|
1. Wonderful Memorial Each time I reflect on a Jubilee Ringers "musical offering" (can't do it while performing, especially when playing, since I prefer to focus on one thing at a time), I am reminded that each and every handbell was purchased as a memorial for someone. It sets me in awe and my reflection deals with the perfectness of a handbell memorial.
A handbell is beautiful as are many other memorials. One of the stunning differences between the handbell (as a memorial) and some other fixed objects is that it's beauty and usefulness takes the commitment of another human being to be realized. The handbell's full value is only achieved when another human being picks it up and begins to make beautiful sounds in the service of our Lord. Each of you ringers take on the spirit of the person(s) that is memorialized by your handbell(s). It is both an honor and a responsibility that I don't take likely as I reflect on it. I hope you also are reminded at times of the spirit of some other human being express in/by your ringing. It becomes an awesome process.
---
2. Cooperation / Togetherness / Reliance / Respect / Service Some of you that have "been around a while" have heard me "take off" on the AGEHR motto, "Uniting People through a Musical Art". I have been fortunate to be a part of many musical organizations and teams through the years but I have found no team or organization that requires the total "togetherness" found in handbell ringing. ... No one ringer is a star, No one ringer is a featured soloist, No one ringer can be missing and not be greatly missed, No one ringer carries "the ball" all the time, No one ringer has a melodic solo that others accompany ...It is really difficult for a beginning ringer to learn how to work in this reliance/respectful/cooperation situation. Everyone wants to be able to do his/her own thing and have it be individually understood. In handbells, ALL work together for NO ONE has the lead part. Everyone shares the lead (at times) and everyone shares the accompaniment (at times). Generally, ringers are responsible for two or more notes that must fit into the total flow of a melody, accompaniment, or rhythmic pattern. When one person is missing the total music (melody, accompaniment, rhythm) does not work. It takes everyone to make the total music. Meaning only becomes clearly expressed when EVERYONE does his/her part at the CORRECT time. Wow!!! Talk about UNITING PEOPLE! Without being united, there is no survival.
---
3. Mediocre Medium One of the things I strongly encourage in a handbell ringer is to be strongly committed to what he/she is doing. If handbell ringing is worthwhile, it is worth doing as well as one can. I use this phrase, Mediocre Medium, to describe many weak aspects of what we do as human beings but, in this case, to things we do as handbell ringers. Mediocre refers to, of course, a non-committed approach to anything. It is easy to be mediocre but it may take considerable effort to rise above this human tendency. Medium is a term that can be considered to be much the same but it can also be applied to some musical effects - medium is to be "middle of the road". One is many times Mediocre Medium when not clear in what is to be done and as a result, not very clear in expressing something. Let me see if I can apply my thoughts in a few areas to clarify what I mean. Enthusiasm: To show no emotion (like scoring a touchdown in Bud Grant's - former Viking coach - attitude: "Act like you have been there before!") is to be "boring". I am a firm believer in not being afraid to show some excitment about what you do or have accomplished. Don't be reserved about your playing! People will respond to someone that is enthusiastic about what they do! Your ringing motion is a clear indicator of your attitude.Dynamics: There are many different levels of loudness in handbell ringing. Mediocre Medium might have it's place at times but please consider that 1) the melodic notes must be LOUD enough to rise above the texture of the total handbell sound. In order for the melodic notes to rise above the others, 2) the accompanying ringers need to support by learning how to ring moderately soft or soft (each ringer - each note - must have it's own life). No ringer should ring the same Mediocre Medium dynamic level all the time. Know when a note is a MELODY note or a SOLO note and ring that note(s) with some strength. Know which notes are accompanying notes and ring those notes softer. Each note rung must never be receive a Mediocre Medium effort. Are we making music or just ringing handbells? Know the dynamic of every note that you ring and perform each note accordingly - LOUD notes require more physical energy - SOFT notes require less physical energy. If a note is intended to be LOUD or SOFT, the amount of energy you apply to the ringing motion is a clear indicator of your musicality.Rhythm: Rhythmic intensity is very important attribute of a good ringer. When to drive forward and be on the forward edge of the flow of the music and when to lay back and (subdivide the beat) to keep a slower tempo steady are other places where Mediocre Medium needs to be tackled. There is no one way to ring all notes. Rhythmic intensity is so important to the music and playing at the right time is the most important aspect of all of handbell ringing. One cannot go by what they hear but must generate this drive from inside. We must all coordinate our inner rhythmic drive. ALWAYS COUNT and ALWAYS BE AWARD OF THE BEAT and WHERE IT IS GOING. Do you have to hold back a bit - like in a ritard at the end of a song... Do you have to push forward - as when the tempo is increasing... Do you have to divide the beat (think half beats instead of beats) in order to keep a slower piece steady... Do you have to combine beats (think two beats instead of one) in order to make a faster section move quickly? There certainly can be many other applications of this principle. I will let you stretch and apply in your own life and ringing.
|
