Fundamental Tone - August 2021

The Newsletter of Area 1 | Volume XXXVI No. 4 | August 2021

News for Handbell Musicians in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

This meeting is open to all members of Area 1.

You may attend in person or via zoom.

Please email the Area 1 Chair - chair.area1@handbellmusicians.org

to RSVP and /or request a zoom link.

Notes from THE CHAIR

Lisa Arnold, Area 1 Chair

chair@handbellmusicians.org

Greetings Area 1!

I have just returned from Phoenix, Arizona, where the HMA National Seminar has just concluded. Despite the challenges many groups faced in rehearsing this past year, we were treated to some amazing concerts. Our very own Shoreline Ringers opened the Seminar with a jazzy repertoire that set the bar very high for the remaining performances. The classes were fun and informative, too. It was great to be ringing in a group setting again!.....More

Notes from THE CHAIR ELECT

Hello Area 1!

So many of us have watched our plans change over these last 17 months - in our professional lives, in our personal lives, and certainly in our handbell lives.

I know I didn’t expect to spend almost all of my two years as chair-elect in isolation from the area, not being able to get out and meet folks or attend events. But I can tell you that - just as in so many aspects of life - Covid did not shut us down! Sure we couldn’t do our in person events or meetings- but that didn’t stop us!...More

Notes from CONNECTICUT

Greetings –

This month, many of us will FINALLY be about to return to group ringing. We would love to see pictures or videos as this begins to happen. Send any that you would be willing to share.

This summer, Larry Berdensey was the handbell clinician for the United Church of Christ Musician Associations National Conference – A Brave New World (https://uccma.wildapricot.org/Conference-2021 ).....More

Notes from MAINE

After a search spanning eight months, we are delighted to welcome Dana Humphreys as Maine State Chair for HMA Area 1. Here’s an introduction to Dana:

Dana got hooked on handbells with the Sonotori Handbell Choir at First Church of Christ, Suffield, Connecticut. She had to wait (impatiently) for a position to become available, and then rang with this fabulous choir for the next 13 years. Over her time there, she expanded her ringing knowledge by assisting with the church’s youth handbell choir, filling in at various places on the table during rehearsals, directing in a pinch, and playing the bass bells during worship. ...More

Notes from MASSACHUSETTS

Are you ready to return to ringing? I sure am! Now that many of us are vaccinated, I’m thrilled to be looking ahead to a program year in which Area 1 will be able to return to many of its usual ringing events.

Here in Massachusetts, we have a local event coming right up in September. Please mark your calendars for the triumphant return of Holiday Repertoire-Reading at St. Matthew’s in Acton, to be held on the morning of Saturday, September 25. Diane Burke will conduct and, as always, will keep us amused with holiday-themed jokes in between repertoire selections....More