Handbell bands often find some styles of composition considerably easier to ring well in hand than others.
Typically these keep one or more of the inside pairs limited to a small number of different relationships
between the two bells, most commonly emphasizing coursing. This section collects together several such
compositions, for a variety of methods and stages.
Note that all the peals in this section also appear in the appropriate places in the sections devoted to peals at
various stages. They are collected together here, too, for the convenience of handbell bands looking for such
compositions.
5,024 Double Norwich Court Bob Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 I V H
63425 s s
36254 s 4
46253 s 5
36452 - 5
26354 - 5
46352 s 5
26453 - 5
23465 - -
Repeat.
For handbells.
Rung on handbells at Boston, Massachusetts on 8th September 1989, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,024 Kent Treble Bob Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 M B W H
42356 1
63254 1 1
64235 1 4 1
65243 4 2
32546 2 - 1 1
24653 1 5 2
23456 2 5 1
For handbells.
Also true to Oxford.
5,024 Norwich Surprise Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 M B W H
35642 2 1
43652 1
52436 - 2
64235 1 1
36245 1
64523 2 -
35426 1 1
52643 2 1
24653 5 2
23456 2 5 1
For handbells.
Also true to Kent Treble Bob and Oxford Treble Bob.
True to all BDabcdefXYZ.
5,120 (5,008) Plain Bob Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 W B M H
56243 - 2 s ss
45263 [-] 3
32546 s - -
24365 3 - 3
Repeat three times, calling s for [-]
in alternate parts.
Reduce to 5,008 by omitting ss from one part.
For handbells.
Rung on handbells at Salt Lake City on 14th April 1982, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,056 Rutland Surprise Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 M B W H
54632 - -
43265 2 -
24365 5 -
32465 5 -
2 part.
5,088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 B M W
54632 - -
64235 - ss
35642 2 -
46253 - -
65432 -
34256 - -
Repeat twice.
Contains all 24 56s and 18 65s.
True to all BcXYZ.
Rung (reversed) on handbells at Cheltenham on 22nd June 1999, conducted by Graham A C John.
5,088 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 B M W H
43652 -
54326 - 2
35426 3 -
42356 ss - -
Repeat twice.
For handbells.
True to all BabcXYZ.
5,056 Yorkshire Surprise Major
Donald F Morrison
23456 B M W H
42356 -
34256 3 -
45236 2
26534 - s
32564 -
52463 -
25634 - s
65243 - A
45263 s |
63524 - s s |A
65324 ss s |
65432 A
23456 - - -
For handbells.
True to all BLcXYZ.
5,024 Spliced Major (2 methods)
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H Methods
34256 2 K.K.
24536 2 1 KKKCKK.K.KK.
43526 2 KKKCKK.K.K
65324 1 1 KK.KKCKKK.
32654 1 1 KKKCKK.KK.
53246 2 2 2 KK.K.KKCKK.K.KK.K.
56342 2 1 KK.K.KKCKKK.
56423 2 2 1 KK.K.KKCKK.K.KK.
42563 1 1 KKKCKK.KK.
32465 2 KK.K.KKCKK
Repeat.
Contains 4,736 Kent Treble Bob and 288 Crayford College Bob, with 36 changes of method, and 124
combination rollups including all 24 each 56s, 65s, 45s and 46s.
Especially suitable for handbells.
5,120 Spliced Treble Bob Major (2 methods)
Donald F Morrison
23456 O1 O3
52436 x x
64235 x 5
36245 x x
65324 x 2
65243 x 4
24365 x 3
Repeat.
Worcester Variation
Especially suitable for handbells.
5,088 Spliced Treble Bob Major (2 methods)
Donald F Morrison
23456 M O3 W H
35264 1 x 1
52643 x 1 1
56423 5 1 2
23645 x
42356 1 x
Repeat twice.
Ilkeston Variation.
Especially suitable for handbells.
Rung on handbells at Cambridge, Massachusetts on 19th September 1989, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,056 Spliced Treble Bob Major (2 methods)
Donald F Morrison
23456 M O3 W H
45236 5 1 1
36524 x
25346 1 4 1 1
24365 2 4 2
Repeat.
Ilkeston variation.
Contains 4,160 Kent and 896 Oxford with 56 change of method, all at the half-lead.
Especially suitable for handbells.
Rung on handbells at Foxborough, Massachusetts on 15th November 2003, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Donald F Morrison
(3245678) M X W H
34256 s
5423687 s s
34625 - s ss
24635 s
32456 2 s s
Repeat. Snap start and finish. X = 4 1/2.
