proper term

Carol

unread,

Sep 6, 2011, 7:07:20 PM9/6/11

to Temp-handbell-l

I'm trying to figure out the proper way of writing Bell Tree.
Bell Tree, Bell tree, bell tree, belltree, Belltree.
Are we capitalizing both B and T in a sentence? or just the B or
neither? Have we decided on 2 separate words or one?
I've seen the term in all of these different ways by various
professionals.
Which one is it?
Carol Scheel

Nancy Tipton

unread,

Sep 6, 2011, 7:47:23 PM9/6/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Fact: It shouldn't be capitalized it all, unless it is part of a title. (Would you capitalize "trumpet" or "piano"? I hope not, and I think a bell tree is a musical instrument--it's just one we can reconfigure.) When used in a title, if it's one word, it would be "Belltree," and if it's two words, it would be "Bell Tree."

Opinion: I personally think it should be two words, unless we (i.e., authorities in our field and/or a majority of ringers) determine that it's going to be one word. It would be interesting to hear from "pioneers" in the form, like Louise Frier and Barbara Brocker. I would compare this to the word "handbell" itself. According to spell checkers, that isn't a word . . . but we all know that it IS a word, and a very important one too! Handbell musicians have determined over the years that this is a word and have made it such. Do we want to do that with "belltree"?

--
Post: handb...@googlegroups.com
Subscribe: handbell-l...@googlegroups.com
Unsubscribe: handbell-l+...@googlegroups.com
Digest: e-mail mdp...@gmail.com with subject line "Digest-L"

Benjamin Tucker

unread,

Sep 6, 2011, 8:44:25 PM9/6/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

I would say it could be written any way as long as it is clear what you are
wanting. Each publisher probably has their own way to notate it, which is
the reason for all the different variations.

-Ben Tucker

Michele Sharik

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 2:07:32 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

The problem I see us that "bell tree" is another name for an entirely different instrument not involving handbells. It's also known as a "chime tree" or a "mark tree". This has caused some confusion when speaking to other percussionists.

Therefore, I suggest that we use the term "handbell tree" formally, while of course feeling free to use "bell tree" amongst ourselves.

-Michèle

Sent from my iPhone

Joseph D. Daniel

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 2:15:54 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Thank you, Cathy!

*****
Dr. Joseph D. Daniel
248.752.4891
joseph....@gmail.com

On Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 2:13 PM, Cathy Moklebust <cmo...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Actually, a bell tree is not a mark tree, chime tree, or bar chimes. A bell tree is a vertical percussion instrument consisting of nested cup bells on a stand, and played with a small, metal headed mallet.

Cathy A. Moklebust
Eagle Grove, IA
http://www.cathymoklebust.net

From: Michele Sharik <mic...@thegoldendance.com>
To: "handb...@googlegroups.com" <handb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [HB-L] proper term

> Subscribe: handbell-l+subs...@googlegroups.com
> Unsubscribe: handbell-l+unsub...@googlegroups.com

> Digest: e-mail mdp...@gmail.com with subject line "Digest-L"

--
Post: handb...@googlegroups.com
Subscribe: handbell-l+subs...@googlegroups.com
Unsubscribe: handbell-l+unsub...@googlegroups.com

Digest: e-mail mdp...@gmail.com with subject line "Digest-L"

Brian Parrott

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 2:23:28 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Not knowing what any of these were (except a handbell tree of course), I looked them up.

For those interested: a mark tree (chime tree) is common referred to (improperly according to wikipedia) as windchimes and is a set of small chimes of varying length hung from a bar and played with a finger or stick. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chime_tree)

A bell tree is a set of nested bowls on a vertical rod. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_tree)

A handbell tree is not listed in wikipedia .... someone want to fix that? (and no, this is not the Campanile "someone")

Brian

Sueda Luttrell

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 2:32:49 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Does anyone have recommendations for handbells with harp(s) repertoire? I've been at my current church position as organist for a year and have re-launched the bell program which had been on hiatus during that time (for a couple of good reasons). We're working with a 3 octave set and have plenty of ringers, but with widely varying degrees of bell/music experience. A fantastic harp trio will be with us for Lessons & Carols in December, and it's been suggested that we might combine bells with harp. I don't think the bell choir should attempt more than Level 2 during these first few months, because there is much to teach/learn. So - any ideas for 3 octave settings, fairly easy, for bells to go along with 1-3 harpists who can play anything?

Sueda Luttrell
Fort Worth, TX
--- On Wed, 9/7/11, Brian Parrott <b2pa...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Brian Parrott <b2pa...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HB-L] proper term

Cathy Moklebust

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 2:13:56 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Actually, a bell tree is not a mark tree, chime tree, or bar chimes. A bell tree is a vertical percussion instrument consisting of nested cup bells on a stand, and played with a small, metal headed mallet.

Cathy A. Moklebust
Eagle Grove, IA
http://www.cathymoklebust.net

From: Michele Sharik <mic...@thegoldendance.com>
To: "handb...@googlegroups.com" <handb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 1:07 PM

Subject: Re: [HB-L] proper term

> Subscribe: handbell-l+subs...@googlegroups.com
> Unsubscribe: handbell-l+unsub...@googlegroups.com

> Digest: e-mail mdp...@gmail.com with subject line "Digest-L"

--
Post: handb...@googlegroups.com
Subscribe: handbell-l+subs...@googlegroups.com
Unsubscribe: handbell-l+unsub...@googlegroups.com

Nancy Kirkner

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 3:18:50 PM9/7/11

to Temp-handbell-l

Hi, Cathy, do you happen to know what the tuning/temperament is on the
percussion "bell tree?" I actually have one of these, the Latin
Percussion brand on a stand, which I received as a birthday gift
several years ago. The person who gave it to me called it a Japanese
bell tree and said it was tuned to an Eastern scale. When I've played
it in concert, I've called it a "Japanese bell tree" and called the
handbell tree an "English bell tree." Then I explain them both in the
program notes. If I've been doing it wrong, I'd like to correct it.

Brian, you may remember seeing mine. I played it as part of my
Japanese solo at BOC's 'Aspiring to Bronze' event a couple of years
ago.

Thanks -

Nancy Kirkner
Seattle
www.solobells.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuEKDQHBDgY

Michele Sharik

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 3:46:23 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

Yes that's exactly tge instrument I meant - the cupped bells. I've heard other percussionists refer to it by many names.

Sent from my iPhone

--
Post: handb...@googlegroups.com
Subscribe: handbell-l...@googlegroups.com
Unsubscribe: handbell-l+...@googlegroups.com

Heitz Handbells

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 3:58:17 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

So then, maybe we should be calling it "handbell tree".

Since we are musicians and there are other musicians who use a different bell tree (obviously the word is taken), then we should

define our instrument more exactly.

C arol

Carol A. Scheel, Norm P. Heitz
Heitz Handbells and Music LLC
612-208-1741
1 (877 or 866) 426-3235
www.heitzhandbells.com

From: Nancy Kirkner <bell....@gmail.com>
To: Temp-handbell-l <handb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 2:18 PM
Subject: [HB-L] Re: bell tree vs. mark tree, chime tree, etc.

Nicholas Barnard

unread,

Sep 7, 2011, 4:26:23 PM9/7/11

to handb...@googlegroups.com

On Sep 7, 2011, at 11:23 AM, Brian Parrott wrote:
> A handbell tree is not listed in wikipedia .... someone want to fix that? (and no, this is not the Campanile "someone")

Fixed: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Handbell_tree

Although, I thought it was best to make it part of the Handbell article. Now all we need is a picture showing someone playing a Handbell tree. Does anyone have one which they're willing to licence under the GDFL, Creative Commons Attribute-SA, or just placing it in the public domain? Reply to me privately if you have one.

Also while I'm on the topic. Does anyone have a drawing of a bell that they'd be willing to put in the same license? I have a funny handbell shirt I've been wanting to make, but I don't have the necessary graphics/graphic ability.

Warm Regards,
Nick Barnard
The Resonance Ringers
Seattle, WA