Handbell choirs are a curious thing to me. Nobody in the group can go on a solo career, you can’t plug the bells into an amplifier, and you rarely hear about an exclusive handbell concert. Besides, how do you name one? So on that note, enjoy this handbell choir cartoon.
What are HandBell Choir Members Called?
Now, I didn’t know this before I looked it up. They are called ringers. Which makes sense. And of course, if identical twins are playing, one would be a dead ringer for the other! No? Well, I thought it was funny.
Here are some fun facts about handbells. Apparently, the author had been called a ding-a-ling one too many times. At least I didn’t use that joke. Apparently, there is a distinction between English and American handbell choirs. There are some other interesting tidbits in the article.
Are Handbells Hard to Play?
Another interesting article gives insight into what it takes to be in a handbell choir. Playing handbells require that a ringer reads music and cooperates with the rest of the choir. There are no lone rangers in a handbell choir. They aren’t difficult to play, but it will take time to master the techniques and nuances of the craft. After all, eleven musicians need to learn how to play like one musical instrument.
A typical handbell choir has eleven musicians and up to thirty-two bells. That’s a lot to keep track of!
One church I served at had a handbell choir. They also had a set for the children. They were much less expensive and in tune than the grown-up versions. I can still hear the little ones doing their best to follow the music. The congregation was impressed we could make out the tune. I have to give the teacher a lot of credit for corraling children into a functioning mini handbell choir.
One of the many services I offer is a handbell choir cartoon that plays on Old Testament puns. Let’s face it, you can’t get that just anywhere!
I drew this cartoon for the November 2022 CHOGNews.
