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reviews
sight-reading, transposition, improvisation, and composition
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David McCarthy's Handbell and Choir Music
Welcome to my site! I'm an organist/choirmaster (FAGO/ChM) in Western New York. The catalog below has church music I've written for handbell/chime choir (2-5 octaves) or choir (SATB, SAB, and 2-part mixed). It's been used by congregations in pretty much every state, as well as in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.
If you'd like to use my music, I will email you (usually within a few hours, but always within a day) a pdf master copy which can be legally photocopied. This saves a lot of money: for example, instead of buying 8-15 copies of a bell piece for your choir at $3.95 each ($32-$60), you'd spend $5 or $10 with the freedom to make as many copies as wanted. This means that, even in the future as new members join or copies are lost, there won't be any further cost, and your musicians can mark the music up without worrying about the church's investment.
All my pieces are doable by volunteer choirs and handbell choirs, without sounding simplistic. The hymn tunes and texts used, if they're not original, are usually well known, especially to mainline Protestant congregations (Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist, for example), but almost everything would also be appropriate in a Catholic setting.
Please check out the reviews at the link to the left to see what other musicians have thought of my compositions and playing!
About commissions: they're a fun way to celebrate retirements, anniversaries, new handbells or organs, or to set a special text. Please email me for more information.
I'm also available to teach composition, organ (repertoire or improvisation), or theory (AP, RCM, or college placement exam preparation) in the Rochester area. I've attached some exercises and ideas in the "sight-reading, transposition, improvisation, and composition" page, which give an indication of my teaching techniques.
Works from the past 12 months, as of January 2012
(newest first; hold cursor over title for description)
Catalog
| Works for Handbell or Chime Choir |
| Bell Bundle 1 (AGEHR Levels 1-2+) |
$25 |
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| Bell Bundle 2 (AGEHR Levels 1-2+) |
$20 |
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| Dialogue on "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" - C-instrument solo with three-octave handbell choir accompaniment (AGEHR Level 2; General/Memorial) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Ding Dong! Merrily on High - Two-part mixed (optional SAB) with 2-octave handbell accompaniment (AGEHR Level 1+; Christmas) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| An Easter Triptych - Two-octave handbell choir (AGEHR Level 2; Easter/General) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Fantasy on "Coronation" ("All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name") - Five-octave handbell choir (AGEHR Level 3+; General/Christ the King) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| I Want Jesus To Walk With Me - Two/Three-octave handbell choir with optional unison choir (AGEHR Level 2+. Lent/General) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| The King of Love - Two-octave handbell choir with optional chimes (AGEHR Level 2+; General) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| O Worship The King - Two-octave and/or three-octave bell/chime groups (AGEHR Level 1 and 2; General/Christ the King) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Prelude and Fughetta on Old 124th - Two-octave handbell choir (AGEHR Level 2+; General) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Reflection on "Darwall's 148th" - Three-octave handbell choir (AGEHR Level 2; General/All Saints) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Three Hymns To The Father - Two-octave handbell choir (AGEHR Level 2+; General/Father's Day) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| We Plow the Fields and Scatter - Two-octave and/or three-octave bell/chime groups (AGEHR Level 1 and 2; Thanksgiving/General) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Works for SATB Choir |
| A Lenten Prayer - SATB with keyboard or handbell choir (2-3 octaves) accompaniment (Lent) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| All Through The Night - SATB a cappella (General/Memorial) |
free |
pdf |
MIDI |
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| How Lovely Is Your House - SATB and organ (General/Building dedication or anniversary) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| In Your Light We See the Light - SATB with handbell accompaniment (General) |
free |
pdf |
MP3 |
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| I Sing the Mighty Power of God - Two-part mixed or SATB with piano accompaniment (General/Thanksgiving) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Lutkin: The Lord Bless You and Keep You - SATB with optional keyboard accompaniment (General) |
free |
pdf |
MIDI |
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| Once He Came In Blessing - SATB with keyboard accompaniment (General/Advent) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| O Sacrum Convivium - SATB a cappella (General/Communion) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Round the Lord in Glory Seated - S(S)ATB, solo/treble choir, piano accompaniment (General/All Saints) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| See, The Conqueror Mounts In Triumph - SATB chorus with piano accompaniment (General/Ascension) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Wayfaring Stranger - SATB and organ (General/Lent) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Works for Two-Part Mixed Choir |
| Adoro Te Devote - Soprano or C-instrument solo, two-part mixed, and piano (General/Communion) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Alleluia, Song of Gladness - Two-part mixed and keyboard (General/Epiphany/Easter) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| All Who Believe And Are Baptized - Two-part mixed with keyboard accompaniment (General/Communion/Baptism) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Be Thou My Vision - Two-part mixed and keyboard (General) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Come Away To The Skies - Two-part mixed, violin, and keyboard (General/Easter/Ascension) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Comfort, Comfort Ye My People - Two-part mixed and keyboard (Advent) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Ding Dong! Merrily on High - Two-part mixed (optional SAB) with 2-octave handbell accompaniment (AGEHR Level 1+; Christmas) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| How Firm A Foundation - Two-part mixed and piano/organ (General) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| I Sing the Mighty Power of God - Two-part mixed or SATB with piano accompaniment (General/Thanksgiving) |
$10 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Take My Life - Two-part mixed, C instrument, and piano/organ (General) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| What Star Is This? - Two-part mixed and piano/organ (Epiphany/Christmas) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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| Miscellaneous Works |
| Now Let Us All With One Accord/"Bourbon" Variations - Unison choir with organ accompaniment, or organ solo (General/Lent) |
$5 |
pdf sample |
MIDI |
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