Friend to Friend. Dedicated to Musical Excellence through Artistic Handbell Performance. V OL U M E 1 2, I SSU E 1

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1 Friend to Friend Dedicated to Musical Excellence through Artistic Handbell Performance. V OL U M E 1 2, I SSU E 1 Conductor and Artistic Director, Stephanie Rhoades, Dallas F AL L / W IN T ER Ringers Pam Adams, Grand Prairie Linda Anderson, Mansfield Kari Daelke*, Mesquite Lynn Garis, Keller Elizabeth Garvin, Lewisville Jean Harden*, Denton Quinda Hatfield, Forney Cathy Herring, Richardson Carol Lynn Mizell, Denton Valerie Martin*, Grapevine Kathleen Parsons, Richardson Brenda Swindle, Garland Lori Talbott, Plano Karen Thompson*, N. Richland Hills Concert Bells of Fort Worth *Executive Committee Member Thomas Williams, Granberry Editor: Brenda Swindle Inside this issue: How It All Comes Together 2 CBFW Top Ten 3 CBFW Welcomes 3 Friends of CBFW 4 Be a Friend of CBFW 5 Why Compose/Arrange 6 Holiday Concert Series 7 In this issue: Check us out online and on Facebook. Get all the details about our 2011 Holiday Concert Series on page 7. Read about our newest members, Lynn & Thomas. All you need to know about being a Friend of CBFW.

2 Stephanie Rhoades, Conductor & Artistic Director How it All Comes Together After a performance, people often ask me how I decided on a particular theme or program. I usually reply, It took a long time! The truth is, I often start with a piece or two that really catches my attention; something that I think will be a great opener or closer. This season, I asked Carol Lynn Mizell to look into arranging David Foster s Holiday Piece/Carol of the Bells, as I have wanted for years to perform it on bells. I discovered that it had been transcribed for concert band and knew that Carol Lynn was the one to look into it. Once she got permission from the publisher I knew it would be our opening piece! One of the other pieces I knew I wanted to include is Joel Raney's arrangement of The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came, a lesser known Basque carol that describes the Annunciation and Magnificat (Mary s song). I was introduced to the piece in March while browsing the exhibits at the ACDA convention in Chicago, but it was the moment I heard the demonstration recording in August that I was sold! It has been one of our favorite pieces to prepare this season. After deciding on these anchor pieces, I set about exploring different themes, trying to find a balance between familiar and unfamiliar pieces. I began thinking about the different ways that people celebrate Christmas around the world and realized that even some of our most familiar carols come from various countries. So, this Christmas, we celebrate the season with music and customs that come from around the globethe Ukraine, China, Liberia, Germany, Austria, England, Spain, France, and the United States. While this list leaves out many countries, it reminds us that we have more in common than we realizecelebrating the holidays with awe, joy, and beautiful music. this Christmas, we celebrate the season with music and customs that come from around the globe- Stephanie Rhoades Page 2 Volume 12, Issue 1

3 CBFW Top 10 President, Karen Thompson answers the top 10 questions asked of Concert Bells of Fort Worth. 1. How much do you rehearse? We rehearse as a group for two hours each week. It is also understood that we each study and prepare our music outside of rehearsal and many of us even practice alone with either bells or spoons. 2. When and where do you rehearse? We rehearse each Tuesday at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Bedford from 7 pm to 9 pm. 3. Why rehearse in Bedford instead of someplace in Fort Worth? Bedford is centrally located. We have folks in our group that live in Mesquite, Richardson, North Dallas, Mansfield, Granbury, Lewisville, Grand Prairie, Keller, North Richland Hills, Denton, Plano, Forney, and Garland. 4. Are all the ringers professional musicians? No, About half of us are. 5. Do you get paid? We are very proud of the fact that our Conductor is paid. Most community groups do not pay their conductor. The ringers all serve as volunteers. President & Charter Member, Karen Thompson 6. How is CBFW organized? We are an incorporated 501(c)3 organization which means that we are a non-profit corporation. (Commercial: any donations to CBFW are tax deductible!) 7. Do you own your equipment? Some of it is borrowed and Emmanuel Presbyterian Church graciously allows the use of their space and bells. We own our own chimes, pads, table coverings, mallets and other incidentals. 8. How many concerts do you do a year? We usually do 3 in December but this year we have 4. During the rest of the year we usually book 2 to Do you have a website? Yes, please visit it and get on our mailing list How can I become a ringer in CBFW? We hold auditions each year. We post audition information on our website. CBFW Welcomes Lynn Garis & Thomas Williams Lynn Garis began playing bells while in the Junior High Youth Group in her hometown of Owensboro, KY. She continued to ring through high school. She attended Murray State University where she majored in music with a minor in business management. While at Murray, Lynn continued to ring and became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity. Since college Lynn has rung in various church choirs. She is married to the love of her life, Greg and they have two wonderful children, Cole and Hope. Thomas Williams has been ringing bells for over 20 years. He co-directed the Ozark Bronze with Kerry Johnston while in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Called to music ministry in 2002, he recently moved to Texas to serve as Director of Music and Worship at Granbury First United Methodist Church. Thomas mantra to his handbell ensembles has always been, Practice makes better! When Thomas isn t ringing bells or leading worship he can be found at the Hood County YMCA or taking long walks on the beach in Granbury. Friend to Friend Page 3

