2023 NorthWest Autumn ClusteRing

Noah's Flood Manchester International Festival 2023

  KINDER IN NOYE’S FLUDDE

Ringers from Kinder have played the handbell part for Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde on three separate occasions, but the recent involvement of our trio in a big-scale production in Manchester turned out to be quite different.

As part of the Manchester International Festival it was a co-production between Manchester Collective and Slung Low, a community -based theatre company from Leeds.  In keeping with Britten’s original stipulation only Noah, his wife and the voice of God (in this case Lemn Sissay, the poet, broadcaster and former Chancellor of Manchester University) were professional performers.  Most of the orchestral instrumentalists were young students from the Royal Northern College of Music, HalléYouth Ensembles, Olympias Music foundation and the Opera North Youth Company.  To say we felt a little out of our depth was putting it mildly. We were the oldest taking part by a good 30 years!  However, we were made to feel really welcome by everyone involved.

Our first run-through had been in the rehearsal rooms used by the HalléOrchestra.  A week later we were amazed on arrival at the second venue by the vastness of the warehouse space, next to Piccadilly Station, where the production was to take place.  We were shown the way through dozens of illuminated music stands, stepped over miles of cables and carefully avoided all the microphones before we could take our places.  There were sound checks for all the instruments before the final rehearsal, complete with the 180 children from Leeds who were to be the animals entering the Ark.

After a break for lunch it was time to entertain the sell-out audience.  All went well and ended to rapturous applause.  Having previously said that we would not undertake this venture again we found that working with the renowned, and very patient but exacting conductor, Nic Chalmers, had taught us a lot and the whole experience was so well organised that, this time, we really did enjoy it.

Huddersfield University HRGB Archives

HRGB ARCHIVE EXHIBITION

As already publicised, the HRGB archives, so carefully collated by Alan Hartley, now have a permanent home at Heritage Quay, the archive centre of Huddersfield University.  A special Open Day was held on 8^th July for everyone to view a selection of the exhibits.  There was also the opportunity to try out ringing and to watch a mini-concert given by Clifton Handbell Ringers.

Clifton played a very varied programme of pieces from their repertoire, ranging from calming to lively, old favourites to newer ones.  These included English Country Gardens, Pineapple Rag, Winter, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Teddy Bears Picnic and the exciting Dueling Banjos from the film “Deliverance”, amongst others.  They must have really impressed any non-ringing visitors with their 140+ bells and expertise.

Alan Hartley followed this by guiding everyone round the exhibition with explanations of what was on show.  Not only was it a history of HRGB but also included other handbell memorabilia.  Being able to see the famous Belle Vue Trophy was especially interesting.

There was then the chance, particularly for non-ringers, although others joined in, to “have a go” on Beverley Town’s 12-bell set, led by John Atkinson with his easy- to- read music. Each team had two rehearsals which then produced a very recognisable final “concert performance”.

The free exhibition is open until 5^th August and is well worth a trip over the border to Yorkshire for anyone interested in bells and bellringing history.

Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers 40th Birthday

 Maghull's 40th Birthday Concert

 On 1st July 2023 Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers held a concert to mark 40 years since their founding.

The concert kicked off with Good King Wenceslas, an unusual choice for a hot midsummers day. However Beth explained that Good King Wenceslas was the first piece the team ever played in public, this being at their first rally in 1983.

The team used the original bells for this piece and the band included founding members Simon and Molly Rennie.

Then came Grazioso by Arnold Sherman a piece which brought back memories of the Canada International Symposium which Maghull attended in Toronto, Canada.

The next piece was Birthday Rag, highly appropriate for the 40th celebration and continued with Siya Hamba. This piece of music, which makes use of the African Drum which Simon brought back form a trip to Africa, really got the feet tapping. 

The team played a "Pirates of the Caribbean Medly" and "Phantom of the Opera", a favourite of thier long time supporters Marjorie and Jean, now sadly no longer with us.

Then Mountain Mist by Cynthia Dubrinski with Robert accompanying on the flute which had been a favourite of their musical director, Judith Barker. Next came the lovely Meditation on Blaenwern arranged for the team by Malcolm Wilson.

And finally the concert closed with Highland Cathedral, a favourite of Maggie's and purchased for the team by her husband.  

Following the excellent concert came the cutting of the cake by Simon and Molly, raffle and refreshments. The team's archives were available to browse and the excellent cake was distributed.

Gallery - Maghull Parish Handbell Ringers 40th

 
    to, re

NBO concert Sheffield 2023

  Northern Bell Orchestra Concert, Sheffield 2023

'Ringing in Harmony' was a Concert given by the Northern Bell Orchestra in collaboration with the New Chamber Choir in St Mary's church, Sheffield in May 2023.

Rona Gager introduced the concert with the customary fire notice and told us a bit about the church where the concert was being held including it's outreach work during the week.

Some members of Kinder Handbell Team had decided to venture into the NorthEast region for the concert and it turned out to be a lovely evening.

The mix of choral and handbell music complimented each other perfectly. The choir was made up of singers from other choirs and sang a broad variety of music from very different genres.

One piece for both choir and handbells was called Stars, a very atmospheric piece with some very high notes for the choir.

The Bronze Carillion Quartet rang some impressive music, picking up and putting down bells and swapping bells amongst themselves at breakneck speed.

Visual aids were used to illustrate the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy including a fairy wand, christmas headband and tinsel.

Some of the music had been included in the recent coronation service, the bell orchestra played "All is Well" and the choir sang " I was glad when they said unto me"  by C.H. Parry.

Kate Swallisch thanked everyone for coming and said it was good to be back to performing after the interuption of  the Covid pandemic.