Ellie Hodder <ellieho...@gmail.com>: Jan 03 08:20PM -0800
I met Barb Brocker in 2008 when I was asked to be one of the pairs playing the belltree parts for Symphonia on Hyfrydol at International Symposium, Orlando. Barb and Ron Bellamy started their solo concert with table duets and ended with bazillions of us (okay, that might be an exaggeration) coming up on the stage to impress the heck out of the assembled ringing likely one if not the first “forest.”
A few years later, I was directing the Bronze Conference Choir at Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference. I’d selected Lore of the Loom which had had a flute/dulcimer part that “could be played by . . . “ ? ? ? Why not belltree? So, I twisted Barbara’s arm, split that part for 2 bell trees (Brian Parrott played the 2nd tree) and the rest is history. Whenever I have the bully podium, I try to include a full choir piece with belltree.
Fast forward to 2015 when I started Coppers Classic, an advanced ringing event for coppers musicians. Barb taught me that belltrees are a viable and great inclusion in any handbell program and certainly in festivals. At Coppers Classic, Belltrees have been included with full choir every year except one (‘cause those pieces are hard to find!).
This year is not exception. Coppers Classic includes Spring Sea which Barb played at the 2009 International Symposium in Osaka, Japan with koto accompanying. It’s a lovely piece and will challenge a good belltree artist to stretch themself. Could that be you? Think about joining us. (Barb has agreed to counsel any takers). It’s an event full of handbell artists who love to challenge themselves and will fight to the last minute of performance to get that one last bell change that may have eluded them up until that final moment.
Got questions?
website: coppersclassic.org <http://coppersclassic.org/>
Click through the menu to locate the repertoire, registration and scholarship application pages
Contact me at coppers...@gmail.com <mailto:coppersclassic@gmail.com>
PS: Joann Wallenburn has established a composition contest for new literature for belltree and choir. Check out the information at area10.handbllmusicians.org <http://area10.handbllmusicians.org/>
Thanks, Ellie Hodder
|