Carillons and Claviers - music for handbells and organ May 31, 2008

Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers under the direction of Malcolm C Wilson will combine forces with Dunblane Cathedral Organist Matthew Beetschen in presenting a visually exciting lunchtime concert on Saturday 31 May in Dunblane Cathedral at 12-noon. The musically diverse 45-minute programme will showcase arrangements and original compositions for handbells and organ together. Music will include original works for handbells and organ by contemporary US composers Douglas E Wagner, Kevin McChesney and Derek Hakes, as well as a well-known Vivaldi concerto melody in a new setting for handbells and organ. And there will be sparkling arrangements of Andre Campra's Riguadon and the hymn classic Old Hundredth. There will also be a setting of the much-loved melody How Great Thou Art especially aranged by London-based composer Sandra Winter, who will be in the audience. Handbell ringing is a highly cooperative performing art. A handbell ensemble is akin to a living piano, with each of eleven ringers taking responsibility for several notes. Treble ringers may hold as many as four bells in their hands at one time, while bass ringers use their whole bodies to move 8-pound bronze bells with rhythmic precision. Ringers combine synchronised aerobic movement with musical energy to create what might be described as a larger-than-life and highly visual musical box.

Admission is free with donations welcome.

DUNBLANE CATHEDRAL HANDBELL RINGERS are widely regarded as Scotland's leading handbell ensemble and have Scotland's largest range of acoustic handbells - a 61-note 5-octave span of Malmark, Whitechapel and Schulmerich handbells. Since formation over 30 years ago they have made 15 television appearances, 22 radio broadcasts, travelled over 35,000 throughout the UK to give over 650 performances from Exeter to Inverness, won a UK-wide competition open to all 1000 handbell groups in the UK, shared stages with 15 well-known orchestras, bands or choirs, performed in 9 different countries, produced 3 commercial recordings and been featured on those of 2 other groups, been selected to perform at national showcase concerts of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain on 4 occasions, and performed in 5 international symposia. Notable performance venues have included Scotland's major concert venues such as the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Edinburgh's Usher Hall, Glasgow City Hall, and Dundee's Caird Hall. They have performed alongside many celebrated soloists such as Donald Maxwell, Linda Ormiston and Peter Morrison.

MATTHEW BEETSCHEN was born in Kent and educated there and at Bristol University, where he was Organ Scholar. After holding various posts including that of Sub-Organist at Leeds Parish Church, he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at Dunblane Cathedral in 1992. A Fellow of the Royal College of Organists he has given organ recitals at venues throughout the UK and abroad. In addition to being Organist and Choirmaster at the Cathedral he is Conductor of the Rosenethe Singers and on the music staff at Morrison’s Academy, Crieff.

For information on other local and national organ recitals see:
www.organrecitals.com