Here is LDZ’s past, present, and possibly future repertoire! If you have suggestions for what we might play, let us know!
| By the Light of the Silvery Moon Gus Edwards and Edward Madden arr. Larry Sue |
Larry must have had this engraved in his cerebral cortex by the teenagers who sang this in the back of the bus on his 1972 trip to Europe. At any rate, it’s undergone considerable evolution from a trio, to a quartet, to a quintet, to a sextet, and finally to the septet version. |
| California Dreamin’ John Phillips and Michelle Phillips arr. Larry Sue |
This 1970′s hit made our list… maybe because we’re from California? |
| Dance of the Sugar Plum Sumo Fairy Pyotr Tchaikowsky arr. Larry Sue |
Okay, it had to be done sometime. Some of you may consider this thumbing our nose at the Music Establishment – but isn’t that exactly what Low Ding Zone does best? Besides, we’d hope that Mr. Tchaikowsky had a sense of humor, and that he’d enjoy a little fun at his expense. |
| Down to the River to Pray Spiritual arr. Lisa Arnold |
Lisa came up with the “human bell tree” for the ending of this one. Six of us stepped back from the tables holding the bells in the final section while she and Julie played them a la vibraphone. It was a seriously cool idea which also meant Wil and I had to damp our bells (A2, C#3, E3, F#3, and A3) on Lisa… |
| Every Time I Feel the Spirit Spiritual arr. Kevin McChesney |
Kevin wrote a wonderful, relatively easy quartet on this spiritual… which we made harder by dropping it an octave! |
| Funeral March Frederic Chopin arr. Larry Sue |
The subtitle is “Requiem for a cracked C2 chime”, and this lends itself to all kinds of accompanying shtick. But it’s a straight-up classical piece, just with the usual LDZ touch. |
| Good Vibrations Brian Wilson and Mike Love arr. Larry Sue |
We do think about the beach, and the surf, and the sun… a lot, I think. It’s just ingrained into us, partly because some of us are California natives, and partly because some of us moved here from places with too much snow to shovel, and too much summer humidity, and now enough opportunity to relax. You decide… |
| I Heard It Through the Grapevine Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong arr. Larry Sue |
Lisa’s knack for finding cool music for us to arrange and play really showed in this one. We also had the privilege of playing this one at the Grand Finale Rogue Valley Handbell Festival (in 2007) with Doug Benton helping us out on the D2 chime. Other shtick included finishing with the “Rapper’s Damp”… |
| Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen Spiritual arr. Larry Sue |
This spiritual comes together as a gentle interplay between the chorus melody on bells and the verse melody on chimes. Played for the first time in our “Gospel Zone” concerts in April 2008, it gives everyone a chance to shine. |
| Nocturne in E Minor Frederic Chopin arr. Larry Sue |
We need a violinist (or flutist, or oboist…) to take the solo on this one. But it’s a lovely piece, the arrangement of which Stacey suggested. You can find the arrangement of this for full bell choir at Above the Line Publishing. |
| Outta My Way Blues Larry Sue |
Here’s ironclad proof that Insanity Reigns in the Low Ding Zone. Based on the observation that we had four clarinetists, this one came together as a fun (wild, weird…) piece with shtick that fits right in. First performance was at the Area XII conference in Riverside, CA, where it just plain brought the house down! |
| Pick a Winner Lew Gillis arr. Larry Sue |
“Inevitable” might be the best description for this arrangement (thanks to Jenny Cauhorn and the folks at AGEHR who were willing to let us mess with a handbell classic). “Improbable” might be what some people who’ve played it think of dropping the original one or two octaves. But it works, and it’s fun! |
| Shenandoah Traditional arr. Larry Sue |
Also claimed to be the “national anthem” in some parts of the US, this wonderful traditional song’s come onto many a musical group’s radar. Schmoo, in particular, sings one of xex Candy Corn Brandy songs to it… |
| Spiritual Boogie Spirituals arr. Larry Sue |
Based on the spirituals Swing Low Sweet Chariot, When the Saints Come Marching In, and This Train is Bound for Glory – all superimposed on a boogie bass line – this arrangement was our very first performance at the 2006 Area XII conference in Belmont, CA. We were tremendously inspired by an editor friend labeling the original LDZ score as “impressive, but unmarketable” (wouldn’t that be a great CD title?). Now the “gurlie bell version” of Spiritual Boogie is available from STEP – take a look! |
| Star-Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key arr. Larry Sue |
We’re Americans. What more can we say? |
| Take Me Out to the Ballgame Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer arr. Larry Sue |
The San Jose Giants (a minor league adjunct to the San Francisco Giants) have a program by which local talent can play at their games. We’re hoping that someday we can play this during the seventh inning stretch… |
| Wade in the Water Sandra Eithun |
Dropping an established arrangement an octave is one of our ways of acquiring new repertoire. Sandra’s arrangment of this spiritual acquires a huge additional punch with all the chords shifted down an octave. Alas, there still are some notes that are outside the “normal” LDZ playing range – but it gives us a chance to work with the High Ding Place! |
| Yes, We Have No Bananas Frank Silver and Irving Cohn arr. Larry Sue |
Another classic novelty song bites the dust in this LDZ arrangement! Kendra supplied the monkey, by the way… |