St. Albert bell ringers ap-peal

With a flick of the wrist and a sweep of the arm, the well-rehearsed bell ringers play note after note in fluid motions.

The Classic Bronze handbell ringers offer a peek at their upcoming bi-annual festival slated to take place at St. Albert United Church from July 26 to 29.

While the first three days are focused on intense rehearsals at St. Albert United Church, the final event on Saturday, July 29 is a public concert.

Normally the festival attracts about 40 advanced level ringers. This year nearly 65 participants from Florida, Arizona, California, Oregon, Maryland, Kansas, Nebraska, Ontario and British Columbia are taking part.

Susan Galloway, president of the Classic Bronze Handbell Ringing Association, credits the rise in participation to the addition of Classic Copper, an intermediate level of ringers.

Ringers register as individuals and are placed in a section upon their arrival. The musicians are responsible for a couple of single notes on a scale and play only the notes on their designated bells.

“You have to listen and be aware of what everyone else is playing and match it. Bells are easy to play, but difficult to play well,” said St. Albert handbell ringer Kathie Zalasky.

She directs two choirs at St. Albert United Church: the more experienced United in Bronze and the newly formed Genesis.

Available to the festival musicians are five sets of bells each containing 37 musical instruments and 200 chimes. It’s no wonder it usually takes a day or two to test out the instruments, develop a rapport and create free-flowing music.

“It really is a team sport,” said Galloway.

Dr. William Payne, retired professor of music and choral studies at Bucknell University, will work with the Classic Bronze higher-level ringers while Camille Ream, music coordinator and handbell director at First United in Fort Saskatchewan is leading the less experienced Classic Copper.

Payne will assist his Classic Bronze bell choir in perfecting the fast and joyful Theme to Downton Abbey, the smooth and lyrical Acclimation, and Passages, a piece filled with off-beats.

“Passages is exciting, fast-paced and you have to be on your a-game.”

Ream instead plans to rehearse the Copper Classics in several works including the 5th Dimension’s hit song Aquarius as well as Contemplation and Dance on Kingsfold, a celebratory chart with a quick tempo featuring the use of mallets.

“There really is quite a variety of music. We will paint a picture before announcing the next piece and you will see a group of happy, energetic people.”

This is the second year Classic Bronze is hosted in St. Albert. The festival is hosted every two years. Next year, the ringers will spend the summer touring Australia.