A variety of music styles will be performed by the full
six-octave choir and smaller ensembles. You may especially enjoy hearing
the following:
OUR NEWSLETTERS
We plan to send newsletters each November and each Spring. You are
receiving this newsletter because you have, in some way or another,
shown an interest in MACH. If you know someone else who might enjoy
receiving our newsletter, let us know (see contact information below).
|
HOW TO CONTACT MACH
Write to MACH at P.O. Box 14658, Madison, 53714-0658;
Call our Music Director, Susan Udell, at 271-3514;
Or see our web page at www.madisonhandbells.org.
All contributions are tax-deductible.
|
WHAT IS MACH?
Madison Area Concert Handbells (MACH) is a six-octave, auditioned,
community handbell choir in the Madison area. MACH is a nonprofit organization
devoted to promoting the art of handbell ringing through high-quality
performances and educational opportunities for skilled handbell ringers.
MACH gave 15 performances in 1998, including (most recently) performances
at the Christmas Pageant at Monona Terrace, at the Madison Club, on
Jonathan Overby's WHA radio program "Higher Ground", and at a Habitat
for Humanity fund-raiser at the Esquire Theater. In addition, selections
from MACH's prior performances have been broadcast numerous times by
station WERN.
|
PERFORMANCE TIP
Situation: You're playing a wonderful piece of music which
ends in a big, stunning final chord with a fermata. Everyone in
the choir plays a note in the chord except you. They all ring
their bells beautifully and move them in an arc together. You
are reminded of the Rockettes, and you feel left out of the fun.
Solution: Fake it. Pick up any unused bell and turn it
90 degrees in your hand so the clapper moves side to side, rather
than forward and backward. As your neighbors strike the chord,
move your bell gently in a similar arc. (If you are nervous that
your bell will make a sound, you can also put your gloved thumb
on the casting to ensure during the motion that it is a dumb bell.)
When you come to our April concert, try to see whether MACH members
ever use this technique!
|
CALLING ALL RINGERS!
Do you desire to join a fun and talented group of handbell ringers?
Are you a director who'd also like to do some ringing? Here's the opportunity
you've been waiting for! To schedule an audition for MACH during the
week of April 26 please call Susan Udell, our Music Director, at 271-3514.
Some of the things you can expect to demonstrate at the audition are
basic handbell techniques, rhythmic coordination, and sight-reading
skills.
An important note: MACH has a policy to uphold ringers' commitments
to their current handbell choirs; they are encouraged not to leave their
choirs to join MACH.
OTHER AREA CONCERTS
First United Methodist Church is pleased to be hosting a guest concert
by Westminster College Handbell Choir of Princeton, New Jersey, directed
by Kathy Ebling-Thorne, on Friday, May 14, at 7:00 p.m., at First UM
Church, 203 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison. Free will offering.
MACH and Asbury United Methodist Church are pleased to be hosting a
guest concert by the Agape Ringers, a 6-octave, auditioned, community
group from the Chicago area, directed by David Weck, on Sunday, June
13, at 4:00 p.m., at Asbury UM Church, 6101 University Avenue, Madison.
Free will offering.
Mark your calendars for MACH's next holiday concert performances on
December 11 and 12, 1999. Let us know of your performances and we'll
help spread the word.
|
TECHNIQUE TIP
Situation: A bell is rung on one beat and plucked on the
beat immediately following. A martellato or a thumb damp might
not achieve the right sound.
Solution: Use the "Ring-to-pluck-clapper-grab." (Try saying
this 10 times quickly!) Ring the bell at the appropriate time,
then while it's still vibrating, grab the clapper with your other
hand as you would to pluck* (be careful not to touch the casting
and damp the sound too early) and lower the bell to be damped
on the table at the exact time you throw the clapper down to achieve
the plucked sound.
*To pluck a bell, you hold the clapper with your index and middle
fingers under/on the front side of the clapper and your thumb
on top/on the back side of the clapper forming a triangle. As
you throw the clapper down with pressure from your thumb, your
fingers move out of the way with a flick of the wrist. Don't let
your thumb rest on the clapper, or the sound will be deadened.
|
For a copy of a helpful "Handbell Notation" brochure about handbell
techniques and their notations in print music, write to AGEHR, 1055
E. Centerville Station Road, Dayton, OH 45459-5503; call 800-878-5459;
or email theagehr@aol.com.
WE STRIVE FOR FIVE
To accomplish its performance goals, MACH needs its own set of five
octaves of handbells to complement our 6th octave. We are counting on
the generous support of our concert audiences, donors, and advertisers
to help us on our way to owning a full set.
