Music & Commissions

Over the years, the group has commissioned or been gifted over 150 works composed or arranged specifically for handbells. This list also includes pieces from The Raleigh Ringers Series, a series of advanced handbell music available from Jeffers Handbell Supply, and The Legacy Series from Beckenhorst Press.

MUSIC WRITTEN OR ARRANGED FOR THE RALEIGH RINGERS

wdt_ID Title Composer Year Series Availability
1 Illumination Dr. William A. Payn 1992
3 Festive Jubilation Paul A. McKlveen 1992
4 Blessed Exultation Paul A. McKlveen 1992
5 Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) Andrew G. Metz 1992
6 Canticle Arnold B. Sherman 1993
7 Linus and Lucy (Guaraldi) Hart Morris 1993
8 Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) Paul A. McKlveen 1993
9 Catalonian Carol of the Bells Carl Wiltse 1994
10 Dream On (Aerosmith [Tyler]) Marcia Murphy 1994
11 Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy from The Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky) Fred Gramann 1994
12 Barnum and Bailey's Favorite (King) Cathy Moklebust 1995 The Raleigh Ringers Series
13 Carol of the Wise Men Fred Gramann 1995 The Raleigh Ringers Series
14 Prelude and Fugue in A Major (Bach) Fred Gramann 1995
15 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (Bach) Fred Gramann 1995
16 Allegro con brio from Symphony No. 25 in G Minor (Mozart) Michael R. Keller 1995
17 Traditions of Christmas (Mannheim Steamroller) Paul A. McKlveen 1995
18 Hotel California (The Eagles) Marcia Murphy 1995
19 Russian Sailors' Dance (Glière) William H. Griffin 1996 The Raleigh Ringers Series
20 Las Campanas de la Navidad (The Bells of Christmas) Hart Morris 1996
21 Away in a Manger Cynthia Dobrinski 1996
22 Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas) Marcia Murphy 1995
23 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Mannheim Steamroller) Paul A. McKlveen 1996
24 What Star Is This? Gregory Pysh 1997
25 Tempest Kevin McChesney 1997 The Raleigh Ringers Series
26 Carillon (Vierne) Fred Gramann 1997 The Raleigh Ringers Series
27 Preludes for Piano (Gershwin) Andrew G. Metz 1997
28 Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues) Andrew G. Metz 1997
29 Fight On State, The Penn State University Fight Song (Sanders, arr. Yoder) Jim Villani 1998
30 Still, Still, Still Cathy Moklebust 1998 The Raleigh Ringers Series
31 Dry Bones Hart Morris (for the 1999 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 1998
32 All Glorious Above (Haydn) Fred Gramann 1998
33 Pinball Wizard (The Who) Marcia Murphy 1998
34 Puer Natus Est Dale Jergenson 1998 The Raleigh Ringers Series
35 Aria, Fugue-Andante-Fugue, & Finale Donald Allured 1998
36 Praise to the Lord the Almighty Howard Starks 1999
37 Stream of Peace and Joy Howard Starks 1999
38 Finale from Symphony No. 2 in D Major for Organ (Widor) Fred Gramann 1999
39 Valse Raleigh (renamed Ring to the God of Love) Howard Starks 1999
40 Prayer for Healing Karen Lakey Buckwalter 1999
41 The Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa) William H. Griffin 1999
42 Prelude in C# Minor (Rachmaninoff) Douglas Floyd Smith 1999 The Raleigh Ringers Series
43 Italian Symphony (Mendelssohn) Kevin McChesney 1999
44 Nocturne No. 2 Michael Helman 1999
45 Second Suite for Handbells Michael Helman (for the 2000 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 1999
46 We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions (Queen) Paul A. McKlveen 1999
47 Allegro from Mozart's 40th Symphony in G Minor Brian Childers 2000
48 Greensleeves Cathy Moklebust 2000 The Raleigh Ringers Series
49 Pinnacle Dr. William A. Payn 2000 The Raleigh Ringers Series
50 Old Time Rock & Roll (Seger) Paul A. McKlveen 2000
51 Cadenzato Tim Waugh (for the 2001 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2001
52 Blue Christmas (Hayes and Johnson) Hart Morris 2001
53 Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2001
54 Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) Andrew G. Metz 2001
55 Tumult and Tranquility Hal Hopson 2001 The Raleigh Ringers Series
56 Carillon de Westminster (Vierne) Fred Gramann 2001
57 Firebird Finale (Stravinsky) Douglas Floyd Smith 2002 The Raleigh Ringers Series
58 Toccata No. 2 Kevin McChesney 2002
59 Rhythm Rock Michael Keller (for the 2002 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2002
60 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Cathy Moklebust 2002 The Raleigh Ringers Series
61 Supplication Michael J. Glasgow 2002
62 A Festive Celebration Howard Starks (for the 2003 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2002
63 Rock You Like a Hurricane (Scorpions) Paul A. McKlveen 2002
