RING & SING CHRISTMAS FOR 2 AND 3 OCTAVE HANDBELL OR HANDCHIME CHOIRS Arranged by
Martha Lynn Thompson Reproduction License Terms The purchase of this book includes a license from the publisher to copy the music for use by your handbell or handchime choir. This license is nontransferable and applies to this book only and is granted exclusively to you for the sole purpose of making copies of these settings for your choir.
Code No. 2692
AGAPE
A Division of
HopePublishing Company Carol Stream IL 60188
Since 1892
Copyright © 2014 Agape (a division of Hope Publishing Company), Carol Stream, IL 60188 International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
FOREWORD The arrangements in Ring & Sing Christmas are the result of a successful arrangement of Away in a Manger that I did for our church’s beginning handchime choir. The ringers, in this case 3rd graders, rang only the chords as the congregation sang the carol. This worked so well that the idea has been applied to this collection of the most commonly sung Christmas carols and songs. They are usable with any age ringers – children through adults – ringing handchimes or handbells. The melody must be supplied by group singing, a vocal or instrumental soloist, or even by the ringers themselves. The arrangements can be used as stand-alone accompaniments or used with piano or organ accompaniment. They could even be used as last minute additions to carol singing in a worship setting – traditional or contemporary – or taken to retirement villages for group “sing-alongs.” If doing multiple verses, give the singers time to breathe and swallow at the end of a verse before returning to the point where the next verse begins. Everyone will catch on quickly. There are 19 titles in the collection, each with separate 2-octave and 3-octave settings. That means no optional notes! The 15 Christmas carols are arranged alphabetically. These are followed by the 4 secular pieces which are also arranged in alphabetical order. There no eighth notes or subdivided beats in these arrangements! Both the 2-octave and 3-octave settings are in the same key – the key found most commonly in hymnals and song books. In two pieces, the keys have been lowered to make the tunes more singable. Sometimes the keynote is not the lowest note in the first and/or final chord. This was done to keep the ringers busy and to give more foundational support to the singing. If it bothers you, by all means, change it! Bell changes have been kept to a minimum, but when they could not be avoided, there is always ample time for the ringers to make the changes. Since these pieces are intended to accompany group singing, if you have more than 3 octaves of bells or chimes, feel free to double the chords in higher and/or lower octaves, realizing that the higher pitches are the ones that will carry above the singing. You need to buy only one copy of this book to use all the music with your choir(s)! The music is reproducible (in unlimited quantities!) by the purchaser of the book, so one copy is all you need! Word sheets, found on pages 86-88, may also be duplicated for group singing. Enjoy! Martha Lynn Thompson Ring & Sing Christmas
XU\XU\X CONTENTS—SACRED Angels We Have Heard on High ...............................................................4 & 6 Away in a Manger ...................................................................................8 & 10 Deck the Hall ........................................................................................ 12 & 14 First Noel, The ...................................................................................... 16 & 18 Go, Tell It on the Mountain ................................................................. 20 & 22 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ........................................................... 24 & 26 Good King Wenceslas .......................................................................... 28 & 30 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing ...............................................................32 & 34 It Came upon the Midnight Clear .........................................................36 & 39 Joy to the World .................................................................................. 42 & 44 O Christmas Tree ................................................................................. 46 & 48 O Come, All Ye Faithful ........................................................................50 & 52 Silent Night, Holy Night .......................................................................54 & 56 We Three Kings of Orient Are .............................................................. 58 & 61 What Child Is This? ..............................................................................64 & 67
CONTENTS—SECULAR Jingle Bells ............................................................................................70 & 72 Jolly Old Saint Nicholas ....................................................................... 74 & 76 Up on the Housetop ............................................................................. 78 & 80 We Wish You a Merry Christmas ........................................................ 82 & 84 Ring & Sing Christmas
4
Angels We Have Heard on High For Handbells or Handchimes (2 Octaves) and Congregation, Solo Voice or Instrument
2 Octaves Handbells Used: 15
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ech - o back their Christ the Lord, the
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in re - ply bend - ed knee,
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Gloria FRENCH CAROL Arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson
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Exclusive permission is granted to the purchaser of this book to copy this page for performance. © 2014 Agape (a Division of Hope Publishing Company), Carol Stream, IL 60188 All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.
˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙
6
Angels We Have Heard on High For Handbells or Handchimes (3 Octaves) and Congregation, Solo Voice or Instrument
3 Octaves Handbells Used: 22
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ech - o back their Christ the Lord, the
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in re - ply bend - ed knee,
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Exclusive permission is granted to the purchaser of this book to copy this page for performance. © 2014 Agape (a Division of Hope Publishing Company), Carol Stream, IL 60188 All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured.
˙˙˙ ˙˙˙ ˙˙˙