For handbells. 3-4 always coursing.
Also true to Lincolnshire.
Instead of the half-lead single, a 1278 single may be called at Home at the end of the second course of each part.
This arrangement is true to Cambridge, Lincolnshire, Superlative No.2 and Yorkshire.
5,040 Cambridge Surprise Royal
Donald F Morrison
2345678 W H
2346587 (3) 6
Repeat, omitting (3).
6 = x - - s - -.
x = 1478; s = 1456.
Also true to Lincolnshire, Swindon, Superlative No.2, London No.3 and Rutland.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Royal
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
42356 1
53246 2 2
46325 1 2 2
25463 2 1
53462 1 2
24365 1 1
Repeat.
For handbells. Between Middle and Wrong 3-4 always coursing, and 5-6 always either coursing or home.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Clyde Surprise, Lockington Surprise, Norwich Surprise, and Rochester
Surprise.
Rung on handbells at Nashua, New Hampshire on 17th December 1988, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Royal
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
54326 2 2
26543 2 1
35642 1 1
42563 1 2 2
24365 2 2
Repeat.
Contains 20 each 56s and 65s and 78 little bell rollups including 48 3456s.
Especially suitable for handbells: between Middle and Wrong 5-6 are always either coursing or home.
Rung on handbells at Cambridge, Massachussets on 21st September 2003, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
Also true, with reduced music, to Oxford.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Royal
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
54326 2 2
26543 2 1
64352 1 2
42563 1 2 s
24365 2 2
Repeat. s = 123456.
Contains all 24 each 56s and 65s, and 82 little bell rollups including 48 3456s and 20 65432s.
Especially suitable for handbells: between Middle and Wrong 5-6 are always either coursing or home.
Also true, with reduced music, to Oxford Treble Bob, Antrim Surprise, Clifton Surprise, Clyde Surprise,
Lockington Surprise and Rochester Surprise.
Rung on handbells at Marblehead, Massachusetts on 19th October 2003, conducted by Donald F Morrison.
5,040 Plain Bob Royal
Donald F Morrison
23456 W M H
34256 2
23645 - -
53642 ss s*
63245 -
24365 s -
Repeat three times.
Call - for s* in alternate parts.
Especially suitable for handbells.
Rung on handbells at Londonderry, New Hampshire on 3rd and 4th November 1989, conducted by Donald F
Morrison.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Maximus
Donald F Morrison
23456 M H
42356 4
32465 A 5
64352 B
23456 1 1
s = 1478.
4 = s - - s; 5 = s - - s -.
42356 M W H 42356 M W H
35426 1 1 53246 2 2
A = 23564 2 2 2 or 53462 2 2 1
43265 2 43265 1
32465 M W H 32465 M W H
63425 1 46325 1 1
B = 24536 1 1 or 25463 2 1
64352 1 2 1 64352 1 1
Any combination of A and B can be used. For handbells.
Between Middle and Wrong all four arrangements have 3-4 coursing and 5-6 either coursing or home.
Rung on handbells at Cambridge, Massachusetts (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) on 29th March 1991,
conducted by Donald F Morrison.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Avon Delight, Belfast Surprise and Orion Surprise.
5,184 Kent Treble Bob Maximus
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
42356 1
35426 1 1
26354 2 1
53462 1 1
24365 1 1
Repeat.
For handbells. Between Middle and Wrong 3-4 are always coursing and 5-6 are always either coursing or
home.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Avon Delight, Belfast Surprise and Orion Surprise.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Maximus
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
42356 1
53246 2 2
45362 2 2 2
64523 2 2 2
63425 2 1
24536 1 1
64352 1 2 1
23456 1 1
For handbells. Between Middle and Wrong 3-4 are always coursing and 5-6 are always either coursing or
home.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Avon Delight, Belfast Surprise and Orion Surprise.
5,184 Kent Treble Bob Maximus
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
43526 2 1
25634 1 1
53462 1 2
24365 1 1
Repeat.
For handbells. Between Middle and Wrong 5-6 are always either coursing or home.
Contains 64 3456s.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Avon Delight, Belfast Surprise and Orion Surprise.
5,040 Kent Treble Bob Maximus
Donald F Morrison
23456 M W H
24536 1 2
35426 2 2
23564 2 2 2
32465 2 2
46325 1 1
24653 2 2 2
23456 2 1
For handbells. Between Middle and Wrong 5-6 are always either coursing or home.
Also true to Oxford Treble Bob, Avon Delight, Belfast Surprise and Orion Surprise.