Handbells Consort

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
Handbells Consort

I had attended handbell concerts before with a small number of bells and people involved and thoroughly enjoyed them, but nothing prepared me for the concert I enjoyed recently. There were five or six tables with more than 100 bells lined up on them, ranging from quite small to extremely large, but that was not all! In front of the bells stood a range of chimes and behind were more extremely large chimes some as tall as the people who played them. In addition, an assortment of various kinds of drumsticks were placed by the bells. Using these instruments, a wide range of sounds from soft and tinkling, to muted and bold set the various moods and melodies of the musical selections. A hush ran over the audience as each number brought its own surprises and delights. The fast movement needed on the part of the bell ringers and chimes required every member of the Consort to be on their toes every minute. Some of the large bells required a great deal of strength and movement to bring about the required bong of its pitch. Altogether this was an inspiring concert that brought the audience a great amount of joy.

I marveled at the hours of practice which were required to coordinate the timing and accuracy of each ding of a bell whether from a drumstick or a hand movement. The performers were kept busy coordinating their instruments to chime in at just the right moment to create a lovely, stirring performance which encompassed the audience in glorious music that lifted us above our circumstances to a glorious plane of appreciation. A Consort is indeed a harmony of sounds, the result of the fellowship of dedicated people. I like to think that God can use people dedicated to Him to create the harmonious sounds of love and compassion that lifts others to a new level of understanding the depth, and breadth of the amazing, everlasting love of God.