Scottish Ring - concert of Scottish music March 16, 2009

This concert, presented by Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers, is a celebration of Scottish music loved by Scots throughout the world. Music in this concert will range from Ye Banks and Braes to The Rowan Tree, My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose to Dream Angus, Pulling Bracken to the Lewis Folk melody, the Tiree Love Song, Kelvingrove, Highlander's Lament and much more.

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.

Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers own and perform on Scotland’s largest sets of handbell instruments. Since formation in 1977 Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers have made 15 television appearances, 22 radio broadcasts, travelled over 35,000 miles throughout the UK to give over 650 performances from Exeter to Inverness, won the only UK-wide competition open to all 1000 handbell groups in the UK, shared stages with 14 well-known orchestras, bands or choirs, performed in 9 different countries, produced 3 commercial recordings and been featured on those of 2 other groups, and raised many thousands of pounds for numerous charities. They have been selected to perform at national showcase concerts of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain on 4 occasions, performed in 5 international symposia, organised 4 Scottish Festivals, hosted 25 overseas groups, organised 19 seminars, supported the formation of 75 handbell groups in Scotland, and organised 4 residential ringing weeks for ringers from around the world. 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.
This concert is in aid of Stirling Royal Infirmary Healthy Hearts Club which supports former patients of the cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Official Website: http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk