It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and that means LOTS of work for handbell ringers! This year will be very different for me, however, since I'm headed off for my second tour of Japan as a guest ringer with Sonos Handbell Ensemble. I haven't rung full-time with the group in ten years, but every now and then I join them for some big event. As I get ready to leave in just a little over a week, I've been contemplating the differences between ringing Christmas bells in the United States and ringing in Japan.

There is always an outpouring of love and support when bells ring in church, in my experience. But concerts - even holiday concerts, where people really want to hear bells because of the season - are quite another story in the US. We've become apathetic about a lot of things, especially making music and music appreciation in general. I find the Japanese to have an incredible passion for everything they do, especially music and the arts. I was amazed on my first tour of Japan in 2005 at the huge concert halls in the middle of urban Japan, and - make no mistake - almost every one of the 2,000 or so seats in these halls was filled. I observed the Japanese put forth the same care and intensity for everything - from wrapping the gifts I bought at the department store to taking out the garbage at the hotel. It's as though the Japanese as a culture and a people have embraced the notion of "anything worth doing is worth doing well." Japan even has the best handbell ringers (imo)!

 

Is it any wonder, then, that the Japanese would be even more passionate about Christmas? Well, yeah, it kind of is a wonder. I mean, most of the Japanese people I've met are not Christians. But still, somehow they "get" the spirit of Christmas. I will no doubt enjoy ringing in Japan at Christmastime because of the appreciation the Japanese will bestow on us (multiple standing ovations and encores, and they even carry our equipment!). But I will also be wishing all of you a wonderful time ringing here at home in the US, made extra special because of the meaning behind the music of the season.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols played,.....These words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, The Christmas Bells, aptly describe the reverberations of the bells across Area XII this holiday season. The long list of concerts attests to the fact these next few weeks are the busiest for  the handbell community.  Sometimes we put ourselves on "auto pilot"- attending rehearsals and concerts, but not really hearing the music of the season.  As a  result the peace and joy of Christmas gets lost in the production of the concert.  So as you ring and share your gifts of music, may you take the time to truly listen and let the peace and joy that bells represent be a part of your Christmas.

We hope you will find the new Handbell Resources section helpful.  With our new formatted newsletter, we tried to  find a  creative way to permit individuals and businesses with handbell related items to advertise.  As the word gets out, we envision more and more ads that will enable you to do your handbell shopping with just a click of your mouse.   As I mentioned above, an ad is  a great way to bring more attention to your holiday concerts.  You supply the logo as a  jpg and provide me the details which I will format into an ad or  you provide an ad designed by you that is exactly  100 X 300 pixels.

This editor sometimes types too fast trying to meet the deadline, and as a result mistakes are made. When I proofread I sometimes see what I expect to see rather than what is really there.   If you perused last  month's  e-newsletter from top to bottom, you may have  had  a big chuckle when Our Savior's  Lutheran Church was listed as Sour Savior's Lutheran Church!  My apologies to  Our Savior's  Lutheran Church.  I appreciate the fact they were able to laugh at my mistake.  Hopefully the error made you take special notice of the Sonos concert which will  be hosted by this church on Jan. 3!  

Ring Joyfully,
Carol

The 2010 Area XII conference in Davis is right around the corner, and there are many opportunities at the event, including performance.

Area XII is now accepting applications from handbell groups wishing to perform the Saturday night showcase concert at the conference. Any group affiliated with an Area XII member is welcome to apply.

To be considered for the concert spot, send an e-mail to [email protected] indicating your interest to perform a concert.  Groups will be selected by a panel based on the following criteria:

• Unique and interesting repertoire
• Exceptional performance ability
• Technical ability
• Musicality

While a DVD of your group's performance is not required, it is strongly recommended in order to give the panel a better sense of your group's capabilities. If a DVD is not available, a CD must be submitted. Once your initial e-mail indicating interest is received, you will receive a reply e-mail telling you how to submit your recorded materials.

Deadline for applicants for the Saturday night showcase concert slot is February 15, 2010.  The panel intends to finalize its decision by March 1, 2010.