We would like to thank the following recent donors: Beverly Richgels,
Ken & Natalie Witte, Jim & Eleanor Bower, Ruth Petersen, Gene & Bea
Dewey, Karen Walsh & James Berbee, Robert & Joyce Morrison, Mr. & Mrs.
John Moses, and Rayovac Corp. A special thank you also to all those
who advertised in our December concert program: General Casualty, Ward
Brodt, Calming Effect Massage Therapy, Taco John's, Mennenga Tax & Financial
Service, Sherwood Press, Studio 924, Bonita M Mason CPA, Nickel's Carpet
Care, Sal's Pizzeria, Tellurian UCAN Inc., Klinke Cleaners, Grimm Family
Dental Care, Moze's, and Cardinal Stritch University.
ATTEND A FESTIVAL CONFERENCE
What is a Festival Conference (F/C)? Generally, they are 3-4 days of
intensive bell-ringing and getting acquainted with other ringers. You
will find classes in ringing technique, director's concerns, tips for
music arrangers, handbell maintenance, and change ringing at nearly
every F/C. Among some of the more exotic classes are the physics of
handbells, off-the table ringing techniques, make your own mallets,
and history of handbells, and so on. Music and equipment vendors are
well represented at F/Cs. It is quite possible to supply all of your
group's music and equipment needs from one F/C (if you have the money
and a way to get everything home). Possibly the most memorable part
of a F/C is the massed ringing. Imagine up to 700 ringers polishing
and performing pre-chosen, pre-rehearsed music as a single group (and
smaller groups based on skill-level) under the direction of a highly-skilled,
nationally-recognized conductor. It's every bit as impressive as it
sounds! This year AGEHR is sponsoring two Western National F/Cs: one
in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 17-20, and one in Yakima, Washington July 1-4.
Information about them can be found at AGEHR's web site (http://www.agehr.org/),
from AGEHR office (800-878-5459), or in Overtones. If you find the distance
a barrier, consider attending the Area V F/C, July 25-27, with Hart
Morris, in Greencastle, Indiana (at DePauw University, just west of
Indy, about 5 hours away from here). For information, contact June Hannah,
317-888-3278, junehannah@juno.com. Stay tuned to "Clapper Chatter" (the
Area VII newsletter), for information about the Area VII F/C in the
Twin Cities in June of 2000, also with Hart Morris directing. For a
learning experience even closer to home, consider Handbell Week at Wisconsin
Lutheran College in Milwaukee, June 14-17, 1999 - a performance workshop
for experienced directors and ringers with clinician David Weck. For
information, call 800-484-8105 (pin 2355). Individual ringers are welcome
at F/Cs, but for a truly exciting and educational experience that will
bond your choir more tightly together, attend a F/C as a group. The
experience will be unforgettable!
ATTEND A FESTIVAL CONFERENCE What is a Festival Conference (F/C)? Generally,
they are 3-4 days of intensive bell-ringing and getting acquainted with
other ringers. You will find classes in ringing technique, director's
concerns, tips for music arrangers, handbell maintenance, and change
ringing at nearly every F/C. Among some of the more exotic classes are
the physics of handbells, off-the table ringing techniques, make your
own mallets, and history of handbells, and so on.
Music and equipment vendors are well represented at F/Cs. It is quite
possible to supply all of your group's music and equipment needs from
one F/C (if you have the money and a way to get everything home).
Possibly the most memorable part of a F/C is the massed ringing. Imagine
up to 700 ringers polishing and performing pre-chosen, pre-rehearsed
music as a single group (and smaller groups based on skill-level) under
the direction of a highly-skilled, nationally-recognized conductor.
It's every bit as impressive as it sounds!
This year AGEHR is sponsoring two Western National F/Cs: one in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, June 17-20, and one in Yakima, Washington July 1-4. Information
about them can be found at AGEHR's web site (http://www.agehr.org/),
from AGEHR office (800-878-5459), or in Overtones.
If you find the distance a barrier, consider attending the Area V F/C,
July 25-27, with Hart Morris, in Greencastle, Indiana (at DePauw University,
just west of Indy, about 5 hours away from here). For information, contact
June Hannah, 317-888-3278, junehannah@juno.com. Stay tuned to "Clapper
Chatter" (the Area VII newsletter), for information about the Area VII
F/C in the Twin Cities in June of 2000, also with Hart Morris directing.
For a learning experience even closer to home, consider Handbell Week
at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, June 14-17, 1999 - a performance
workshop for experienced directors and ringers with clinician David
Weck. For information, call 800-484-8105 (pin 2355).
Individual ringers are welcome at F/Cs, but for a truly exciting and
educational experience that will bond your choir more tightly together,
attend a F/C as a group. The experience will be unforgettable!
