ringing

out

March 18, 2007

BY DIMITRA LAVRAKAS

Frontiersman

The bells shine in the light of the sinking sun in the chapel of Saint John's Lutheran Church in Palmer, and seven women pick them up and dig into rehearsal.

The Bells of Saint John, as they call themselves, began in 2003. Usually there are 11 members, but on a recent Thursday night some were missing. It's late winter, and three have gone off on vacation and one is attending a conference.

It began with a gift.

&#8220Lillian Stamm, a member of the church, very graciously donated the money to buy the handbells,” said ringer Kathy Jo Johnson. &#8220We got a couple of octaves and added more since then.”

The bells are not cheap, ranging in price from $500 to $5,000. They are Schulmerich English handbells, and have been made in Pennsylvania since 1963. The company claims their bells are rung by more choirs, churches and schools than any other company's bells.

They're more than just musical instruments, say members. The bells bring them together, and ringing seems to lend a healing tranquility to their lives.

&#8220It's been a real joy,” said ringer Eleanor Allen. &#8220I've gone through breast cancer and chemo, and ringing is one of the few things that I continued with through that.”

The levels of musical knowledge varies widely in the group. Shelia Olson came from a very musical family and plays clarinet in high school, but she says she plays however leader Sharon Allen directs her.

Julie Kolberg admits to being the &#8220newbie.”

&#8220I don't read music, I highlight my parts and have which bells written on my gloves,” she said. She did sing in the group &#8220A Joyful Noise,” when she was asked to join.

There are several different ways to ring a bell, said Carolyn Dwight.

&#8220Damping keeps the bell from ringing, tolling is hitting it then swinging it down and back, thumb damping makes a staccato sound that doesn't resonate, a martelato is when you whack it on a table to stop the sound, and shaking the bells is like a tremolo,” she said.

The songs come from the time of year they play and for particular services, said Sharon. For the Easter services, they were practicing &#8220Jesus Shall Reign.”

She was asked by the pastor to create the group, and made a dash to the Web to do research as well as take classes to learn all about the musical form.

Dwight said, &#8220We play to the different levels of musical capability and for the appropriate music for the clerical year.”

The bells are lined up on the table and each member plays between two to six bells, depending on their abilities.

&#8220They're like a giant piano keyboard,” said Sharon. &#8220Depending on whether they have sharps or flats, they just splitting up the keyboard. If you can play a piano, you can play bells.”

The Bells of Saint John's will play Easter Sunday at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. The public is welcome to attend.

&#8220Everybody here realizes we're a team playing it for our parish and for the glory of God,” said Sharon.

Contact Dimitra Lavrakas at 352-2269 or valleylife@frontiersman.com.