Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers 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.
Think of a handbell ensemble as 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 CATHDERAL 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 more information:
Telephone: 01786 825387
E-mail: handbells@dunblanecathedral.org.uk