Handbell Workshop
Day two of the annual Baptist (we're Presbyterian) handbell workshop began at 8:30 Saturday morning. In years past there have been as many as 20 choirs, but apparently handbells have waned in popularity because there were only six choirs this year -- 2 Presbyterian, 1 school, and 3 Baptist.
Since HPC did not field a complete choir, it was nice to know that the missing notes would be filled in from other choirs!
My spot -- 3 bells B and C (lower clef), 3 chimes, and 2 mallets, all in the space of my music stand:
By noon I had logged over 5,000 steps on my Fitbit -- just standing and stepping in place! It was an exhilarating day topped by a worship service where we performed the 4 pieces we had been learning. (And I'm still humming all the melodies ... )
What fun. My former boss of the quilt shop that I worked at was in the Bells Choir at her church (which is Presbyterian too). In fact her whole family played a part in their choir. I didn't know they had workshops for numerous churches to attend. That's really neat. I also know that getting 5,000 steps on your FitBit is hard while standing in place. I am a Fitbit wearer too and when longarming it hardly moves at all, yet I'm on my feet for hours on end. Good job.
ReplyDeleteI have vague memories of my grandmother going off to bells practice when I was a kid. I don't think I ever got to hear a concert, but we did watch a bellringing performance on TV together. I was fascinated by an instrument made of people. 8)
ReplyDeleteI love handbells. I've never played, but my church had a choir years ago. It, too, has gone by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteOh, all those bell choirs together must have been wonderful! I have a musician friend whose talent include playing handbells solo . . .
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