64 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Carl Wiltse 2003
65 Dueling Banjos (Smith) Hart Morris 2003
66 Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) Andrew G. Metz 2003
67 Joy Burst Bill Ingram (for the 2004 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2003
68 Second Carillon Dean Wagner 2003
69 Faith Paul A. McKlveen 2003
70 O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2003
71 Little Fugue (Fugue in G Minor) (Bach) Michael Kastner 2004 The Raleigh Ringers Series
72 A Walk in the Park Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2004
73 Ríu, Ríu, Chíu (16th century Spanish carol) Cathy Moklebust 2004
74 Extreme Fanfare Jason Graves 2004
75 Pat-a-Pan Gregory Pysh 2004
76 I Love Rock and Roll (Jett) Paul A. McKlveen 2004
77 Psalm 42 Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2004
78 Quest Dr. William A. Payn 2005 The Raleigh Ringers Series
79 Bugler's Holiday (Anderson) Hart Morris 2005 The Raleigh Ringers Series
80 Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5 (Rachmaninoff) Keith Burt 2005
81 Yakety Sax (Randolph) Kryn Krautheim 2005
82 Come Sail Away (Styx) Paul A. McKlveen 2005
83 You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Hague) Hart Morris 2005
84 Reperqussio Tim Waugh (for the 2007 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2005
85 Waltz from Serenade for Strings (Tchaikovsky) William H. Griffin 2006
86 Allegro (Handel) William H. Griffin 2006
87 Wizards in Winter (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2006
88 Light My Fire (The Doors) Andrew G. Metz 2006
89 The Lord Is My Shepherd from Requiem (Rutter) Sondra Tucker 2006
90 Christmas Time Is Here (Guaraldi) Hart Morris 2007
91 Hey You (PInk Floyd) Marcia Murphy 2007
92 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Redner) Cathy Moklebust 2007 The Raleigh Ringers Series
93 Yearning from Heart Melodies Dr. William A. Payn 2008
94 Skating (Guaraldi) Hart Morris 2008
95 Sweet Little Jesus Boy (MacGimsey) Jefferey A. Hall 2008
96 Tarantella (Traditional Italian folk dance) Martha Lynn Thompson 2008 The Raleigh Ringers Series
97 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Liszt) William H. Griffin 2008
98 An Angel Came Down (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2008
99 Jingle Bells (Pierpont) Jason W. Krug 2008
100 Good King Joy (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2008
101 Boughs of Holly (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2008
102 Don't Stop Believin' (Journey) Keith Burt 2008 The Raleigh Ringers Series
103 Toccata Allegro Mallory Ferraro, Julie Turner, Jefferey A. Hall 2008 The Raleigh Ringers Series
104 Polka from The Golden Age Ballet (Shostakovich) William H. Griffin 2009
105 Sweet Child o' Mine (Guns 'n Roses) Marcia Murphy 2009
106 Passages Dr. William A. Payn 2009 The Raleigh Ringers Series
107 The First Noel Cathy Moklebust 2010 The Raleigh Ringers Series
108 (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult [Roeser]) Keith Burt 2010
109 Savior of the Nations, Come Sandra Eithun 2010 The Raleigh Ringers Series
110 Escape Velocity Jason W. Krug 2011 The Raleigh Ringers Series
111 Beethoven (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2011
112 Requiem (The Fifth) (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2011
113 Queen of the Winter Night (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2011
114 Dust in the Wind (Kansas [Livgren]) Keith Burt 2011
115 Coventry Carol Sandra Eithun 2011 The Raleigh Ringers Series
116 Prelude in B Major Fred Gramann 2011
117 Valse Brilliante Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2011
118 Legends Dr. William A. Payn 2011 The Virtuoso Series
119 Were You There? Jason W. Krug (for the 2012 Capital Area Young Ringers Festival) 2011
120 Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi, Child, Sambora) Keith Burt 2012
121 Spanish Dance from The Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky) William H. Griffin 2012
122 Armed Forces Salute Hart Morris 2012
123 Hold the Line (Toto [Palch]) Kevin McChesney 2013
124 The Irish Washerwoman from the Irish Suite (Anderson) Hart Morris 2014
125 Regina March (Chaillet) William H. Griffin 2013
126 Love Came Down at Christmas (Traditional Irish Melody) Cathy Moklebust 2014
127 Closer to the Heart (Rush [Lifeson, Lee, Pearl, Talbot]) Keith Burt 2013
128 Gloria Fanfare Cathy Moklebust 2014
129 Back in Black (AC/DC) Keith Burt 2014
131 Dizzy Fingers (Confrey) Hart Morris 2015
132 O Holy Night Sandra Eithun 2015 The Raleigh Ringers Series
133 Dance of the Tumblers (Rimsky-Korsakov) William H. Griffin 2015
