the raleigh ringers believe that english handbells are instruments for all seasons and lots of occasionsstirring 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 to

[soft instrumental music] ♪ it's my pleasure to welcome you to this performance by the raleigh ringersgh, north carolina. the raleigh ringers is a community-based handbell ensemble that gave its first performance in 1990, but our instrument, the english handbell, has been around for hundreds of years. the ringers of the large bells found in the towers of so many english churches developed complex methods of repeatedly changing the order in which the bells were rung according to a memorized pattern. all this needed a lot of practice standing in a non-climate-controlled stone tower, hauling on a rope to control a massive bell, whose voice would unavoidably be heard for miles around. hoping to make their practice sessions more comfortable and less public, the ringers asked bell manufacturers to make them some small bells tuned to pitches that matched the bells in their tower. once these little bells existed, it was only natural to start playing tunes on them. and, well, here we are today. [playing handbells allegro and mezzo piano] ♪ [playing fortissimo] ♪ [playing mezzo forte] ♪ [playing