The Wesley Bell Ringers from Christ United Methodist Church of Salt Lake City are on a western tour consisting of thirteen concerts during two weeks.They were honored to be asked to play the opening concert of the AGEHR Area XI Festival in Tucson, Arizona.This Tuesday, June 15 concert was hosted by the Temecula United Methodist Church.
The choir was formed in 1963 and has toured for forty-four years.Since its inception 439 young people have played in the choir.Currently there are twenty-seven ringers who play on six octaves of Malmark bells, plus an additional four octave set; six octave of handchimes; Whitechapel cup bells, Schulmerich silver melody bells and a carillon of two octaves of Petit and Fritsen dutch bells combined with orchestra chimes and rhythm instruments.
The highly musical concert showed an excellent range of dynamics during the ten pieces which included Karen Buckwalter’s “Search With All Your Heart”; Cathy Moklebust’s “African Alleluia”; Arnold Sherman’s “Bell Carol Fantasy” and Fred Gramann’s arrangement of “Carillon” by Louis Vierne which they will ring for the arranger in Tucson.
The small audience included persons who had driven up from San Diego and down from Lake Elsinore to attend.The concert was very well received by the appreciative audience.
