Make a joyful noise

The skillful and ethereal Westminster Concert Bell Choir

By:Susan Van Dongen

border="1" align="center" width="330" height="215" alt="The Westminster Choir College Bell Choir rehearses for an upcoming concert.">

size="-1" color="black"> The Westminster Choir College Bell Choir rehearses for an upcoming concert. Staff photo by Frank Wojciechowski

   More than a dozen sets of hands move in unison, making a joyful noise. It’s like exploring the inside of a rare musical box and discovering there are tiny, talented angels in there, creating a beatific symphony.
   But these are not spirits — these are the skilled musicians of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, led by Kathleen Ebling-Thorne.
   It is a cumbersome title for a group with such an ethereal sound.
   Although handbells are not exclusive to holiday music, the Bell Choir gets especially busy this time of year. A sold-out concert this weekend at Westminster Choir College in Princeton is just one of the group’s scheduled appearances between now and New Year’s Day.

border="1" align="center" width="330" height="284" alt="According to Ms. Ebling-Thorne, the students are doing it for pleasure — academically, the bell choir amounts to only one elective credit hour.">

size="-1" color="black"> According to Ms. Ebling-Thorne, the students are doing it for pleasure — academically, the bell choir amounts to only one elective credit hour. Staff photo by Frank Wojciechowski

   The Bell Choir performs with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus at Carnegie Hall Dec. 5. A live recording of the event will be released in April 2001. Then, the Bell Choir performs on the weekend edition of NBC’s Today Show Dec. 16. It’s actually a repeat visit to 30 Rockefeller Plaza. They appeared on Christmas Day in 1997, where they were joined by Today Show co-host Katie Couric and weatherman Willard Scott.
   At a recent practice session, tucked away in a rehearsal room at Westminster Choir College, the bell choir was polishing two holiday classics — "Silent Night" and "White Christmas." This lovely music — combined with a hint of snow flurries and the smell of woodsmoke swirling though the November night — would put even Scrooge into the holiday spirit.
   According to Ms. Ebling-Thorne, the students are doing it for pleasure — academically, the bell choir amounts to only one elective credit hour.

border="1" align="center" width="330" height="248" alt="Garnet Alegado waits for her cue during a practice session of the Westminster Choir College Bell Choir.">

size="-1" color="black"> Garnet Alegado waits for her cue during a practice session of the Westminster Choir College Bell Choir. Staff photo by Frank Wojciechowski

   "Ours is the first institution of higher learning to develop a handbell program as part of the curriculum," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says. "The program was founded in 1979 to train church musicians and music educators in the art of handbell ringing — which is an outgrowth of the old English practice of ‘change ringing’ church bells."
   The bell choir is also known for its collection of instruments. The group uses the largest range of handbells in the world — seven-and-a-half octaves, from the contrabass pitch of G1 to the tinkling C9.
   "We call it ‘K9’ because dogs come running when you ring it," jokes musician Jason Vodicka, wielding the C9.
   "We also have the largest range of choir chimes, a six-octave set," says Ms. Ebling-Thorne.

border="1" align="center" width="310" height="250" alt=""The thing is, a musician never has a whole line, just two or three notes. You never get to play a phrase. But the phrases have to sound like one person is creating them," says bell choir conductor Kathleen Ebling-Thorne.">

size="-1" color="black"> "The thing is, a musician never has a whole line, just two or three notes. You never get to play a phrase. But the phrases have to sound like one person is creating them," says bell choir conductor Kathleen Ebling-Thorne. Staff photo by Frank Wojciechowski

   These are contemporary versions of handbells, constructed from aluminum and made to withstand the enthusiastic hands of musicians in the lower grades.
   "They were designed to be training instruments," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says. "Since they’re made of aluminum, they produce a darker kind of tone than a regular handbell. We use them to add a different voice to the choir."
   A set of instruments in the rear of the practice room resembles a rack of construction scraps — like I-bars or something. These are actually bass choir chimes — the only set in existence.
   "This is the lower seventh octave of choir chime instruments," Ms. Ebling-Thorne explains. "They’re on loan to us from the manufacturer — Malmark in Plumsteadville, Pa. We also have the lowest tuned aluminum handbell in existence — the G1."
   Next May, the musicians will fly to Seattle and work their way back across the United States. The Pacific Northwest is the first stop along their 2001 national tour to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Westminster Choir College. A special bus will haul the group’s considerable array of stuff — from custom-made tables to instrument cases.

border="1" align="center" width="230" height="310" alt=""Everyone is equally important in a bell choir. There are no divas," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says.">

size="-1" color="black"> "Everyone is equally important in a bell choir. There are no divas," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says. Staff photo by Frank Wojciechowski

   One of the ways the group demonstrates its teamwork is by the efficiency with which they set up and break down their equipment after a concert — it takes less than 15 minutes with all hands on deck.
   But it is the music which requires the most incredible amount of group coordination. Think of that musical box with the perfectly synchronized components.
   "The thing is, a musician never has a whole line, just two or three notes," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says. "You never get to play a phrase. But the phrases have to sound like one person is creating them. I like them to move around once they get proficient. Ringing the smaller bells is much different than ringing the larger ones and it’s important to know all the different techniques of ringing, so they themselves can be better teachers someday."
   Interestingly, especially to those who have played in bands and orchestras, there is no such thing as a first chair handbell player.
   "Everyone is equally important in a bell choir," Ms. Ebling-Thorne says. "There are no divas."
   The Westminster Concert Bell Choir of Westminster Choir College of Rider University performs its annual holiday concert in Princeton Dec. 3 (it is sold out, however). The group will perform with the New York City Gay Mens Chorus at Carnegie Hall, Dec. 5, 8 p.m. — the group also appears live on NBC’s Today Show Dec. 16. For information, call (609) 921-7100.