Beauty of Bells

Tune playing on handbells has been practiced in England for many hundreds of years, originally on small sets of about twelve bells intended primarily for change ringing. Later, much larger sets of at least five octaves were used to thrill Victorian audiences with selections from operetta, oratorio and the popular music of the day. The art of playing music on large sets of bells I snow little known although, in it's heyday, handbell ringing was as popular as brass band playing and in some parts of the North of England almost every village could boast a team. The works on this release were compiled from three previous Saydisc albums: 'Ringing Clear- the Art of Handbell Ringing,' 'Church Bells of England,' and 'Church Bells of Britain.' The pieces include "off the table" style works, "four in hand" style works, "change ringing," and "carillons."