBO concert in Chester
Northern
Bell Orchestra
Summer Concert
on Saturday 6th July 2019 at 7pm
at All Saints' Church, Hoole Road, Chester
CH2 3HZ
A lovely summer evening was the setting for the NBO concert in Chester.
Conducted by Kate Sawallisch and Robert Pettiner the programme included classics, film music and popular music.
Robert spoke about the moving history of the arrangement of the hymn tune Blaenwern and its link to Maghull handbell ringers.
Good use was made of other instruments as accompanyment. There was a variety with both the full orchestra and Bronze Carillon, a small ensemble who were a sub-set of the whole orchestra. Roger and Christine Lazenby spoke about the history and reach of tune ringing on handbells and about the international community of handbell ringers.
Roger also spoke about the oldest handbell teams in existance and their representation in the Orchestra as well as where the NBO bells had come from. He also talked about the HRGB and the efforts to teach new, young ringers for which a retiring collection was taken.
https://www.facebook.com/northernbellorchestra/
http://northernbellorchestra.org.uk/
NBO concert Saturday July 6th 2019 Chester
Northern
Bell Orchestra
Concert
Saturday 6th July 2019 at 7pm
All Saints' Church, Hoole Road, Chester
CH2 3HZ
Ticket Prices £8
(£6 concessions)
and I urge those within travelling distance of Chester to get tickets.
It would be wonderful to see members of the North West Region there and I can tell you we're in for a real treat!"
Tickets available from
www.eventbrite.co.uk
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-concert-tickets-60946897812
or on the door
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2019 National Rally - Old Windsor
National Rally 2019 – Beaumont Estate Old Windsor
The National Rally 2019 was hosted by the South East region of HRGB
in a grand hotel in
Old Windsor.
Naturally some of the massed ringing reflected this Royal venue
and the imminent arrival of a new Great Grandson for the Queen.
The first evening was an opportunity to view the many stalls and displays of Golden Anniversary Teddy Bear adventures.
During the AGM John and Jane Willis were congratulated on being honoured with the British Empire Medal for services to Handbell Ringing.
Workshops took place in the Royal themed venues during the Saturday with plenty of opportunity to try something new.
The Saturday Evening Concert featured teams representing all the regions in the UK.
The Sunday was like a traditional rally with party pieces interspersed with massed ringing.
Massed Ring- Royalty waltz
Barking Bells - Let it go
Kifra - St Lawrence
Chobham - Da Tanjong Katong
Massed Ring - La Rejouissance, Music for the Royal fireworks
5 Octave -Windlehurst - Parade of the Tin Soldiers by Martha Lane Thompson
Resonance, Boys with Bells - Philipines Tinkling Dance
Massed Ring - Music for a Royal Infant
Ring the Bells for CRISIS
On Thursday 10th October 2019 handbell teams are asked to ring a special piece of Music written by Paul Fincham " Ring the Bells for CRISIS" and record a video of the performance to send to #ringthebellsforcrisis.
This is because 10th October is World Homelessness Day and CRISIS is a charity working towards eliminating homelessness in 10 years. The music is available to buy from Boosey and Hawkes
http://www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Fincham-Paul-Ring-The-Bells-SATB-Divisi/2319797
Purdue University Handbells
Purdue University, Indianapolis USA Handbell Team visit Britain in May 2019
Spring Rally Bury 2019
Northwest Spring Rally at Bury 2019
As the Northwest Region handbell ringers gathered at Bury for the Spring Rally it looked at first as if we might have been locked out. The caretaker came just in time and a mightily relieved committee could get in. After some long journeys almost from the Scottish Borders there was great relief all round.
Beth welcomed the “orphan” ringers from North Wales who had come as individuals, known as the “significant others”. The massed ringing of Di Tanjong Katong was a Singapore Folk song arranged with many different effects. Those ringing four- in-hand were excused from some of the thumb damps as they did not have enough thumbs for four bells! The arrangement was first heard at the International symposium in Liverpool and adopted by Bishops Bells to ring at the Sale Rally last year.
In a bid to be environmentally friendly the ringers had brought a wonderful assortment of mugs for the hot drinks which they could take away and wash at home.
There was fancy dress for the ringing of Pirates of the Caribbean and a teddy bear for Dancing Teddy Bears.
Baby Max attended his first rally at 4 months old and some of the ringing, particularly “All on a Summers Evening” helped to lull him off to sleep.
At the AGM, Beth stood down as Chairperson and she was thanked for her 7 years of service and presented with a card and gift. She is not leaving altogether however, as she will still be a committee member. Linda Parkington kindly agreed to take over as Chairperson and we look forward to hearing her ideas for the Northwest Region of HRGB going forward. See the photos at Gallery - 2019 Bury
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Massed Ringing |
Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves |
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Marron Valley |
Ragtime Ramble |
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Kinder |
Take five |
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St Clements |
Jesu joy of man’s desiring |
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Sale |
All on a summer’s evening |
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Tantony |
Blue Danube |
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Massed Ringing |
Dancing Teddy Bears |
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Bishops Bells |
Cubley Brook |
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Dean |
To God be the Glory |
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Marple |
Carillon |
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Gresford |
Pirates of the Caribbean |
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Massed Ring |
Di Tanjong Katong |
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Gresford |
You raise me up |
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Marple |
Nellie the Elephant |
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Dean |
From a distance |
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Bishops Bells |
American Patrol |
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Happy Birthday Sue and Chris |
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Tantony |
The Happy farmer |
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Sale |
Puttin’ on the Ritz |
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St Clements |
Puff the Magic Dragon |
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Kinder |
Blessed assurance |
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Marron Valley |
When the Saints |
New Arrival (2)
A NEW ARRIVAL FOR OUR CHAIRPERSON!
Just to let you know Max Frederick McCord-Bullock arrived safely, (and quickly!), on Friday 7th December.
He weighed in at a chunky 10lbs4. Needless to say Beth and family are very proud and Jocie is a very chuffed big sister!
Wishing you all a very
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year! 