As you’re in the midst of Holy Week and the Easter Season. It’s time to think of putting the finishing touches on the program year and that might include Pentecost which falls on the fiftieth day after Easter – May 20, 2018. It is the Christian festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his ascension from earth to heaven.
At ChimeWorks, we have filled our store with music scores that are readily available to you for immediate purchase and digital download. Our resources include music for Pentecost at every ringing level.
Since Pentecost falls seven weeks after Easter, this may be the perfect time to get instruments out of the closet and begin a new small group within your congregation. The days seem longer with more daylight and some in your congregation may be ready to get out after a long winter. Folks who may not want to commit to 40 weeks of ringing throughout the program year may consider dedicating six to seven weeks to try their hands at ringing for a short but successful cycle culminating on this festival occasion. If you have been wanting to resurrect your ringing program, we urge you to give this concept a try. With some of the selections below, you may only need six people for this Springtime ringing start. We know you’ll be pleased with the results!
We have suggestions for some very easy music that you might consider in bringing a novice group of ringers together:
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Jason W. Krug
- Octaves Used – Select One: 12 Note, Small Ensemble
- Level: Level 2, Level 2+
- Topic: Advent, All Saints/All Souls, Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, General, Holy Week, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Thanksgiving, Transfiguration
New to the world of twelve-bell literature come these creative arrangements with titles spanning the church year. While each piece uses only twelve bells spanning F5 to C7, not every title uses the “standard” set of twelve bells in F major, leading to harmonies never before heard and hymns never before arranged for this type of ensemble! The eighteen titles found in this reproducible set will find frequent use in your church services and will fast become favorites of both your ringers and congregations. Contents: All Praise to Thee; O King Divine; At the Table; Be Thou My Vision; Breathe on Me, Breath of God; Carol of the Bells; Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies; Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine; Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Come, Ye Thankful People, Come; For All the Saints; Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken; Hail to the Lord’s Anointed; Hosanna, Loud Hosanna; O Sing a Song of Bethlehem; O Sing to the Lord; People, Look East; Thine Is the Glory; To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord; We Believe in One True God; We Three Kings; What Child Is This?; What Wondrous Love Is This
Reproducible Rings (2- 3 Octaves) (3 – 5 Octaves)
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Lloyd Larson
- Level: Level 2
- Topic: Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Patriotic, Pentecost, Transfiguration
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
Arranged with the volunteer handbell ringer in mind, these eight hymn settings by Lloyd Larson are quickly learned and ready to perform with limited preparation time. Engaging settings of familiar hymn tunes guarantee broad appeal to both ringers and listeners. Includes: Ah, Holy Jesus; All Glory, Laud and Honor; America The Beautiful, Fairest Lord Jesus, I Know That My Redeemer Lives; Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart; The Day of Resurrection and What Wondrous Love Is This
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Anna Laura Page, Cathy Moklebust, Kevin McChesney, Margaret R. Tucker, Sondra K. Tucker, Susan Geschke, Valerie W. Stephenson
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 2
- Topic: Advent, All Saints/All Souls, Baptism, Christmas, Easter, General, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Thanksgiving
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
“Ring Around the Year” provides wonderful handchime music for use throughout the year. Most of the pieces are also suitable for general, non-seasonal use. The seven titles in this collection are written for 3, 4, or 5 octaves. This reproducible collection is designed to meet the needs of handchime choirs by helping to stretch their music budgets. With the purchase of this collection, the original purchasing organization (church, school, or community ensemble) is granted permission to make copies as needed for their ringers. This permission to reproduce applies to this product only and does not transfer to other churches or organizations.
All Glory and Praise (2 – 3 Octaves) (3 – 5 Octaves)
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Dan R. Edwards
- Level: Level 2, Level 2+
- Topic: Easter, General, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pentecost
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
Tune sources: American spiritual; ST. THEODULPH; ELLACOMBE; EASTER HYMN; Jean Sibelius; Camille Saint-Saëns; BROTHER JAMES’ AIR; MORECAMBE • Lent, Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, General • Contents: Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley, Palm Sunday Processional (with All Glory, Laud and Honor and Hosanna, Loud Hosanna); Easter Triumph (incorporating Christ the Lord Is Risen Today); The Lord Is My Shepherd; Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart • Levels 2 and 2+ • Ring in the spring with this collection of seasonal favorites carefully selected to highlight Palm Sunday, Easter, as well as other special Sundays in the spring. The selections will be meaningful additions to worship and can be mastered with minimal rehearsal time. Published in editions for 2 or 3 and for 3, 4 or 5 octaves, the two editions are compatible for massed ringing events.
God Reigns, Let Earth Be Glad (2 – 3 Octaves) (3 – 5 Octaves)
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Anna Laura Page, Bill Ingram, Cathy Moklebust, Kevin McChesney, Sandra Eithun
- Level: Level 1, Level 1+, Level 2
- Topic: General, Lent, Pentecost
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
Playable by either handbells or handchimes, this delightful reproducible collection includes accessible hymn arrangements by five outstanding composers. Published in compatible editions for 2 or 3 octaves and for 3, 4 or 5 octaves, the two editions are compatible for festivals and other massed ringing events. The collection will be excellent for developing choirs as well as more experienced groups who need music they can learn quickly. Arrangers: Sandra Eithun; Bill Ingram; Kevin McChesney; Cathy Moklebust; Anna Laura Page Tune sources: CRUSADER’S HYMN; ASSURANCE; TERRA PATRIS; O LAMM GOTTES, UNSCHULDIG; HOLY MANNA
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Margaret R. Tucker
- Octaves Used – Select One: 2 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 1
- Topic: Advent, Christmas, Communion, Easter, Epiphany, General, Holy Week, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Thanksgiving
- Options: Bb Instrument, C Bass Instrument, C Instrument
This second volume of the popular “Harmonies for Hymns” series provides chordal accompaniments for hymns used throughout the church year. As in the previous volume, chords played on handbells or handchimes accompany the hymn melody, which is sung or played by an instrument. Parts for C treble, B-flat treble and C bass instruments are provided. Reproducible sing-along sheets are also included, which are especially useful when ringing at retirement centers or other venues. The hymn accompaniments may also be used together with organ to accompany congregational singing. A list of compatible harmonic hymnal settings is included.
Breathe On Me, O Breath of God (2 -3 Octaves) (3 – 5 Octaves)
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Anna Laura Page
- Level: Level 1
- Topic: General, Pentecost
Breathe on Me, Breath of God is a gentle, thoughtful setting of the hymn tune, TRENTHAM. It offers ringers the opportunities of developing musical phrasing, controlling dynamics, and focusing on the melody as it contrasts with the accompaniment. This piece is appropriate for church settings and other events that offer young ringers the opportunity of ringing before an audience. The 2-3 and 3-5 octave editions are compatible for massed ringing.
If your ringing choir has been busy all year, listed below are some Pentecost suggestions for more experienced ringers:
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Cynthia Dobrinski
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 2+
- Topic: General, Pentecost
- Options: Flute
This soft, sweet tune is set in an easy-to-ring style by Cynthia Dobrinski. Rich, full texture supplements the gentle nature of this pretty hymn-tune.
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Sandra Eithun
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 2
- Topic: General, Pentecost
- Options: Narrator
Incorporating the hymns “Spirit of the Living God” and “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” this setting is an ideal offering for Pentecost, Communion or anytime throughout the church year when the Holy Spirit is highlighted in worship. The optional narration creates the backdrop for contemplating images of a “mighty wind” that was experienced by the disciples on that day. This setting can also be a stand-alone bell piece without the narration. This is a great choice for developing ensembles to work on lyrical LV lines, expression and phrasing.
- Author/Composer/Arranger:Jason W. Krug
- Octaves Used – Select One: 12 Note, Small Ensemble
- Level: Level 2, Level 3
- Topic: Advent, All Saints/All Souls, Christmas, Communion, Easter, Epiphany, General, Holy Week, Lent, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, Thanksgiving, Transfiguration
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
Following in the footsteps of the popular first volume, All Praise to Thee, Volume 2, presents eighteen new 12-bell arrangements in a variety of styles for use throughout the church year. As with the first volume, each title uses only twelve bells between F5 and C7, but not always in F major, allowing for more and varied harmonies, as well as tunes never before arranged for 12-bell ensembles. Suitable for three to six ringers, these selections are sure to become favorites of ringers and congregations alike! Contents: All Glory, Laud and Honor; As with Gladness Men of Old; The Day of Resurrection; Faith of Our Fathers; For the Beauty of the Earth; Go to Dark Gethsemane; Holy, Holy, Holy; I Know that My Redeemer Lives; I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing; Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise; Jesus Shall Reign; Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley; Lead On, O King Eternal; Let Us Break Bread Together; Love Came Down at Christmas; O Christ, How Shall I Meet You; O Come, All Ye Faithful; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing; O Sacred Head, Now Wounded; This Is My Song; We Gather Together
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Sondra K. Tucker
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 3
- Topic: General, Pentecost
“Come, Holy Spirit” combines the haunting chant VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS with the Welsh tune ABERYSTWYTH. It is an ethereal setting that will be sure to make your Pentecost worship special.
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Wayne Kerr
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 3
- Topic: General, Pentecost
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
Free malleting of suspended handchimes opens this original work. Following the short introduction, a moderato section is characterized by a rich melody and solid rhythms. Contrast is offered through a slightly slower section and two more measures marked “freely.” Material from the initial moderato section returns, leading to a quiet final chord of suspended handchimes played with mallets.
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
- Author/Composer/Arranger: Valerie W. Stephenson
- Octaves Used – Select One: 3 – 5 Octaves
- Level: Level 2+
- Topic: General, Pentecost
- Use Caution with Techniques and/or Tempo: Caution
This melody is contemplative and peaceful in nature and has a beautiful lyrical line. The work is suitable in any setting but is especially appropriate as an offertory, a call to prayer, a response, or a wonderful contrast piece in concert settings.
By now, you may be putting on the finishing touches to your Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday music and it time to make music choices for the weeks that follow. At 
March is Music in Our Schools Month. It’s the time that we demonstrate the powerful effect of music in the lives of our students. What better way to mark this month then to sing and ring about our art. Children will remember the songs that we teach them throughout their lives. Be it a catchy tune, silly lyrics or an engaging movement, the music that we teach will impact our students in different ways, but the end results are the same – lifelong memories.