GMCD 7234 You can order this CD in our E-Shop under Choral Music/Various Choirs or Instrumental/Handbells Reviews ***Sound Clips***	Christmas with Handbells COLUMBA RINGERS St Columba College, St Albans, Hertfordshire Br. RAYMOND F. REINSANT, SC Musical Director RINGERS (in position): Marc Walker Rohan Wagle Ciaran Cahill Thomas Carter – Thomas Lawrence Domnic Duke Jason Duke Sean Higgins Jack Redmond Matthew Sells Christopher Williams Jamie Karran Andrew Mazzoni

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DDD 46.001 Recorded: St Michael’s Abbey, Farborough 27 November 2001

Christmas music has the potential of moving across territorial boundaries and truly belongs to all peoples and cultures. It is a gift to the World. This cultural richnessis here translated into the musical language of the Handbell idiom and offered to you as our Christmas Gift for your inspiration, enjoyment and peace. The music ranges from the traditional carol and classical forms particular to the season as well as a few unique pieces which enhance our Christmas repertoire. The moods are somber, meditative, joyous and peaceful; each telling their part of the Christmas story.
Music has the wonder-filled ability to transform our present moment and help our human spirit find the Transcendent; it is never more true than at Christmas. The quiet and spiritual quality of O Holy Night, Stille Nacht, I Wonder As I Wander and Of The Father’s Love Begotten set the mood for reflection that is natural to the presence of the Christmas mystery; the wonder of the December Winter-Soltice is found in Holt’s In The Bleak Mid- Winter and the traditional What Child Is This. Christmas would not be complete without traditional and joyous carols such as Joy To The World and Angels We Have Heard On High, as well as the ever popular Ukrainian Bell Carol which are wonderfully expressed by Christmas Bells and likewise symbolic of the ever present new-life of the incarnation of Christ not only of yesteryear, but re-announced annually by joyous Angelic choirs and Marching Kings. Classical music always find its place in the Christmas repertoire with such favourites as Bizet’s March Of The Kings, and the Handel’s Passacaglia. Just as universally, the Christmas season would not be complete without certain images of yuletide family celebrations symbolized by the fun-loving McChesney arrangment of We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Masters in This Hall.
We here in England wish our listeners the world over, the Peace of this great Christmas Festival and the Joy of this wonderful season! We hope our gift of Christmas Handbell music fills your homes for many years to come.
The team has been ringing for 6 full years and ring a combination of English and
American styles. They ring on 5 octaves of Malmark Handbells and Hand Chimes. Handbell ringing is a visual art form as well as a musical idiom, originating as a practice instrument for tower ringers in the 18th century, then becoming part of the folkart of British culture and now an instrument in its own right. Today, the music is associated with the church repertoire and delightful Christmas settings; The Columba Ringers make it their mission to enhance their repertoire by extending it to the world of classical composition and we have therefore commissioned two arrangements for Handbells from renown Handbell Arrangers, The English Folk Song Suite and the Dvorak’s 9th Symphony Allegro, ‘from the New World’. We have visited the United States twice to ring and perform with other Secondary Schools in New England and Washington, DC. We perform in concert, for charity events and in liturgical settings for school, on tour and when asked by local civic groups and parishes. Trumpet, flute, cello and choir complement the music when the opportunity arises.

Organization: These secondary school musicians meet twice a week during term time to rehearse and prepare for annual concerts and to develop the skills of Handbell Ringing.
Membership: All ringers are members of The Handbell Ringers of Great Britain and Br. Raymond is a member of the HBRG as well as the American Guild of English Handbell Ringing.

Page revised 26.06.03