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The Belles of the Bells: Upcoming Christmas concert includes handbell choir
CHARLESTON, Mo. — “Jingle Bells.”
“Sleigh Bells.”
“The Carol of the Bells.”
There is even “Jingle Bell Rock.”
Bells are part of Christmas.
One group of women keeps the bells ringing year-round. However, for more than two decades they have chimed in for a concert known for setting the tone for Christmas.
The Sam C. and Jane Goodin Memorial Handbell Choir at the Charleston First United Methodist Church is among featured performers at Sunday’s “Christmas in Charleston.” This year’s free concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Church, 1700 E. Marshall St.
According to organizer Terry Parker, the annual concert began as a way for other congregations to hear the music of the handbell choir.
“The handbells are such a unique and challenging instrument to play. There is something about the bells ringing that adds to the Christmas spirit,” said Parker, who accompanies the group.
Janie Young has directed the bell choir since its inception. She explained the idea for the group began after a member of the congregation heard a bell choir at another church. Richard Combs, the church’s pastor at that time, also was familiar with the sound and had a bell choir at one of his former churches.
Young said Combs suggested the congregation use some of its memorial fund money to purchase the first bells. After purchasing two octaves, a third octave was added with memorial money provided by Sam C. and Jane Goodin. Chimes were added as a memorial gift to honor Stephen Austin.
Today, in addition to Young, the bell choir includes: Anna Marie French, Jennifer Taylor, Bettina Moxley, Jeanne Burke, Susan White, Janet DeField, Mary Jane Whitehead, Tiffany Brantley, Ginger Logan, Jeannie Starr, Georgia Gremillion, Carol McDowell and Anne Willis. Dede Reed fills in when a substitute is needed.
The 14 members agreed it isn’t hard to learn to play the bells. However, there is a technique each had to master.
As they prepare to rehearse, the members put on white cotton gloves. At their U-shaped rehearsal table, the bells are carefully lined up in keyboard order from the largest bells, which sound the low notes, to the smallest bells, which are the high notes.
Young describes the motion used to ring each bell as a “swoop. It’s like pedaling a bicycle backward.” Extending her arm away from her body, she demonstrated a circular motion, then snapped her wrist causing the clapper to strike the bell and sound. To mute the vibration, she rests the bell on her chest.
Anna Marie French was among the first to join the handbell choir. While it requires continual practice, French said the members of the bell choir also have fun.
“We are kind of a close knit,” said French. “We all stick together and do for each other. This whole group makes it worth coming to. They make my life.”
Georgia Gremillion is the newest member, joining this fall. Gremillion is literally a “right-hand” for the group, playing two bells for member Carol McDowell, who injured her rotator cuff.
“It takes a village,” noted a fellow choir member with a laugh.
Young added: “But it is working out great because of her.”
Gremillion said she enjoys music and was happy to help the choir.
“I only have to play two bells, so that hasn’t been terribly hard but it is not as easy as it looks,” she said.
With her first concert approaching, Gremillion said she is looking forward to the performance, especially to the group’s rendition of “Adeste Fidelis.”
“It is a great way to spread the holiday cheer and the message of Christmas,” she said.
Like Gremillion, Jennifer Taylor said “Adeste Fidelis” is her favorite piece which the group will perform Sunday.
“It just gives me chills. It is the most beautiful Christmas song I think you could ever hear,” she said.
While she enjoys playing the bells year-round, Taylor said the bells at Christmas time add something extra to the music and she enjoys sharing it with the community.
“Seeing people come and their faces light up … as they hear the Christmas songs,” she said. “This is just something special for our town to have.”
Longtime bell choir member Susan White has played low bells and now rings the bells for the C above middle C, the B, the B-flat and C sharp. She admitted that sometimes she is amazed that 14 women can work together, playing only two bells at a time and produce a song.
“It gives you a peace that if 14 different women (and sometimes men) can work together on a piece of music and make it sound beautiful, then there is hope for all the world,” White said.
For her, the concert is an essential part of the holiday.
“It just sets the tone,” White explained. “You know the holiness comes in. We do this for the glory of God — that’s it. We are a band of women that can pray hard together and have each other’s backs, but we do it all for the glory of the Lord.”