the ringers
Ringing assignments and bell handling techniques
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Click to expand
We thought it might be of interest to explain some of the ringing assignments and bell handling techniques. We normally have 13 positions numbered (from base to treble) 0 through 12 with positions 0 & 1 handling the 12 lower 3rd octave bass bells. We recently added position ".5" in the bass to better cover those bells. We also have occasionally added "double" ringers typically at positions 4, 5 & 6 to provide a richer sound. The four top treble ringers (Positions 9, 10, 11 & 12) each have two bells in each hand even though they are only reading two notes in the music. The bells get rather small at that end and as such, they "pair" two bells one octave apart. That is, they each have two "E" bells, two "F" bells, etc. in each hand. They are held in such a way that they ring together as one with the normal ring motion and is called "Shelly" ringing.
As you go further down the scale and the bells get a little larger, ringers still read one note per hand but usually only have one bell in each since they don't "double". But occasionally, they may have two bells in one or both hands and all are different notes. Often, it is an accidental (like a sharp or flat) that has to be rung right before or after a "normal" bell making it nearly impossible to quickly change. They will pick up the second bell in one hand at some point but it is arranged such that only one rings depending on their hand position. This is called "two-in-hand" ringing. When the normal "ring" motion is used, only the "ring bell" will ring. When the motion is like knocking on a door, only the "knock bell" will ring. This method can be used no lower than the bottom of the treble clef around Position 6 (D5-E5). From that point on, the bells are simply too large to have two bells in one hand.
All ringers will often use a method called "weaving". The bell in one hand is quickly placed on the table and the "extra" needed bell is picked up and rung when needed, often with the opposite hand that normally would ring that bell. It's a great technique that makes each ringer quite versatile.
And, when "all else fails", a ringer will ring a bell for their "neighbor" simply because they have the free hand and can "catch that note" where it needs to ring.
Depending on how many ringers we have for an upcoming concert, we may add three additional "Position Doubler" ringers in the midsection or "battery" to add additional richness. That is, there are two ringers ringing the same position and are at Positions 3, 4 & 5. They use bells from our second 5-octave set of bells.
Keep in mind, there are over 20 different ways to actually "ring" a bell and each produces a very different and interesting sound. You will hear most of them during a concert. Click the "Handbell History" link for more info on this.
the ringers - from Treble to Base:
Position 12: Bb6&7 - B6&7 - C7&8
Joyce - began her study of music with piano lessons at age 8. In 1974 she began her career as a church organist and is currently serving Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lancaster. She is in the Olivedale Ringers handbell choir and also plays bass clarinet in the Lancaster Community Band.
Position 11: Gb6&7 - G6&7 - G#/Ab 6&7 - A6&7
Kelly - is a graduate of Concordia University - Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she received a double music degree in Church Music and Piano Pedagogy. Kelly is the Kantor of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Lancaster. As Kantor, she plays the organ, directs the handbell choir, adult choir and various instrumental ensembles and teaches hymnody and liturgy classes. She also plays the saxophone and bassoon in the Lancaster Community Band. When she is not being musical, she enjoys drawing, reading and genealogy.
Position 10: Eb6&7 - E6&7 - F6/F7 - F#6&7
Linda - is a Charter Member of LHE and has been ringing handbells since 1981 with Lancaster's First Presbyterian's Celebration Ringers. She has been very active in regional and national handbell events, and rang in an auditioned choir directed by Arnold Sherman, at the 2008 National 'Pinnacle' Conference in Nashville. During COVID, she started a quartet playing for shut-ins and at assisted living facilities.
Position 9: C6 - C#6 - D6/D7 - D#6&7
Molly - hails from Canal Winchester and is graduate of Capital University, and is currently a member of the David Lutheran Church's Bell Choir. She has 20 years of ringing experience. She is a Charter Member of LHE.
Position 8: Ab5 - A5 - A#5/Bb5 - B5
Marilyn - lives near Logan and is a retired elementary teacher who still enjoys being a substitute teacher. She began playing bells at First Presbyterian Church in Logan under the direction of Jeff Daubenmire. Marilyn now plays piano for the worship services at St. Matthew Lutheran Church where she is a member and sings in the choir whenever she has the opportunity. She also plays with Joyful Bells, a handbell ensemble that plays for small groups as well as substitutes for the Olivedale handbell choir. Other interests include reading, crocheting, gardening and being a part of church groups such as co-chair for disaster relief.
