Carillon-Fete
by J. William Greene
2-Octaves - Sheet Music

Handbells (2 octaves)

SKU: C5.6601

Composed by J. William Greene. A two-octave piece for rather competent players. General. Published by CanticaNOVA Publications (C5.6601).

Producing an interesting and engaging piece within the limits of the 2-octave handbell set is not an easy task, but J. William Greene has succeeded admirably. He has based this piece on the peal of the carillon of the Chapel of the Chateau du Longport (Ainse) in France. Comprised of two measures of eighth notes with one triplet at the center, the theme has a rather limited range of only a perfect fourth, making it a logical basis for this composition, which itself spans a range of only fifteen notes. This same theme was used by Louis Vierne in Carillon from 24 Pieces en style libre for organ or harmonium. The peal melody occurs sometimes in the top voice supported by "pillar" half-note chords, sometimes in a middle voice surrounded by quarter-note motion, sometimes in the lower voice with harmonizations and organum patterns. Carillon-Fete closes with a subito piano and a sustained crescendo over changing half-note chords, a fortissimo shake and martellato.