November 21, 2024
By Brietta Miller, Handbell Director
This past weekend, Galilee’s own Wesley Ringers, which I have the honor of directing, were one of eight bell choirs at the NOVA Handbell Festival at Grace UMC in Manassas, VA. It was an exciting event, as the Ringers were side by side with some of the finest bell musicians in the area. We have been working hard since September to prepare for this annual festival.
Members of Galilee’s Wesley Ringers performed at Grace UMC in Manassas
The weekend started with a two hour rehearsal on Friday night and then we met again Saturday morning to rehearse even more. By the end of the morning, the choirs were so ready—and on fire—that an alarm went off in our rehearsal space! Seriously, the fire department came. False alarm! But the unexpected break was just what was needed to relax before the main event, the afternoon concert.
The performance began at 2:30 in the afternoon and was free and open to the public. Our five song repertoire was inventive, energetic and also challenging! One of the selections, “How Can I Keep From Singing,” contains melodies from eight different hymns throughout the song. There were truly beautiful sounds to be heard this afternoon, a testament to the musicians who lift their gift up in praise of the Lord.
Do not worry about missing any of this! All of the songs played at the festival by the Wesley Ringers, you have heard or will hear in worship at Galilee. Three compositions we’ve already performed in the sanctuary, and two are on the schedule for worship in December.
So come hear us ring!
The Wesley Ringers return to worship on Sunday, December 22 during the 10am service. We will also be playing on Christmas Eve at the 7pm service. Our sister bell choir, the Chapel Chimers, will be performing two songs on Thursday, December 5 at 7pm at Lansdowne Woods for a Christmas Concert by musicians that practice and perform at in that community.
We hope you enjoy our joyful noise.
Brietta says: Do you love the bell choir? Maybe it’s time to pick up a bell yourself and lend a hand to a group that glorifies God through excellent music. Email Brietta for further information.
“I have been playing or directing handbells for 26 years. My first taste of handbells was in college. I arrived at a voice choir rehearsal early and I was told that since I could read music, I could sight read the handbell music. I had no idea what I was doing and kept missing notes. Yet it was a fun experience, and I improved.
To me, handbells are a wonderful way to worship. It doesn’t matter if it is rehearsal, playing in church, a retirement home, or a concert, bells are a great way to celebrate God. I can arrive at rehearsal and be stressed out, but by the time I leave, I am rejuvenated and wide awake.
When I listen to handbell music for Welsey Ringers and Chapel Chimers, I can listen to five songs with the same title and they will all be different. Composers and arrangers of handbell music make use of all of the different techniques (sounds) a handbell can make to entertain, inspire, and rejuvenate an audience.
I hope and pray that our congregation is able to hear and feel the love of the music that we share through each of our handbell songs.”