Soloists and small ensembles are also encouraged to apply. Now is your chance to show off your group!  Don't miss out on this unique and exciting performance opportunity.

The nominating committee is now taking nominations for persons to be considered as candidates for AGEHR Area XII Chair-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary. Elections will be held by ballot in 2010, and two nominees will be selected as candidates for each office.
 
SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS:  Those wishing to submit a name (including your own) into nomination should: 

Nominations must be accompanied by a statement/letter of qualifications by the potential candidate. This statement may be used for the candidate's ballot profile. Letters may be submitted via pdf or via regular US mail to the chair of the nominating committee.
 
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES: The Area XII Board is a diversified and inclusive group of individuals who share an interest in our instrument, but without gender or ethnic restrictions. To continue this focus for future Boards, the Nominating Committee will concentrate on candidates with one or more of the following qualifications:

NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR:  William Kyle,
[email protected]

Please welcome the following new member to AGEHR Area XII. 

Stephen Corey- Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church.  Roseville, CA

Sonos celebrated the release of their new DVD "Ringing Up" at a premiere Sunday, November 29 at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz, CA. In the new concert video, Sonos leads you through music of three worlds: Europe, Asia, and America.  With stunning virtuosity this contemporary ensemble performs the famous Bach "Toccata in D Minor", Gershwin's beloved "Porgy and Bess", and James Meredith's groundbreaking "Kodo Tryptich" and "Smirti", his hauntingly intense elegy on the bombing of the World Trade Center with cellist Emil Miland, and more. 

Departing from several centuries of traditional English 'ringing off-table', Americans new to handbell playing in the early 20th century started 'ringing up'.  This style of playing also serves as a metaphor for the direction that Sonos has taken the art form, easily moving through creative arrangements of classical repertoire to challenging original works, pointing to the future of this medium.  Coming soon will also be a documentary with Sonos exploring the history of bells in cultures around the world.

A video clip, from this outstanding DVD, of Sonos performing  "To a Hummingbird" by Edward MacDowell can be seen by Clicking Here
Order your DVD by going to the Sonos' website: www.sonos.org

Sonos will be departing Dec. 10 for their 6th concert  tour of Japan.  Upon their return, they will be presenting a Twelfth Night Concert, January 3, 2010, 4:00 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette, CA.

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1, 2009 southern CA ringers, gathered at Masters College in Newhall, CA for the annual Bellfest with Christine Anderson, directing. 
Each choir participated in one mass ringing piece, "Adeste Fideles," arr. by Cynthia Dobrinski.  The afternoon culminated in a concert where various choirs performed solo selections and Christine Anderson gave a "mini concert" sharing her artistry as a handbell soloist. 

The afternoon was a time of renewing friendships. Pictured on the left Christine Anderson visits with Morgan Ruthardt a freshman music major at Masters College.



Christine demonstrates a handbell technique to the ringers. 





Among the honored guests who attended the 4 p.m. concert were Linda Krantz, Area XII Secretary, John Pfeiffer, Pres. of AGEHR, and Jennifer Cauhorn, Executive Director of AGEHR. Not pictured but present was Stephanie Wiltse, a member of the AGEHR Board of Directors, who we thank for sharing her pictures. 

The AGEHR National Office announced that only 15 slots remain for Distinctly Bronze West with conductor Jason Wells. This prestigious event is held in  Bremerton, Washington, February 25-28, 2010.  If you are a ringer that loves the thrill of performance, that is willing to be pushed beyond your comfort zone, they'd love for you to apply for those remaining spots. Registration forms are available on the AGEHR website. Click Here

Workshop/Reading Session

Feb.5, 2010- 6:30 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Feb. 6, 2010- 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Northminster Presbyterian Church
3235 Pope Ave
Sacramento, CA
Hosts: Mary Balkow and Mel Tully

   

               Las Vegas Twelfth Night

 

                                                           

    

Advertising Rates: 2009-2010 Publishing Year