Fundamental Tone
The Newsletter of Area 1 | Volume XXXIII No. 5| October 2018

News for and about Handbell Musicians
in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont 
News from our Area 1 Chair


Happy October! By now, I’m sure all of your bell choirs are in full swing, rehearsing and getting ready for the year ahead. Your Area 1 Board is also in full swing, working on events and programs with you in mind.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the survey that we sent out in ...   

Carlene Ruesenberg
Area 1 Chair
Meet Your Board Members and State Chairs - click here

With multiple FREE sessions in October & November, all around New England, there's no reason not to take a closer look at these skill building workshops that will help you with the ringing skills and get you prepared for Festival Conference 2019 in Hartford. For more information and to register Click...
On November 11, 2018, at 11:00 am, handbell musicians across America are invited to toll bells in their communities to commemorate the centennial of the armistice that brought an end to hostilities in what Americans fervently hoped had been “the war to end all wars.”
The World War One Centennial Commission has established “Bells of Peace: A World War One... More...
2019 Festival Conference Notes

Every other year, hundreds of ringers from all over New England (and beyond!) get together for four days of massed ringing, classes and workshops, and amazing concerts and performances by local and national handbell ensembles. Area 1 festivals are among the best in the nation and many travel from all over the US to attend.

The 2019 Festival will be held at the University of Hartford - the first time for Connecticut to host the festival! The event closes with a free (and open to the public) massed rinnging concert where all 500+ musicians will be performing at once.

We hope to see you there! Click here for all the details!
Area 1 Festival Conference 2019 Bronze Ensemble Audition Information
If your ensemble would like to ring as part of the Bronze Division at the 2019 Area 1 Festival Conference (FC19), this article is for you!!!  The Bronze division is composed of advanced ringers and is typically the smallest ringing division. Cathy Moklebust will be directing this division which is represented by ringers with many years of experience,... More...
Ringers' Responsibilities
My ringers are lovely people but expect me to do everything for them! I personally purchase and mark their music, manage the performance/worship schedule, maintain their instrument and accessories, get subs when they are going to miss a rehearsal, get the bells and tables out of the closet and put them away, tell them what to wear (repeatedly), provide transportation, teach them everything about music and handbell ringing, feed their pets while they go on vacation………. More...
By now, we are all well underway with our bell choirs in this new program year. I hope you are all feeling excited, renewed, and just a bit challenged to continue developing your skills!

The CT ringers, organized by Steve Mazeau and led by Samantha Beschta, have performed once again on CT Day (September 19) at the Big E... More...
I imagine we are all back in the swing of things with church performances on the horizon and plans for Christmas concerts beginning to take shape. 
For those of us who need to look carefully at our music budgets, a local source may be of help. Dan Moore wrote an article about   More...
As I write this article today, I am refreshed from the Area1 Board meeting held this past (Saturday, September 15) in Gales Ferry CT. So much is happening in our handbell ringing world. 

Earlier this month, before my computer decided it wanted to take a vacation... More...
The New Hampshire Spring Ring 2019 will be held on March 16, 2019 at Rundlett Middle School, Concord, NH. From 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.  We have begun the planning for this great event and are pleased that Dan Moore will be our Massed/Coppers + Director.   More...
Autumn Has Arrived! And with it handbell ensembles throughout New England are in full swing
Area 1 Free* Skill Building Workshop + Director’s Workshop
Where to find MVR during the Holiday Season
An Answer to a Handbell Director’s Dream…  
Directors, are you in a quandary about what to do with all that unused handbell music taking up space in your filing cabinet(s)? Would you like to have a reliable resource for borrowing handbell music at very little cost?   More...  
Back Bay Ringers News from Griff Gall

This is an exciting season for Back Bay Ringers! We welcome two new musicians into our ensemble, we have added the lower sixth octave of Malmark handbells,... More...
MARGARET H. SHURCLIFF LEADERSHIP AWARD

Is there someone special you know who tirelessly promotes handbells and The Guild for Area1? Is there a teacher or director who had the patience and took the extra time to get you and your handbell group up to speed? Just how much do they love and promote handbells? Area 1 wants to know about them and reward them. More...
Directors and ringers , maybe missed this SnagASub notice! There's always a first time for seeing something, and we feel so strongly that this on-line "bulletin board" system-for-finding-a-sub will help to make the handbell community an even more friendly and helpful entity, that we may just keep posting this until you come on board.

We need you! At this time the pool of potential subs has grown to 50 ringers and directors, but in order to serve it's purpose, (since it covers a five-state area), it needs to be bigger! Once a ringer is in, it works exactly like an email:  [email protected] , then "battery ringer needed for (date, place, time, etc.)", and anyone in the group has the option to reply or ignore/delete. Please spread the word.

This is not just for directors and ringers who sometimes have a need for a sub, but is also for interested/brave persons who might love an opportunity to ring more and to get to know other ringers.

Please contact: Cindy, at [email protected]   or
                          Gail, at [email protected],


Want more info about Snag a Sub? Click here
There are still sets of chimes and materials available for loan during the 2017/18 school year. 
This is the first time in 5 years that all 5 sets of chimes have not been loaned out by this time. Please help to     More...
To learn more about the scholarship(s) available for individual(s) attending an Area 1 sponsored event ... Click here...
I am looking to assemble an exploratory committee of volunteers who wish to speak/discuss/brainstorm about how to include more young adults in handbell ringing.  More...

Call for articles
Directors and Handbell Musicians are invited to submit articles for future publications.

Would you like to advertise in Fundamental Tone ?
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Quarter page ad: $30
Eighth page ad: $20
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Next publication is scheduled for December 1
Articles must be submitted no later than November 18
Thank you

If you have suggestions or questions regarding this or any other aspect of the Fundamental Tone , please contact the editor:
Donna M. Horan,  [email protected]
Fundamental Tone is a publication of the Handbell Musicians of America Area 1.
It is published six times a year: Feb. 1, Apr. 1, Jun. 1, Aug. 1, Oct. 1, Dec. 1.
Editorial copy and advertisements are due by the 18th of the month preceding publication.
Questions? Contact Donna M. Horan, Editor [email protected]