Not familiar with handbell music, I began an online search and stumbled across a rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love." I was sold on the unique sound and style of handbells. The dings and dongs were able to envelop the chords and harmonies with the precise movement and stopping of bells. Awesome.
While the two handbell groups that are coming to the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center this weekend don't cover any Queen songs, they do rock a mean bell.
Vivace, a handbell group from Puerto Rico, will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Vivace means "lively" and "vivid," and that's exactly what type of show spectators should expect to see. The group incorporates the unique sound of handbells with percussion and guitar to create an engaging, energetic live performance. The ensemble consists of about 20 people, all between the ages of 14 and 22, with a minimum 10 years experience.
"The energy and precision of these young people is incredible," said Phyllis Tincher, a member of the Handbell Musicians of America' s Board of Directors for Area 10, which includes the Pacific Northwest. The organization is dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing through education, community and communication.
"I'm very excited that we are able to bring them (to Tacoma)," Tincher said.
Tincher has been involved with the group for 14 years.
"I was drawn to the beautiful, mellow sound of the bells," she said.
Handbell Musicians of America - Area 10 will perform a free show at 4 p.m. Sunday.
Dennis Dell, a member of the Area 10 group, has been ringing since 1986.
"I love to ring," he said. "It's mentally stimulating because it is unusual."
This group of nearly 400 musicians hails from a five-state radius and will play using a variety of techniques, including the use of mallets. There will be soloists as well, Dell said.
Handbells have used since the turn of the 18th century as a way to practice the patterned peals of larger bells. They are considered a percussion instrument and can range in weight from 7 ounces to 18 pounds.
The crowd this weekend will be in for a treat, as these two great ensembles will be sure to delight audiences of all ages with their unique sound and visual appeal.
For more information, visit www.handbellmusicans.org