MUSIC DEPARTMENT
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Northminster has a very active music program under the direction of Alarice Jones, who holds a degree from U.M.K.C. Conservatory of Music.
THE CHANCEL CHOIR The chancel choir adds greatly to the beauty of the worship service through responses, a weekly anthem and longer musical works at Christmas and Easter. New members are always welcome.
THE BELL CHOIR
Hand bells in Worship at Northminster Presbyterian Church
"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your love in the morning
and Your faithfulness at night..." Psalm 92:1-2A Little Hand bell History
For centuries, bells in church towers have been rung to call parishioners to worship, and to celebrate or announce services and special events such as weddings and funerals. As churches built towers with multiple bells, bell ringers began to form choirs that rang increasingly difficult patterns, a practice which today is called Change Ringing. Practicing was difficult in cold, drafty towers, and of course nearly deafening! Unfortunately, both the relatively small number of bells available and the great physical strength and stamina required to move them limited such performances. Handbells were originally developed to allow the ringers to practice and memorize the patterns indoors. Over the years, hand bell ringing has developed into an art form of its own.
What Is A Hand bell?
Handbells are made of bronze, which is an alloy of tin and copper. A three-octave set of bells consists of a total of 37 bells. (In comparison, a piano has seven octaves and 88 keys.) Bells are numbered by octave. Our lowest note and biggest bell is one octave below middle C, while the highest note and smallest bell is two octaves above middle C. Each bell is cast, polished, and tuned so that when the clapper strikes the inside of the bell it is in pitch. The clapper is on a pivot inside the bell, allowing the ringer to control its timing and loudness.
How Hand bells Are Played
Handbell choirs ring from two to five octaves of bells. The bells are set up in keyboard order on padded tables. Each person in the choir is usually responsible for two notes and their corresponding sharps and flats. Ringers wear gloves in order to avoid tarnishing the bells.
Hand bells can be rung using a variety of techniques. In order to get a more percussive sound, they can be played with mallets or struck on the padded tables using techniques such as plucks and marts. (Mart is short for martallato, the name given to the technique of gently striking the bell on the table to produce a muted tone.) A notation system for ringing techniques unique to hand bells has been developed by the American Guild of English Hand bell Ringers.
Like piano music, hand bell music is printed in full score fashion and each ringer is responsible for finding and playing his or her notes as they come. A pianist uses all ten fingers to play the keys of a piano. When a bell choir rings, each individual is like a finger, each working together to play the right notes at the right time. Thus, ringing hand bells requires coordination and teamwork analogous to an orchestra. When one ringer is absent, that person’s notes are missing!
Northminster’s Hand bell Choir – “Coventry Bells”
Hand bells first arrived at Northminster Presbyterian Church as the result of a shared dream we had for expanding the musical opportunities for members of the congregation. A combination of Session funding, Memorial Gifts and seed money from interested members enabled us to purchase three octaves of Schulmerich hand bells several years ago. We hope one day to be able to expand to four or five octaves.
Northminster’s hand bell choir, which is named the Coventry Bells, meets in the sanctuary for rehearsals from 7:30-8:30 p.m. every Thursday night and participates in worship services approximately once a month. Bell quartets, trios, and solos alternate with the full ensemble during worship performances. Northminster currently has only one handbell choir, but hopes to start a second choir for its youth and children soon.
Coventry Bells is open to all adults and teenagers who are interested in being part of a bell choir. No prior experience is necessary. While it is helpful to have some musical knowledge or to know how to read music, it is not required if you are willing to regularly attend practices and learn. Beginning, intermediate and experienced volunteer ringers all work together at Northminster to learn and improve their ringing skills and enjoy making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Anyone wishing to join the bell choir should contact Northminster’s organist and director of instrumental and vocal music, Alarice Jones, at 816-741-4656 or send an email by using the link below.
For additional information via email, Click Here
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