Under the direction of Karen Pfiffner, the ensemble continued to perform a wide variety of original works and arrangements including popular, classical, secular as well as sacred pieces. Besides ringing, members were encouraged to occasionally direct the group as well as write their own arrangements and original compositions for performance.
Membership in the 10-12 member handbell choir was primarily open to graduate and undergraduate students of the University of Colorado and was often taken for credit. However, ALL members of the general public were welcome to join on a space-available basis. The ringing "season" roughly followed that of the University calendar. Fall practice commenced in early September with concertizing beginning in late October/early November and ending before Christmas. The majority of the repertoire was Christmas music. For the spring, practice picked up again in mid-January (learning a new set of material). Concerts were typically held between April and June. The ensemble was off for the summer months.
.... Hardware:
5-1/2 octaves of
Whitechapels
(The original four-octave set was purchased in 1963)
3 octaves of
Petit & Fritsen
"Dutch" bells
5 octaves of
Malmark
handchimes (4th/5th octaves courtesy of
Tom Lance. Thank you, Tom)