Position 7: F5 - F#5/Gb5 - G5 - G#5
Paula - has been a handbell ringer for 30+ years. Paula participated in several bell choirs as well as performed solo ringing within churches she has attended in Ohio and Oregon. While in High School she had the opportunity to participate in a bell ringing tour which included a visit to a Monastery in Vermont. Bell ringing to Paula is a stress reliever to her bank job and daily commute to Columbus.
Position 6: Db5 - D5 - D#5/Eb5 - E5
Jennifer - has been ringing with the St. Peters Lutheran Church handbell choir since its inception in the early 1990's. She is also a member of the Olivedale bell choir. Having just retired from a 45 year nursing career, she is enjoying her "newly found freedom. Her other hobbies include cooking, gardening, traveling and, of course, family.
Position 5: Bb4 - B4 - C5 - C#5
John - has held various ringing positions over the years. John has rung in the Trinity Methodist (Grove City, OH) bell choir and has rung with Seton Parish in Pickerington. He is a retired software developer, and pursues genealogy, geometry and history.
Position 4: Gb4 - G4 - G#4/Ab4 - A4
Laura Lee - started ringing handbells about 20 years ago in Missouri with her mother in-law’s church. She rang in Mason, OH at Heritage Presbyterian Church for about 5 years. She since moved to Lancaster around 2019. She hasn’t picked up a handbell in many years but she missed ringing and is excited to be ringing again!
Position 3: Eb4 - E4 - F4 - F#4
Buffy - was entranced by the first handbell performance she attended. Many years later, after moving to Wheeling, WV, she joined her church bell choir and never looked back. Buffy is a retired ICU nurse. She and her husband moved to the Lancaster area to be closer to family. She joined the bell choir at St Peter’s Lutheran Church . Hobbies include reading, applique, quilting, dog walking, and spending time with grandchildren.
Position 2: Eb3 - E3 - C4 - C#4/Db4 - D4
Kathy - is a Lancaster native and began ringing in 2003 with the Celebration Ringers of First Presbyterian Church. As a busy financial advisor by day, she considers ringing a fantastic stress reliever! When she's not working or ringing, you'll find Kathy serving on the Lancaster City Schools Board of Education, volunteering as a board member of the American Red Cross and as an active member of Fairfield Medical Center Twig 14. She is a Charter Member of LHE.
Position 1: Db3 - D3 - D#3 - F3 - F#3 - Ab3 - A3 - A#3
Loni - grew up in New Hampshire and was introduced to handbells when her sister asked for concert tickets to a handbell performance as a Christmas present. In her research to obtain the tickets, she came across and attended an introduction workshop series hosted by the Granite State Ringers. After moving to Ohio, she reached out to the LHE who graciously took her under their wing as an intern and substitute ringer. Loni has a background in mass care disaster relief and mobile healthcare operations and currently working with mobile vision clinics to bring vision care to youth in under resourced areas of rural Ohio.
Position 0.5: Gb3 - G3 - G#3 - Bb3 - B3
Ryan - is a native of Grafton, WV and currently lives in Logan, OH. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Music K-12) degree from Fairmont State University in 2002 and a Masters of Music Degree from Ohio University in 2004. He was named as a Semi-Finalist in the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium-Tuba Competition in 2004. He works for CA House Music in Lancaster, OH as a School Band Specialist and is the Music Director at Hocking Hills UMC in Logan, OH. He began playing Handbells in college and is very happy to have joined the Lancaster Handbell Ensemble.
Position 0: C3 - C#3 - Eb3 - E3
Konrad - is a former ringer with LHE and has returned for our 2023 Spring concert to be an additional ringer in the bass (3rd octave). He first started playing handbells at David's United Church of Christ in 2003 and has rung with, directed and founded ensembles on a global scale. He joined us for our 2017 season but had to leave due to work responsibilities.
Unassigned / Backup ringer(s)
Paul - is a Charter Member of LHE and has rung in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Handbell Choir since 2003. He was also the founder and Director of the Youth Handbell Choir at Seton parish. At LHE, he is a 'mainstay' in the 'low ding' section and has occasionally added percussion and special effects to musical selections. He also rings our three sub-base chimes (C2, F2, G2). Paul is an Electrical Engineer by trade whose interests include photography, railroading (the real ones) and riding his horse. He has taken leave from LHE for the spring of 2024 and plans to return for the winter concerts but may be a backup for spring 2024.
our past ringers
We have had a number of dedicated ringers that have had to depart our ranks due to job moves and such - - and some that have "filled-in" for a ringer that was absent. We are greatly appreciative for their time and talents in making us what we are and wish to acknowledge them here. They are:
Shelia - is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a degree in Social Work. She has been ringing at Faith Memorial Church for 19 years. She also plays bass clarinet in the Lancaster Community Band and enjoys crocheting, hiking, and canoeing.
