Handbell Ringer Groups in California
The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Inc. (AGEHR) is dedicated to
advancing the musical art of handbell / handchime ringing through education,
community, and communication. It is an organization that funds handbell
projects. This organization is a great resource for handbells in America.
Handbells were initially recognized as tuned instruments providing music around
the turn of the 18th century. Developed by the Cor brothers in Wiltshire,
England, tuned sets of handbells, such as the ones made by the Cor brothers,
were used by change ringers to rehearse outside their towers. They could sit
comfortably indoors while they practiced the complicated algorithms of change
ringing. The handbell sets used by change ringers had the same number of bells
as in the towers -- generally six or 12 tuned to a diatonic scale.
When handbells were officially presented by Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England
to an American around 1902, a set of 10 handbells from Londoner Arthur Hughes,
the U.S. gracefully and slowly embraced the new instruments. You'll often have
opportunity to hear the bells in concert during the Christmas season. Handbell
groups and choirs ring in the holidays with delightful sounds that are delicate
and pleasant.
California
Bells' Angels of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church - Saratoga, CA - magicbells.com
Campanile - Los Angeles, CA - campanilemusic.com
Carillons Handbell Choir - Redding, CA
Carillons - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Arcadia, CA
Cathedral Bells at St. John's Lutheran Church, Orange, CA
Concordia University - Concert Handbells, Spirit Bells, Chapel Bells, Resound
Quartet, and Alumni Ringers - Irvine, CA - web.mac.com
Divine Jubilation - Morgan Hill, CA
Mount of Olives Lutheran Church Handbell Ensemble - Mission Viejo, CA
Opus Handbell Ensemble - Modesto, CA - opushandbell.org
River Bells - Sacramento, CA
San Diego Harmony Ringers - San Diego, CA - sdhringers.ms11.net
The Shepherd's Bells - Goleta, CA - gslcms.org
Sonos Handbell Ensemble - Berkeley, CA - sonos.org
Trinity Presbyterian Handbell Choir - Modesto, CA - tupc.org
Upland First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir - Upland, CA - fpc-upland.com
Voices in Bronze - Santa Clarita, CA - voicesinbronze.com
Wesley Bronze - Fresno, CA
Westminster Ringers - Sacramento, CA - westminsac.org