On Saturday, May 6, forty handbell ringers from across the state gathered for the Connecticut Spring Ring, a Handbell Musicians of America Event, held at the United Church of Rowayton and co-hosted by Music on the Hill and the United Church of Rowayton.
Artistic Director Ellen Dickinson was the clinician for the event. Ringers had a chance to meet and talk with other musicians. The Spring Ring gives ringers a chance to play new pieces of music, and possibly try a new bell position as well! If you have every seen a handbell choir play, you will have observed that it takes many people to play a piece of music! Handbell ringers generally ring two bells, each of which sounds one note, plus accidentals, at a time. Reading sessions like the Spring Ring give ringers a chance to try new bells, especially very large bass bells or very small treble bells.
Many thanks to all of the handbell choirs who loaned equipment and bells to make this day possible, including Music on the Hill, United Church of Rowayton, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport, Norfield Congregational Church, Southport Congregational Church, and Yale University.