4 Friends of Concert Bells of Fort Worth (as of September 2011) If you are a Friend and your name has been omitted or your listing is inaccurate, please let us know so we can correct our records. Director s Circle Jean Harden George P. & Nesha J. Morey President s Circle Dan & Elizabeth Garvin Online Insurance Services William Smythe Rick & Karen Thompson Premiere Circle Nancee Adams Kari Daelke Bettie W. Harden Bill & Cathy Herring Kate & Hank Lattimore Patricia M. Morey Vernon & Bronwyn Rew Richard Sperry Grand Circle Mary E. & David T. Bell Nancy Gillis Bill & Pat Gordon Zella Gordon Lynette Hendricks George and Margaret Kloepfer Cora & Scot Latta Alys Lindholm Bob & Carol Lynn Mizell Stephanie Rhoades Gayle & Virgil Strange Brenda Swindle Lori L. Talbott James & Barbara Thompson Ann Treleven Contributor s Circle Jo & Jahliese Blount Corbin Bullock Joan & Charles Duke Quinda Hatfield Carol Haynes Gene & Becky Lormor Dot Parks Charlene Watson Joan Youngblood In Honor of Kari Daelke Pam Adams & Chris Herrada Phyllis & Chuck Beck Bette Campbell Kay Champagne Sharon Chapman Lynn & Charles Duhon Jan & John Fisher Bill & Cathy Herring Stefani & Jon Lee Dalene MacWilliam Carol Lynn Mizell Joan Muser Brenda Swindle Lori Talbott Karen Thompson Jeanne White Page 4 Volume 12, Issue 1

5 Friends of Concert Bells of Fort Worth Membership/Contribution Form Date Name. (As it should appear in our programs and newsletters) I wish my gift to be anonymous. Please do not list my name in programs or newsletters. Mailing Address City State Zip Code. Phone Number ( ) Address Membership (Check New or Renewal and desired level and payment) New. Renewal ANNUAL AMOUNT Friend Level MONTHLY AMOUNT $360 or more Director s Circle $30 or more $240 $359 President s Circle $20 $29.99 $120 $239 Premiere Circle $10 $19.99 $60 $119 Grand Circle $5 $9.99 up to $59 Contributor up to $4.99 Membership $ Wish-List Fund $ TOTAL CONTRIBUTION ENCLOSED $ *All donations to Concert Bells of Fort Worth are tax deductible* Benefits of Being a Friend to CBFW Newsletter Your name listed in CBFW programs and newsletter Advance notice of public concerts Please give this form and your check to any CBFW ringer or mail to: Concert Bells of Fort Worth, c/o Jean Harden, 1717 Broadway, Denton, Texas Friend to Friend Page 5

6 Why compose/arrange for Handbells? Charter Member, Carol Lynn Mizell Many things inspire a composer/arranger to create a piece of music: special occasions of great joy (including weddings, baptisms, concert opportunities), special times of deep sadness, a snippet of a beautiful melody, a fragment of a catchy rhythm. Then there s an added inspiration that comes with a composition contest with a ca$h prize (!), or a commission from an individual or a group to do a particular piece. When CBFW Conductor and Artistic Director, Stephanie Rhoades, asked me to do an arrangement of Holiday Piece (Carol of the Bells) for our group, the process began. First of all, I needed permission from the publisher to make such an arrangement. Once that step was completed, it was time to choose the tone colors for the various musical sections and themes from those we had available to us in a handbell ensemble. (Additional tone colors are added with three Percussion parts.) For instance, the opening measures make use of the Petit & Fritsen Handbells for one theme. Chimes are rung for another theme, and handbells are malleted in the bass line. A fourth tone color is soon added with the high treble bells ringing the familiar Carol of the Bells opening theme above the other three colors. In the middle section, the melodic figures are played by treble bells while the accompanying harmonies appear on the lower chimes. When one has the opportunity to collaborate with the ensemble for whom the composition is arranged during the rehearsal phase of preparation for a concert, it also becomes a work in progress : Would another technique sound better here? Add an accent to that note to make sure the melodic line can be heard. Ring in that measure instead of thumb-damping. I hope that the audience enjoys this handbell setting of David Foster s energetic arrangement of Holiday Piece! Many things inspire a composer/arranger to create a piece of music...weddings, baptisms -Carol Lynn Mizell Page 6 Volume 12, Issue 1

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8 Like Concert Bells of Fort Worth on Facebook! We will be posting our latest concert dates, photos and other info so you can easily keep up with the latest happenings with the group. We also welcome your comments and suggestions. Visit our website: ConcertBells.com New! Online sign up for our mailing list! We have partnered with Vertical Response to provide an online sign up for our mailing list. Just fill out the form found on our website and you will begin receiving upcoming concert and news information regarding Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Rest assured, we will not sell or distribute the list to any other party. Marketing by Vertical Response and the Concert Bells of Fort Worth D e d i c a t e d t o m u s i c e x c e l l e n c e t h r o u g h a r t i s t i c h a n d b e l l p e r f o r m a n c e Concert Bells of Fort Worth c/o Karen Thompson 7901 Kandy Lane North Richland Hills, Texas 76182