Small ensemble groups of two, three or four ringers can also play by having each ringer play a single musical line, as in playing a flute or other melody instrument. The technique to do this takes a while to learn but it is greatly rewarding as each ringer is playing a whole musical part rather than two, four or more specific bells.

We are running a Small Ensemble Festival in Benson on Saturday 8th July 2006.

The ultimate version of this technique is the solo ringer. Generally virtuosity is required to ring a piece of music with just a single ringer and piano accompaniment. One of our ringers has won music festival acclaim and prize money by solo ringing such well-known pieces as Panis Angelicus, Ave Maria, The Swan and Summertime.

We have a few people in our group who are playing solos, duos and small ensembles but we would be pleased to hear from other ringers with an interest in this exciting form of music making.

The photo shows a very accomplished soloist, Satomi Kono from Japan (reproduced with permission).

See the following link for detailed information about ringing handbells: