Title: Prelude

Composer/Arranger/Text
Timothy Shepard
J. S. Bach


Instrumentation
4 octaves handbells
3 octave handchimes


Liturgical Use
General


Scores Available
Handbell Score

Description
In the same vain that Charles Gounod started with J. S. Bach's Prelude #1 from the Well Tempered Clavier Book #1 and added a vocal line , I started with the same beautiful prelude and added a handchime part. Our motivations were probably different. I can not speak about what motivated Gounod but my reasons for adding a chime part were to keep my eleven handbell ringers busy. The results of both turned out the same, an exquisite musical moment that will charm your congregation.

If you do not have chimes, the piece remains quite beautiful performed with only handbells as you will hear if you Listen to the score. The Prelude performed with both chimes and handbells is however is far superior and desirable.