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1. WHEN, WHERE, and HOW did you get started in handbells?
Needless to say, 2 years later, with lots of help from the 15 ladies of the “Covenant Handbell Choir”, and after talking to legends in the handbell world, Nancy Poore Tufts, Ellen Jane Lorenz, Donald Allured, and Robert Ivey, I was on the path of a new-found love, handbells! The church had a 3 octave set of Whitechapel Handbells. The bells were in cloth bags, hung on the wall on wooden pegs. The ladies of the Handbell Choir called the cloth bags, “bell-pants”. There was no such thing as a carrying case for storage or traveling. Music was hand written, with a list of all available published music typed on a single 81/2 X 11 piece of paper. The handbell choir not only played for church services but was very much an outreach PR group for the church, ie. rest homes, retirement villages, smaller churches, etc.
2. WHAT FORMAL MUSICAL TRAINING did you have prior to working with handbells?
I graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and an earned Master of Music Education Degree from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. I majored in voice and conducting. I attended nearly every local and regional workshop available to increase by handbell knowledge.
After coming to California in 1969, I did not work in church music or handbells until the fall of 1976, when I accepted the position of Director of Music at La Habra United Methodist Church, La Habra, CA who had a 3 octave set of Schulmerich Handbells. Within 2 years, the church acquired a complete 5 octave set, and we had 3 choirs rehearsing every week.
3. WHAT is your favorite handbell composition, and WHY is this work meaningful to you?
4. WHAT ADVICE would you give to someone who is just starting to work with handbells?
This must be your first step. Its like going threw the registration process of any college, only much, much easier.
#1 - Fill out the AGEHR registration form and send it along with your check.
#2 - Read, attend, and participate in as many handbell events as possible.
#3 - Ask questions of any AGEHR member close to you, information available via your membership chairman. All this information is available on your Area’s newletter.
#4 - Attend other handbell rehearsals and performances. New techniques, ideas, and equipment is being created everyday. Make yourself available to absorb all of these opportunities and information.
What can I say that has not already been said in all the previous articles of “voices from the past”. To quote Ginny Fleming, join AGEHR!!!!After reading the other “voices from the past”, I can’t believe I’m saying this, BELL JUBILEE by Ellen Jane Lorenz. In coming to California, I taught in the public schools as a choral and handbell teacher/director for 32 years. After accepting the position at LaHabra United Methodist Church, I was invited to a handbell concert with “The Peace Ringers” and Patty Marquart was the director. That is the first time I heard Bell Jubilee. I was hooked. After attending our second handbell festival in Fresno, California, David Davidson directed Bell Jubilee as a memorized processional piece and that fantastic memory and excitement will stay with me forever.
5. HOW LONG have you been a member, and WHAT has The AGEHR meant to you?
I became a card paying member of AGEHR in 1977, 26 years to date. I would equate AGEHR to a degree from a college or university. They provide members with support, information, and most of all, education in the handbell world. If you read the publications, attend and participate in the events, ie workshops, seminars, and festivals, you will “learn” the art of Handbell Ringing and Directing. AGEHR has been my life support for the past 26 years.
6. WHAT POSITION(S) have you held in The AGEHR, and WHEN did you serve in each position?
Regional Coordinator/ LA Area 1984-86
Festival Chair elect/ Visailia Festival 1986-87
Festival Chair/ Pasadena Festival 1987-88
Chair Elect/ Area XII 1988-90
Chairman/ Area XII 1990-92
Past Chair/ Area XII 1992-94
Event Coordinator/ Area XII 1994-96
Bells in Education Coordinator 1996-98
National AGEHR Board/CHIME COM 1995-98
Bells in Education Coordinator 2002-
7. WHAT FUTURE do you see for handbells? More to the point, WHAT do you think MUST HAPPEN in order to elevate handbell ringing to the level of public support and recognition enjoyed by community orchestras, choral ensembles, and the like?
I want to relate the existance of handbells in the music world to that of the computer world. Look at how far we’ve come. Think back to what we (handbell musicians) were doing 30 years ago to what is happening now, e. g., Sonos Ensemble from San Francisco, Raleigh Ringers, Campanile, Strikepoint, and many other college, community, and above average church choirs that are performing unbelieveable music in a very professional performance.
From one line melodies and no damping, written on a single treble clef line to a full 6 octave plus instrument, producing sounds in a symphonic fashion that tantalizes any musical ear, through the use of handbells, handchimes, and other related rhythm instruments.
Because we are such a society that demands “instant” gratification, too many times, we can’t see the forest for the trees. Think about how long orchestras and choral ensembles have been in existence compared to the first handbell ensemble as we know it today.
Year by year, we are getting more recognition, Give us time. We are on our way and we will get there!! We must all be as active as we can make time to be. - Gary Delk
The Twelfth Tone XV:2
Thorough the years, I have taught all levels of handbell ringing in churches, public schools and colleges, and speaking from an educational point of view, Handbells in Education has just “begun”. The future for handbells in unstopable!!After returning home from the Las Vegas Conference, Richard Knox, Area XII Chairman asked if I would serve as Regional Coordinator. That is when it all started:At the end of summer ‘67, and after touring all summer with a professional singing/dancing group named “The Young Americans”, I accepted a full-time position as Minister of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ohio. During the interview, I was told by the interviewer that a part of my duties would be directing an English Handbell Choir. My face must have become very distorted, because the interviewer asked if there was a problem and if I knew anything about handbells. My answer was simply, no problem, and no, I did not know anything about handbells. However, I quickly added that I would love the challenge and I really wanted the job. |
