The Raleigh Ringers in Concert

See also: The Raleigh Ringers: One Winter Evening at Meymandi

When the Eagles wrote "Hotel California" in the '70s, they most likely were not thinking of performing it with handbells. Yet in a new UNC-TV special, The Raleigh Ringers perform it with finesse.

In their second unique special on statewide public television, The Raleigh Ringers diverge from the traditional holiday ensemble in The Raleigh Ringers in Concert. A community handbell choir directed by David M. Harris, The Raleigh Ringers perform a wide variety of music in a number of venues. The new show, taken from several of their 2001 concerts at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh, highlights the broad range of their repertoire, from the classical Overture from "The Nutcracker" and the majestic "Stars and Stripes Forever" to the ageless rock tunes "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Hotel California."

Performing on the largest collection of handbells in the world, The Raleigh Ringers have earned widespread recognition. Their collection of 361 instruments includes a seven and one-half octave set of Malmark handbells, five octaves of Whitechapel handbells, four octaves of Whitechapel Cup Bells, three octaves of Petit and Fritsen handbells, two octaves of Silver Melody Bells, six octaves of Malmark Choirchimes, and their newest acquisition-a two-octave set of J. C. Deagan handbells. Their tours have taken them to the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Coast and even France.

Besides the songs listed above, the song list includes:

• Overture from "The Marriage of Figaro"
• Tempest (composed by Kevin McChesney from Colorado)
• Pinnacle (composed by Dr. William Payn, director of choral studies at Bucknell University, PA)
  ( Both Pinnacle and Tempest are original works composed for The Raleigh Ringers)
• Fantasy on King's Weston
• Prelude in C# Minor, Rachmaninoff
• Greensleeves
• Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from "The Nutcracker"
• Pinball Wizard

The special opens with remarks about the history of handbells, some of the oldest instruments known to the world. Since its introduction in New England in the early 1900s, the art of handbell ringing expanded throughout the United States-thanks largely to its popularity in liturgical circles. While The Raleigh Ringers maintain some of that liturgical history, they have included some more creative expressions, including this concert's rock and roll interpretations. Viewers in the mood for the non-traditional will enjoy The Raleigh Ringers in Concert.

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