Fanfare for Bells

The St. James Ringers - Fanfare for Bells

This may or may not be the last in the series of the bell records to be posted for awhile.

From the liner notes:
Fanfare for Bells is a testimony to the remarkable growth in technical skills of handbell ringing in recent years. An increasing number of active handbell groups - now over 10,000 - are creating some of the most delightful music of our time.
The St. James Ringers of the St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, are the result of dedicated work by many but especially of Mr. and Mrs. G. Felix Thompson, Jr. They have directed the musical activities in the church from which two advanced groups, Celebration and Carillon are presented in Fanfare for Bells. The St. James Ringers often participate in Area and National Festivals of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
G. Felix Thompson, Jr., the director, and his wife, Martha Lynn Thompson, the organist at the church and the writer of several arrangements in this album, are both graduates of Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They taught in junior high school in the Little Rock area for several years before they assumed full-time positions with the St. James United Methodist Church. The success of the Thompsons' handbell program is not only evident in the skill with which the groups perform, but in the manner in which the groups present themselves as well. The ringers strive for excellence in ringing but are also taught the importance of team-work, self-control, dependability and self-confidence.
Whitechapel Handbells: The five-octave (61 bells) set of Whitechapel Handbells used in this recording was manufactured by The Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, England. Established by Richard Mot in 1570, Whitechapel has been casting bells for over 400 years. Whitechapel's most famous bells are Britain's Big Ben and America's Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell was made in 1752 to commemorate the 50th year of the existence of the State of Pennsylvania. After a stormy, eleven-week Atlantic crossing, it was unfortunately cracked while being hung and tested in the tower of Philadelphia State House, now called Independence Hall.
It was a pleasure for all involved in the creation of this album to know that there exists such rich history and tradition which contributed greatly to the development of handbell ringing.
Recorded in Little Rock, Arkansas. Released in 1980.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Prisms {2:00}

2. Praise ye the Father {2:30}

3. Love is a Song {2:48}

4. Trepak {1:27}

5. God with for Us All Time {5:16}

6. Maple Leaf Rag {1:33}

7. Hallelujah {3:18}

Side 2

1. Olympic Fanfare {2:20}

2. Alleluia {1:21}

3. Overture to Carmen {2:22}

4. Spectrum {2:21}

5. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring {3:08}

6. Processional {3:34}

7. Stille Nacht {3:07}

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