Bells of the Sound

BElls of the Sound is an advanced community handbell ensemble based in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. They perform on 7½ octaves of Malmark handbells, 6 octaves Malmark Choirchimes, 5 octaves of Whitechapel handbells and 3 octaves of Petit & Fritsen handbells. They are well-known in the handbell world for their biannual handbell composition contests.

Composition Contests

Bells of the Sound has sponsored four handbell composition contests, each held approximately two years apart. The first handbell composition contests, held in 2002, had the theme of "Space." The winning piece was "Andromeda" (clip) by Nancy Hascall. The second handbell composition contest, held in 2002, had the theme of "Road Trip." The winning piece was "Dante's View" (clip) by Ron Mallory. The third handbell composition contest, held in 2004, had the theme of "Ring Around the World!" The winning piece was "Comrades, Haste! Faster the Steel Press!" (clip) by Matthew Prins, inspired by the iron and steel factories in the Russian city of Cherepovets. All three of the winning pieces are available on Bells of the Sound's CD Signatures.

The fourth handbell composition contest is currently accepting entries. The theme is "Three-Ring Circus."

CDs

Bells of the Sound has two CDs available: Signatures, released in December 2006, and Sing We Now Noël, released in December 2004. Both are for sale from their website and from handbell music sellers.

External links

• http://www.bellsofthesound.org/ Bells of the Sound