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Hi All

Whilst I'd be the first to acknowledge that I'm not regular enough in signing-on to the Forum I was quite amazed when I signed on tonight for the first time in over two (probably more like three) months that I had only 2 unread posts.

This could be a really good forum (pardon the pun) for exchanging news and views and asking for ideas etc., etc. So why don't folk use it? How do we get it used much more?

Would appreciate some thoughts from some of the regulars (Aidan, Alan!) and some of you who are much less frequent users or maybe just lurkers.

Look forward to some interesting replies.

Roger

Hi Alan, Gay & Carla

Well done & congrats! That is really good to get some standard musical recognition for a handbell performance. I trust you've written something for Reverberations - it's a good story and something worth crowing about.

Roger (with apologies for taking nearly 2 months to send this post)

Hi Alan

Hope you have a good and successful evening next Tuesday. And hope you get a better response than you get on this forum! Apologies but we are too far away to join you.

Roger

Wallingford Ringers are holding an Open Evening for anyone who would like to ring with us for an evening.

It will be held at the Bullcroft Hut in Wallingford High Street on Tuesday 14th September at 7:30 pm.

Simple music notation will be used, so some (even small) music reading ability is desirable.

Alan Cooper

More details 07527575861 or ajc@hrwallingford.co.uk

 

Pizzazz (Gay and Alan Cooper and Carla Runciman) have recently taken a Trinity/Guildhall ensemble recital exam as a handbell trio. This exam can be taken at first recital, intermediate (about grade 5) and advanced (about grade levels. Not knowing appropriate equivalences of our handbell music and grade levels we checked on the kinds of demands made for grade exams as well as the specific elements looked for in the ensemble exams and we chose to go for the intermediate one. Some of our pieces are set as instrument solos at that level (eg Sugar Plum Fairy) and some pieces had rhythmic variation (eg Harmonic Convergence by McChesney has 3/4 -6/8 alternations).

We set up our tables (having given warning this would take time) and then played our recital with just the examiner in the room with us. In addition to those pieces mentioned we also played Cherry Tree Blossom and Ragtime Ramble as four in hand trios and Prayer from Hansel and Gretel and Come Thou Almighty King arranged Linda Lamb. So four pieces are published as handbell trios and two were twelve bell pieces. The examiner looked official while we played (15 minute recital) but afterwards asked us some friendly questions about bells and how we play them.

A week later we got the comments on our pieces and marks. The individual items had comments but were marked as a group. The comments were all positive. We got full marks for sections on presentation, recital programme and programme notes and our total mark was 92 out of 100. The threshold mark for Distinction is 87 so we came out well above.

This has shown that the music exam system in this country can include teams of handbell ringers. Particularly for young groups who may feel deprived that they can't move on up the grades like other instrumentalists (or their parents perhaps) the possibility exists now to get an examination by a professional examiner like other musicians. 

For us we are wondering about trying for the advanced recital exam one day.

There is an interesting example of this from the SERBO concert last Saturday. We all walked in, perhaps a little bit too early, while the last few people were sitting down still. Unfortunately these took a while, hense saying I think it was a little too early. Our glorious conductors waited in the wings until they were seated, however even when Keith entered for the first piece, the audience didn't seem to notice and carried on chatting. So we there had a situation of what do you do. Keiths solution was to turn to the audience and indicate to them to shh. This worked and we started the first piece.

I feel in this case it was the right option. The volume was on the high side for just starting and they settled straight away.

So what do you think? Was this correct in your opinion or would you have suggested different?

To add a bit more context, the lights are not dipped or lowered, however there is normally a bit of clapping as we file on (which there wasn't this time) and even more when the conductor walks on (again this didn't happen) so it was rather different than the norm and no audience indications that they were ready.

I think you'll have to wait a little longer for the results, I dont think I'm the only one that only checks the site every couple of months..... (P.s I atually hit the wrong button on that one)

Our team leader introduces most pieces we play, the exception to this rule would be concert opening pieces and joint finals as well as most (but not always all) pieces during our own bell concerts, when we provide detailed programs for the audience instead.

Ringing a bell or yelling at the audience to show you're ready to start seems pretty drastic though, it suggests you've completely lost your audiences interest. Even after an interval surely standing ready and waiting to ring should get the point across?

Mind you If you're talking about a HRGB Rally then you're dealing with a room full of people who have devoted a considerable amount of time perfecting the art of talking absolutly no notice of the conductor at all.... 

Needs must I suppose.

Just to keep everyone up to date with happenings on the main HRGB Website.

New version of content managing software "Joomla!" which will give us the functionality to take membership renewals over the web and generate automated reminders.  The NEC will be discussing membership renewals and whether they needs to be January-to-January, and the types of membership available. This is all with an eye on the government's proposal to abolish cheques in the next few years.

The new site also takes a feed from the membership database and shows the public a map showing the approximate locations of teams. The map pin is centred on the postcode area of the team correspondent. Of course if the team meets in, say, Exeter and the Correspondent lives in Plymouth the map aint that accurate but it's close.  NO PERSONAL INFORMATION IS RELEALED BY THE MAP. It just suggests a visitor contact the regional secretary.

The next phase of this tool is to have the links to the team's regional secretary so a visitor doesn't have to work out which border teams are where.

All downloads are now bing managed by a download manager allowing us to control documents better. This means a link in an article will take the visitor to the download area where they can download the file they want and any similar ones of interest. We also have the opportinuty to host "paid" downloads and sell published documents if required.

I am also now in possession of a full run of Reverberations from 1967. Once the NEC have confirmed the copyright implications of displaying articles we can start publishing historic reports and articles and make the website more interesting to visitors. It is frequently commented that members of HRGB do not have easy access to old artivcles and this will address that need.

Well that's it for now. I am just sorting out the main graphic for the front page and then I'll lift the maintenance barrier

Concert by The Walsh Memorial Bell Choir of USA in Dunblane Cathedral on Monday 28 June at 7.30pm

The Walsh Memorial Bell Choir was established in 1968 as a memorial to the Rev. Joseph E. Walsh, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Morris Plains, New Jersey, USA.  As they have for 40 years, the bell choirs today bring their message to others through ringing praise with joy. The programme will include an exciting mix of classics, traditional melodies and contemporary music. A concert not to be missed!

Admission to the concert will be free, with donations invited.

The Walsh Memorial Bell Choir Programme includes several handbell choirs, with ringers generally grouped by age and experience.  Handbell choirs rehearse each week and take part regularly in worship services.  They also extend their musical mission to the local community, particularly during the Christmas season.

The Walsh Memorial Bell Choir, the concert touring choir with primarily high-school age ringers, is renowned for its excellence. Through the years, they have participated in many AGEHR Area and National Handbell Festivals and have made numerous  concert tours throughout the United States and in Canada, England, Mexico, France and Germany.  

I think it might be more that very few people use the forums. Might be worth trying to push them and see if we can't get some more discussions going.