[playing mezzo piano] ♪ [playing pianissimo] ♪

[applause] [playing handbells staccato and allegretto] ♪

[playing allegro] ♪ [playing staccato] ♪ [playing choirchimes and handbells allegro] ♪

[playing mezzo forte] ♪ [playing staccato and mezzo piano] ♪ [playing allegro] ♪

[playing staccato] ♪ [playing allegro] ♪

[playing mezzo forte] ♪ [laughter] [applause] [playing choirchimes and handbells staccato and mezzo piano]

♪ [playing allegro] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪

[playing mezzo piano] ♪ [music stops abruptly] [applause] many people think of handbells-- if they think of them at all-- as instruments you might hear in church or at christmastime. the raleigh ringers believe that english handbells are instruments for all seasons and lots of occasions. from a classical prelude to a stirring march, many kinds of music can be played on handbells, including one kind of music that has surprised some members of our audiences. apparently, nothing in their experience had prepared them for a handbell ensemble

that could rock and roll. [playing handbells and choirchimes allegretto and mezzo piano] ♪ [playing allegro] ♪

[playing allegro] ♪

[playing mezzo forte] ♪ [cheers and applause] [playing handbells and choirchimes allegretto and mezzo piano] ♪

[playing allegro] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪

[playing allegretto] ♪ [playing mezzo piano] ♪

[applause]

[playing handbells presto and mezzo forte] ♪ [playing mezzo piano and allegro] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪

[playing choirchimes and handbells allegretto and mezzo piano] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪

[playing allegro] ♪

[playing fortissimo] ♪ [applause]

for every one of us in the raleigh ringers, there were some wonderful moments in the past, when we first saw and heard and picked up and rang english handbells. the fascination that took hold of us then has challenged us with possibilities, inspired us with musical beauty, and never let us go. the greatest pleasure for a group of performing musicians lies in coming before an audience to share what has fascinated and inspired us. thank you for being our audience. [playing handbells and choirchimes allegretto and pianissimo] ♪

[playing mezzo piano] ♪

[playing pianissimo] ♪

[playing mezzo piano] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪

[playing mezzo piano] ♪

[playing mezzo forte] ♪

[applause] captioning by captionmax www.captionmax.com [playing dance of the sugarplum fairy on choirchimes and handbells] ♪

concert, is a portion of a two-hour video, one winter evening at meymandi. to obtain a dvd or vhs version of the full two-hour program, call toll free: or visit www.rr.org. [playing overture to the marriage of figaro on handbells]