Bolerofest

On Saturday, April 4, we had the honor and the pleasure to be a part of a very special event. Four community handbell groups presented a concert that featured solo pieces from each of the ensembles and four massed ringing selections. We played to a packed house in Bloomington's  Center for the Arts. The other participants were Bells of the Lakes (who also planned and hosted the event), Twin Cities Bronze and River Bend Bells.

The director of each group conducted one of the massed pieces. Bill directed a beautiful arrangement of It Is Well With My Soul that featured former 'Pointer Jenna Mattson on a violin solo. 

The concert's finale was Bill Mathis directing his own version of Ravel's Bolero, which he had arranged for four handbell choirs. Since we had only seen our own set of this music (Choir I), we didn't know what to expect from the other groups. Just imagine that piece with melody and harmonies coming from all different parts of the stage! Adding chimes and mallets produced additional textures. It was amazing - and we were very glad for all the previous months of rehearsal!

Strikepoint also introduced a new instrument:

Schulmerich Carillons had loaned us some very large and expensive bass bells when we played with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra in December. Unfortunately, they wanted those bells back. We wanted to keep playing that piece (Wizards in Winter) and so invented something that could replicate the pitches. So we now have (sorta...) a D-1, E-1 and F-sharp-1. Very cool. And not heavy at all!

It was a very fun day. It's not often we get to play with such a high caliber group of ringers! Afterwards, an audience member commented that she'd never heard such good massed ringing. By the time we got home (1:45 a.m.), we were all pretty tired, but happy.

Posted by Nancy