Worship Service each
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Hallelujah
Handbells
Our church has a long tradition of bringing English Handbells
to the Magic Valley. Our set of 5 octaves of handbells was cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London,
England. Whitechapel is famous for it's centuries old foundry which cast the Liberty Bell.
Whitechapel handbells are unique in the English Handbell world and known for their rich
and mellow tones. They are unusual to hear, unusual to play and we consider them a
wonderful addition to our worship traditions.
We have been fortunate to have a generous congregation. We
have added the fourth and fifth octaves of handbells and the fourth, fifth and lower sixth
octaves of handchimes (Malmark
Choirchimes) through gifts from our Church family. The new instruments have added a
substantial quality to our sound. We have one of the most unique sets of instruments in
Twin Falls and the surrounding Magic Valley.
Our bell team consists of 14 ringers and our director, Barbara Mix. The addition of our fourth and fifth octaves
of bells and handchimes has created opportunities for more team members to be added and we
have enjoyed the additional people. The Hallelujah Handbell ringers are: Howard, Annie, and Marsha Neibling,
Kelly and Ian Probasco, Robin and Vivian Wells, Marjie Atkins, Betty Benefiel, Maria Le,
Liberty Yates, Peggy Kroll, Rene Horner; subs Brenda Manning,Sue Knott.
Music at Twin Falls First Presbyterian Church is not just
about handbells, we are an active and vital part of our Church's music
ministry. We play the handbells and handchime about once a month during our worship
service. We also play outside of the Church providing music for special events.
Tuya es la Gloria (audio clip)
Tuya es la Gloria (the video)
The Video is from
A Magical Valley Christmas 2008
provided to our communtiy by
We are members of Area X of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. We enjoy
traveling to workshops and conventions to learn more about ringing and directing bells.
In the summer of 2007 Hallelujah Handbells went on a tour. We
played six concerts in one week in Twin Falls, ID, Rigby, ID, West Yellowstone, MT and
Jackson Hole, WY (an event at the opening of the new visitors center for the Teton
National Park).
We recorded our first CD in the Winter of 2005. The music was
recorded in the Church and locally produced.
In 2008, Hallelujah Handbells was asked to premier "The
Idaho Suite," a suite of four pieces of original handbell music. The work was written
for John and Betty Bonnett in honor of their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Both John and Betty
have played in our handbells choir and their children asked that the pieces be written and
played for them at the SunValley Opera House.
Participation in the Hallelujah Handbells is voluntary. One
does not need to be a member of the Church to play with the Choir. If you are interested
in playing with Hallelujah or would like to have Hallelujah play for you, please contact Barbara Mix, Handbell Director.
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