Julie - was a Charter Member and had left LHE and moved from Ohio after becoming an ordained minister. She has since returned to Ohio but is now located distant from LHE.
Christine - has taken a leave of absence and hopes to return. She has loved music since she started singing in children's choir at her Ft. Wayne, IN church at age 4. As an adult, she sang in a number of choirs, including choirs at Seton Parish and the All American Chorus of the DAR. She has been ringing handbells since 2003 at Seton Parish. Christine is a retired chemical engineer and enjoys gardening, genealogy, reading and crocheting lap robes for wounded veterans. She is a Charter Member of LHE.
Peggy - lives near Baltimore, OH and has rung handbells for about 15 years with the handbell choir of Christ UMC in Baltimore. She also has played in various community concert and jazz bands since high school as well as The Ohio State University Marching Band and currently plays with the OSU Alumni Band.
Janet - is a graduate in music education from Capital University and has played organ, directed adult and children’s choirs, both choral and handbell, for over 60 years, most recently as Music Director (choral and handbell) at David’s United Church of Christ in Canal Winchester. In addition to her musical activities, she likes to read, cook and work jigsaw puzzles..
Tom - was one of our charter members and resides in Canal Winchester and has played bells since 2007 with the David Lutheran Church Handbell Choir. He has no trouble hauling what he calls the 'Cool Papa Bells'. During the Christmas Season he proved himself to be 'tintinnambulatory' (being able to walk and play bells at the same time), and has taken up the mastery of the rain stick. Tom also occasionally provides special lighting and stage effects to our performances. Tom had some shoulder problems in 2019 that recently worsened and this has sadly made ringing no longer possible.
Don - has helped to fill in many times as needed. Position 2 has been his regular position with 1st Presbyterian's "Celebration Ringers". He has taken this position for LHE's 2019 Fall/Christmas concerts
Ted - was a ringer in the bass and had quite a sense of humor!
Becky - is originally from Sugar Grove. She's loved music for as long as she can remember. She retired from Lancaster City Schools after 25 years as an Educational Assistant. Becky rings handbells with her church choir and plays trumpet with the Lancaster Community Band. She's very proud of her musical daughter who is also an "LHEer!"
Valerie - is the music director at Parkview Presbyterian Church in Reynoldsburg. She has been on the directing side of handbell choirs and is very excited to be on the other side of the table, actively ringing. Valerie is currently a substitute and "back-up" ringer due to work responsibilities.
Debbie - is a retired elementary teacher from Fairfield Christian Academy. Although she is not a trained musician, she especially enjoyed being able to play such lovely music as part of the bell choir. "It's worth all the practice to be able to praise God through music." Debbie is attending to family matters.
Konrad - first started playing handbells at David's United Church of Christ in 2003 and has rung with, directed and founded ensembles on a global scale. He joined us for our 2017 season but had to leave due to work responsibilities.
Jodi -is from Lancaster, graduated from Muskingum College with a Degree in Music Ed, and is presently working on her MM at Capital University. She has rung in and directed the Bells of Faith at Faith Memorial Church, and was a member of the Lancaster Chorale. She works for Chime Master Systems, and directed the choirs at Sixth Avenue UMC in Lancaster. She is a Charter Member of LHE. Jodi has sadly encountered some hearing issues which became permanent. She is very missed.
Kay - is from Athens and rang for two years with First United Methodist Church of Athens. Prior to that she rang for more than ten years with First United Methodist Church of Saginaw, Mi. under the direction of Catherine McMichael. She was pleased to be a member of LHE. She moved from the area.
Chuck - attended Capital University for his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Bowling Green State University for his masters degree work. He taught for twenty years in the field of Music (band) in the public schools as well as college programs. His specialty is the trumpet and he played in a night club band as his outlet and desire to preform. But, what he treasured the most was playing taps for military funerals. "It was the last thing the families heard for their fallen son or daughter". He is currently playing hand bells with the Celebration Ringers at the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, Ohio and has recently joined The Lancaster Hand Bell Ensemble.
Wade - has rung with us before and substitutes as needed.
Oliver - is the son of our director and fills in occasionally when a member is unable to be with us due to vacations, etc.
Atethia - was a joy for the group. She has has since married and moved from the area.
Betsy -
Sue -