Sharing the Passion

by Cynthia Clanton

Igniting passion for handbells is the mission of Bells of the Bluffs (bellsofthebluffs.org), a community handbell ensemble based in Red Wing, Minnesota. Formed in 2013 by Musical Director Marilee Anderson, the group has focused its efforts on bringing the joy of handbell music to new audiences, from family programs at libraries to entertaining residents of correctional institutions.

The latest challenge started as something of a whim and resulted in introducing a whole new group of fans to handbell music.

“Every February, the entire city of Red Wing plays host to the Big Turn Music Festival,” Anderson explains. The two-day festival is named for the city’s location along the Mississippi River. “Hundreds of people come to town to experience more than 200 bands in two dozen venues. The bands range from bluegrass to indie rock. I thought, ‘Why not introduce those music fans to handbells?’”

She submitted an application, expecting a polite turn down or silence. Less than a week later, she got a call: Bells of the Bluffs was in the 2020 festival!

Element of surprise Appealing to festivalgoers meant thinking outside the box, Anderson says. There were no single-ticket sales – only two-day and single-day passes – so filling seats would require new and different promotional efforts, plus a fast-paced, high-energy program that included fresh spins on popular music. Notions of gentle hymns in quiet church settings had to be dispelled. And they had only 12 weeks to put it all together

The process offers tips for other handbell ensembles interested in stepping out and reaching new audiences:

Plan a great program. “I started with our music library, scouting the music we already had on hand and what we had done in the past that would suit this program,” says Anderson. “Then I went to my favorite music sites and started making lists. I love to explore music and listen to samples provided by publishers.” Her goal was to include music people would recognize and enjoy, with a unique handbell spin.

Choose a compelling theme. Because multiple groups were using the same venue – and we all know it takes time to set up and take down a five- octave bell choir – the program (nine pieces) had to fit into a 45-minute window. That led to the theme: Perpetual Motion.

Add some twists. “We worked with a professional dancer who had a lot of great suggestions for how to apply the theme. We wanted an event with minimal commentary and steady-state motion, so we needed to work together to create transitions from piece to piece to keep the audience engaged.” Ringers had transition ideas, too, and the end result was nearly constant sound and motion from before the first downbeat to the final chord.

Partner with pros. Besides the dancer, including guest musicians added interest and complexity to the music and a driving beat the audience loved. Several songs included vocalists, flute or piccolo, a drum set, other percussion instruments, bass guitar, rhythm guitar and organ. A sign language expert even added text to one song.

“The important thing is to work with musicians who know what they are doing.” Anderson advises. “We chose guest artists who are experienced enough to realize how they fit with the ensemble, plus they can follow direction while offering ideas.”

Go a little electric. “For this concert, we were looking for style and electric guitars seemed to fit the bill,” says Anderson. “They add different sounds and interesting solo elements. Balance is always critical, since you don’t want to overwhelm the other instruments.”

She recommends staying acoustic with percussion, though. “Acoustic drums were a better match for what we were trying to achieve. I have learned to put the drum set in front of the ensemble vs. in the back or to the side,” adds Anderson. “That helps the drummer and director work together and gives the ringers another set of visual cues.” Consider the space. Being thoughtful and creative about the setup resulted in three banks of bells with space between so the dancer could weave between the sections and guest musicians could adjust to achieve the best overall sound mix and made for more interesting visuals as action moved from space to space.

Step outside the box. An informal audience survey reveals many were from outside the area and most had never heard a handbell concert before – and certainly not one like this. Some audience members were moved to tears by the emotional impact of the concert. Many went to the Bells of the Bluffs social media streams to post comments, saying the concert was their favorite event at the festival. They said they were amazed at the energy and variety of sounds.

It’s fun to try new, challenging things,” says Anderson. “I think it’s important to stay open to creative ideas.” Her advice for other groups: “Start small – maybe do one piece in a new way before creating a whole program. Some arrangers offer backup CDs as accompaniment. It’s not the same as using live musicians but adds a new dimension and is fun to try.”

The extra effort and hours of planning and rehearsal paid off, Anderson says. Not only did the ringers enjoy the experience, but they inspired new fans and fresh thinking. “We were truly able to demonstrate and share our passion for handbells.”