Music & Arts · Christ Church Episcopal
St. Cecelia Handbell Choir
A handbell choir is the most cooperative music there is. No one holds more than a couple of notes, nobody can play a melody alone, and a single ringer coming in half a beat early is audible to everyone in the building. The line of music exists only in the space between the ringers.
You do not need to read music to start
Most people who ring at Christ Church did not arrive able to read music. The notation for bells is learnable in an evening or two, and the harder skill — counting rests while eight other people are counting the same rests — is learned by doing it badly in rehearsal until it comes right.
Gloves and bells belong to the parish. Bring a willingness to count out loud.
Where you will hear them
The choir rings at services through the year and takes a substantial part in the Christmas programme. They rehearse in the chancel on Tuesday evenings, which is worth knowing if you are ever in the building then — it is a good sound to walk in on.
