back  bay ringers

What makes a handbell ensemble unique is how the music is produced.  A team of ringers playing many individulally tuned handbells create one instrument.  Each ringer is responsible for up to eight individual bells.  Each bell has an assigned pitch, much like each key on a piano. The ringers must work together to create a final performance.  Ringers use a variety of techniques, including the use of mallets, to create many unique sounds.  One handbell cannot create a performance, however a cohesive ensemble can perform music with incredible precision and expressive qualities that rival any great musical organization. 

The Back Bay Ringers perform on five and a half octaves of Malmark handbells, and five and a half  octaves of Malmark Choirchimes.  BBR recieved a generous donation that made the purchase of our five and half octaves of handbells possible and we recently purchased our five octaves of Choirchimes. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to borrow the lower sixth octave chimes for a local handbell ensemble. Repertoire includes advanced original compositions for handbells, as well as transcriptions of both sacred and secular works including classical selections, hymns and jazz.

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