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About Us
Jersey Jubilation Handbell Choir (JJHC)
JJHC is currently centered in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and is being hosted by the Ridgewood
United Methodist Church. Members moving up from the predecessor choirs and ensembles
have significant concert experience throughout the eastern US from Maine to Florida and as
far west as Ohio and Ontario.
JJHC rings on two 5-octaves sets of Whitechapel English Handbells
originally tuned using the analogue tuning system that was employed for years giving the Whitechapel Bells their distintive clarity and overtone sound. In addition to the Whitechapel instruments,
JJHC also rings a 5-octave set of Suzuki hand chimes which most closely matches the tonal
mosaic that the ensemble wishes to present.
JJHC selected this combination of these instruments in order to accomplish two goals in preenting
their musical programs. The first is that Whitechapel bells are superb in allowing higher paced
ringing when required to maintain lightness in the music(Ring of Fire had same conclusion).
The second goal is to allow interpretive changes in volume within any given arrangement. This requires
that the ringers learn to modulate their playing techniques while handling the Whitechapel bells
to give texture to the music as differentiated from the american versions of handbells which
typically are set for a given sound by changing the clapper setting once prior to the start of the
music selection.
Suzuki handchimes also are responsive to the same modulation techniques
of the Whitechapel bells. The harmonic structures of both instrument sets are complimentary,
thus giving cohesiveness in sound in the entire presentation.
Future Goals
Jersey Jubilation has two future objectives that they are seeking to achieve. First is to acquire their
very own set of Whitechapel Bells. The second is to actually earn their way to England to personnaly
visit the Whitechapel Bell Foundary and to present local concerts in appreciation of the beauty of
Whitechapel Bells in concert form. If you can help, contributions are tax deductible. Contact us for
ideas on how you can contribute!
Contact us for more info
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