The First 40 Years - Volume XI

by Allegro Handbell EnsembleAllegro Handbell Ensemble
Allegro Handbell Ensemble: The First 40 Years
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Over 100 handbell ringers perform 40 years of music on this two-disc compilation album of the Allegro Handbell Ensemble.

The performances of more than one hundred handbell ringers and two directors are represented on this two-disc compilation volume. This compilation represents some of the very best recordings performed by the Allegro Handbell Ensemble on its first ten albums, and includes the world premiere compact disc releases of the never-published Suite for Cello and Bells and Symphony for Bells, works commissioned for the ensemble from Donald E. Allured. This is the group's twelfth album.

Historical Note
This compilation is the first two-disc set issued by the Allegro Handbell Ensemble, and also the first to feature all songs composed or commissioned for the ensemble. Volume XI features fives works in their premiere compact disc releases, including two works which have never been published.

From the Insert

Founded by John Macdonald in 1967 as the Union Church Handbell Choir, the Allegro Handbell Ensemble has been an organization of learning and growth for dozens of high school musicians, to the delight of audiences around the world.

The performances of more than one hundred handbell ringers and two directors are represented on this two-disc compilation volume. This compilation represents some of the very best recordings performed by the Allegro Handbell Ensemble on its first ten albums, and includes the world premiere compact disc releases of the never-published Suite for Cello and Bells and Symphony for Bells, works commissioned for the ensemble from Donald E. Allured.

With one exception, each track from Volumes I through VII was digitally remastered from the original recording reels. The 1978 recording of Symphony for Bells was remastered from a clean LP record. Each subsequent track was recorded digitally and was simply transferred to this compilation without modification.

The case insert contains twelve pages of information and history about the Allegro Handbell Ensemble and the musicians who appear on the discs, as well as production information about every Allegro handbell Ensemble recording since Volume I.

Additional information from the insert, including the names of all performers, the particulars of each recording, has been omitted.

Track List
from the insert

DISC ONE
Track Title Time

Orig. Year

Composer, Arranger

1.
2.
3.
Suite for Cello and Bells
I. Bravura
II. Capriccio
III. Finale
"Commissioned in loving memory of
Dee. P. Patterson for the Allegro Handbell Choir."
(7:21)
3:29
1:14
2:37
1977 Donald E. Allured
4. Symphony for Bells
"Composed for the Allegro Handbell Choir
and dedicated by them to the loving memory of Barbara Teshner."
11:44 1978 Donald E. Allured
5. Sleigh Ride 3:14 1981 Leroy Anderson,
arr. Robert Ivey
6. Sharon's Song 3:57 1981 Donald E. Allured
7. Silverthorne 6:46 1981 Donald E. Allured
8. Gloria 1:47 1984 Traditional Carol
arr. Frances Legge Callahan
9. Nocturne in E minor 5:08 1984 Cynthia Dobrinski
10. Simple Gifts 3:03 1984 Shaker Tune,
arr. Carl Wiltse
11. Canon 3:39 1984 Johann Pachelbel,
arr. Hal H. Hopson
12. Rainbow Connection 3:13 1984 Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher,
arr. Betty B. Garee
13. Jazzy Jinglin' Bells 1:38 1987 James Pierpont, arr. Mary Engel
14. White Christmas 5:08 1987 Irving Berlin,
arr. Cynthia Dobrinski
15. Carol of the Bells 2:41 1987 Mykolo Leontovich,
arr. Hart Morris
16. The Can-Can 1:46 1987 Jacques Offenbach,
arr. Martha Lynn Thompson
17. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers 2:40 1987 Leon Jessel,
arr. Marthya Lynn Thompson
18. The Stars and Stripes Forever 2:59 1987 John Philip Sousa,
arr. Otis J. Mumaw,
ed. Dwight K. Menard
19. O Come Rejoicing 1:12 1990 Polish Carol,
arr. Martha Lynn Thopson
20. Silver Bells 2:26 1990 Jay Livingston,
arr. Ralph F. Stiles


DISC TWO

Track Title Time

Orig. Year

Composer, Arranger
1. Caroloers' Hoedown 3:17 1993 Valerie W. Stephenson
2. O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing!
"Presented to the Allegro Handbell Choir
at the American Church in Paris, June 30, 1991."
3:47 1993 arr. Fred Gramann
3. Elegy (orig. Tombeau)
"Commissioned in memory of Dwight K. Menard
by the 1971-1979 Allegro Handbell Choirs."
6:35 1993 William A. Payn
4. With the Angels Let Us Sing
"Commissioned for the Allegro Handbell Choir
in memory of Linda Tice."
4:17 1993 Carl Wiltse
5. Bell Jubilee 1:13 1998 Ellen Jane Lorenz
6. Gaudeamus: Let Us Be Joyful 3:57 1998 Arnold B. Sherman
7. Reverberations 2:10 1998 Sallie Lloyd
8. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 5:14 1998 Franz Liszt,
arr. Douglas Wagner
9. Deep River
Michael Surratt, piano
3:54 1998 Spiritual,
arr. Janet Linker
and Jane McFadden
10. The Blessing
Elizabeth Jung, guest ringer
3:32 1998 Paul A. McKlveen
11. Hava Nageela 3:52 1998 Israeli Folk Song,
arr. Douglass Floyd Smith
12. Angel Tidings 3:32 1999 Cynthia Dobrinski
13. We Three Kings 2:14 1999 John H. Hopkins, Jr.,
arr. Cynthia Dobrinski
14. Up on the Housetop 2:51 1999 Traditional Carol,
arr. Mary Kay Parrish
15. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer 2:25 1999 Johnny Marks,
arr. Arnold B. Sherman
16. Here Comes Santa Claus 2:23 1999 Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman,
arr. Valerie W. Stephenson
17. Jingle-Bell Rock 2:32 2003 Joe Beal and Jim Boothe,
arr. Douglas E. Wagner
18. The Nutcracker 5:25 2003 Peter I. Tchaikovsky,
arr. Kevin McChesney
19.

Noël Nouvelet/Now the Green Blade Riseth

2:22 2003 French Carol,
arr. Kevin McChesney
20. This Little Light of Mine 3:57 2003 Traditional Spiritual,
arr. Janet Linker
and Jane McFadden
21. Siyahamba (We Are Marching in the Light of God) 4:47 2003 South African Freedom Song,
arr. Robert J. Ward
22. In the Hall of the Mountain King 3:22 2003 Edvard Grieg,
arr. Michael Keller

Recording Credits
from the insert


Volume XI Producer
Michael B. Surratt

Digital Remastering, Post Production, and CD Mastering
Gerald G. LeCompte

Recording Engineers
Mark Rubenstein, Tracks 1-4 (Disc 1)
Cynthia Cash Rowe, Tracks 1-3 (Disc 1)
Gerald G. LeCompte Tracks 5-21 (Disc 1) and Tracks 1-4 and 17-22 (Disc 2)
Robert Atkins, Tracks 5-16 (Disc 2)

Graphic Design and Copy
Daniel Reck, forzandoArts
www.forzando.net

Photography
Bruce Chlevin

Archive Cover Scans
Jay Freeman
Daniel Reck

Volume XI Production
Advanced Audio Technology
Carol Stream, Illinois
www.advancedaudio.net

Recording Locations

Tracks 1-4 (Disc 1)
Streeterville Studios
Chicago, Illinois

All Remaining Tracks
Recorded Live in the
Sanctuary of Union Church
Hinsdale, Illinois
www.uchinsdale.org

Special Thanks
Jean Macdonald Graven

Copyright 2005
Allegro Handbell Ensemble and
the Union Church of Hinsdale