Author: The Hippo Press

Sounds of a handbell choir

By Zachary Lewis
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Experience what a bell can do at upcoming performances by one of the two quartets from the Granite State Ringers, the Garage Bell Band.

“The Granite State Ringers were founded in 2007 as an opportunity for ringers around the state of New Hampshire to ring at a higher level. At that time, many of our ringers were involved with church hand-held choirs, and they wanted a little more challenge in their music. So that was how the group was founded,” said Joan Fossum, Music Director and co-founder of the Granite State Ringers.

“We began with just inviting people from all over the state to come and ring with us and then what evolved is we are now an auditioned handbell choir and we offer auditions usually in the summer before we begin the fall to winter programs,” she said.

The organization has two performing quartets as well as the choir. “We are based in Concord. We have a studio in Concord, New Hampshire, and people come from all over the state and Maine and Massachusetts to ring with the group.”

The other quartet in the organization is the Rainy Day Ringers. “Those are names that were self-selected by the group, they fall under the auspices of the Granite State Ringers.”

Fossum explained how a collection of bells can produce songs: “The full choir plays on five and a half octaves of handbells. We have five and a half octaves of Malmark handbells and we have three octaves of Schulmerich handbells; we also have six octaves of hand chimes and that’s what the full choir plays on. The quartets vary for the music that they play. And again, the music is selected by the individual group.”

The audience at the Park Theatre in Jaffrey can expect holiday favorites to ring throughout the night. “We range from … a very rhythmic arrangement of ‘Up on the House Top’ to a series of pieces that we hope, the guiding light this year, that they would bring peace and comfort to people this time of year. For example, one of the pieces is the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria. Another is one written specifically for solo handbells and piano called ‘At Peace’ by Brian Childers.

The crew always keeps their handbell skills up to speed.

“We have rehearsals two to three times a month for three hours each time we get together. The quartet practices at least once a week for two to three hours. So that gives you an idea of the kind of time investment we have. If you’ve never seen us, you should come to one of the concerts.”

The chimes and bells vary in size and shape depending on their octave and note.

“Hand chimes are aluminum and they look, from the side, a lot like a tuning fork…. The biggest hand chime we have is about 6 feet tall and it sounds very much like one of the big pipes on a full-size organ, down to the smallest ones, which are about 4 inches long…. The longer the pipe the deeper the sound,” Fossum said.

The bells follow a similar pattern.

“Small bells are about 2 inches. The bell casting itself is about a little over 2 inches, all the way up to probably, I haven’t actually measured one, close to 12 to 14 inches from the rim of the bell to the bottom of it.” Each bell is like a key on a piano. “You have your natural notes or your regular notes, if you will, and those on the piano are usually the white keys, and then the accidentals are usually the black keys…. So if you have middle C, an accidental that would go with it would be C sharp, so that would be that black key that’s up and next to C, between C and D. So each finger in a full choir then is responsible for two notes and the accidental.”

If this talk of hand bells has awakened something inside you, you are in luck.

“We have auditions in the summertime and we’re constantly looking for people that would be interested in being part of the group. The commitment level is pretty high, so you’ve got to really want to do it.”

Granite State Ringers even have an option for those looking to learn the craft as well as an option for younger handbell ringers. “[The] non-auditioned learning choir [is for those who] have been interested … but don’t have the skill and/or the time to be part of the big group.”

An open house for prospective ringers will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon.

“So if you’re interested in learning more about bells I would encourage you to come visit the studio on the 11th of January,” Fossum said.

Granite State Ringers: Garage Bell Band
When: Friday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.
Where: The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey
Tickets: $20. Children 12 and under $15.
theparktheatre.org or call 532-9300
granitestateringers.org

Granite State Ringers Open House
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: 2 Industrial Park Drive, Building 2, Concord
granitestateringers.org

Featured image: Granite State Ringers. Courtesy photo.