Hark, Hear The Bells

When I was about 16, my friend Emily asked me if I wanted to join a bell choir. A bell choir?? What could she possibly mean by that? As my brain strived to imagine what components could possibly be put together to constitute a bell choir, it kept going back to an image from my Primary days. Once a year when the musical Primary program came around at church, two or three privileged children (never me, probably because of lack of coordination) were chosen to play the chimes for two or three songs.

Each chime was a different color and length and they rested, in numerical order, in a plastic cradle with foam-covered notches, designed specifically for each beautiful metal cylinder. The best part was the mallet, a length of colorful plastic with a little ball at the end, perfect for striking each chime in the very center in order to create enchanting music. The mallet was also perfect for striking your little sister right in the center of her forehead and creating and equally enchanting result.

I think my past desire to play the chimes led me to eventually say, "Sure, I'll join a bell choir." It turns out a bell choir is, in fact, quite different, but enough to fulfill my chime envy. Each member is placed before a foam padded table upon which is rested any number of shiny brass bells. Each bell is a different note, and whenever your notes come up in the music, you play your bell(s).

You can probably guess that your bell number is directly related to ringing skill. I had 4. B flat, B, C, and C sharp (middle C, just in cause you're curious). I felt like I had found my calling in life. I rang that B and C like the choir couldn't have gone on without me (I didn't figure out until later that the choir was so big, they had doubled up some notes, B and C being two of those). I always rang with a big smile on my face, having the time of my life.

I was a part of the Wesley Bell Ringers (the official name of the choir) for two years. In these two years two very important things happened. First, I met my future husband, Christian. Second, I was added a another 2 bells for a few songs, A and A flat.

My bell career was very enjoyable, but short-lived. Christian, on the other hand, was a much more experienced bell-ringer than I (he had at least double the amount of bells I had, if not more) and was rediscovered a few years ago by the Bells on Temple Square.

You can watch him in this youtube video at the Utah Capital Building dedication, or check out the DVD of last year's Christmas Presentation with the King Singers. During the dedication, all you can see of Christian is his arm coming out of a pillar, but there is one quick close-up of him on the DVD. Although he is now retired from bell ringing of any type, I am very proud of my husband and his cinematic debut.