134 Kashmir (Led Zeppelin) Keith Burt 2015
135 Reverie Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2015
136 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Movement No. 3 (Bach) Hart Morris 2015
137 Notturno Tim Waugh (for the 2015 Capital Area Young Ringers' Festival) 2015
138 British Rock Tribute Keith Burt 2016
139 Fantasy on The Wexford Carol Derek Hakes 2016
140 Resilience Dr. William A. Payn 2017 The Raleigh Ringers Series
141 Them Basses (Huffine, arr. Balent) William H. Griffin 2017
142 Wish Liszt (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2017
143 Scherzo from Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) Keith Burt 2017
144 More Than a Feeling (Boston) Keith Burt 2017
145 Mozart and Memories (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2018
146 Bell Daze of Christmas Hart Morris 2018
147 Rondo Appassionata Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2018
148 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Sandra Eithun 2019 The Raleigh Ringers Series
149 Feels Like the First Time (Foreigner) Keith Burt 2018
150 Serenade Sondra Tucker 2019
151 Foolin' Yourself (Styx) Keith Burt 2019
152 I Believe in Father Christmas (Lake and Sinfield) Keith Burt 2019
153 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Sandra Eithun 2019 The Raleigh Ringers Series
154 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Movement 1 (Bach) Hart Morris 2019
155 Dance of the Knights (Prokofiev) William H. Griffin 2020
156 Chicken Reel (Anderson) Hart Morris 2020
157 Outburst Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2021 The Legacy Series
158 Do You Hear What I Hear? Sandra Eithun 2021 The Legacy Series
159 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Lennon and Ono) Keith Burt 2021
160 Sweet Caroline (Diamond) Keith Burt 2021
161 Marche Militaire Francaise Sondra Tucker 2022
162 Be Still My Soul (Sibelius)* Alex Guebert 2018 The Raleigh Ringers Series
163 Carol of the Drum (Czech carol melody)* Michael J. Glasgow 2010 The Raleigh Ringers Series
164 Dorian Dance* Michael Joy 2003 The Raleigh Ringers Series
165 Flight of the Bumblebee (Rimsky-Korsakov)* Martha Lynn Thompson 2008 The Raleigh Ringers Series
166 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen* Gregory Pysh 2007 The Raleigh Ringers Series
167 Hungarian Dance No. 5 (Brahms)* Martha Lynn Thompson 2007 The Raleigh Ringers Series
168 Life's Journey* Jason W. Krug 2015 The Raleigh Ringers Series
169 Overture from the Barber of Seville (Rossini)* Martha Lynn Thompson 1998 The Raleigh Ringers Series
170 Overture from The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)* Kevin McChesney 2000 The Raleigh Ringers Series
171 Overture to the Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)* Martha Lynn Thompson 2002 The Raleigh Ringers Series
172 American Carillon* James Weber 2018 The Virtuoso Series
173 Legacy* Dr. William A. Payn 2017 The Virtuoso Series
174 Lux Aeterna* Matthew Compton and Dr. William A. Payn 2022 The Virtuoso Series
175 Overture to La Grazza Ladra from the Thieving Magpie (Rossini)* Keith Burt 2019 The Virtuoso Series
176 Virtuoso* Dr. William A. Payn 2013 The Virtuoso Series
177 Promises to Keep (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Hart Morris 2022
178 American Rock Tribute Keith Burt 2022
179 The Holly and the Ivy Sandra Eithun 2023 The Legacy Series
180 In the Shadow of Your Wings* Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2023 The Legacy Series
181 Coventry Carol Fred Gramann 2023 The Legacy Series
182 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Sandra Eithun 2023 The Legacy Series
183 Crazy Train Keith Burt 2023
184 Threnody Dr. William A. Payn 2023
185 Whispers on the Wind* Karen Lakey Buckwalter 2024 The Legacy Series
Title Composer Year Series

* Piece not written or arranged for The Raleigh Ringers

About Us

Upcoming concerts

May
4
Loudon, TN
Community Church at Tellico Village
May
5
Winston-Salem, NC
Centenary United Methodist Church
Jun
8
Roanoke, VA
Grandin Court Baptist Church

Audience Comments

"The music was beautiful, the entertainment hilarious, and the whole experience was wonderfully worthwhile. We loved it so much we tried to get a flight changed to come hear your concert again!"

- Anonymous Fan

“What skill and diversity of music! I could have listened another three hours! Thank you for the inspiration and entertainment!”

- Anonymous Fan

“I never would have thought I'd want to go to a handbell concert, but when I heard handbell rock ’n’ roll on the radio, I told my friends, ‘We're going!’ And it was just great.”

- Anonymous Fan

"The Raleigh Ringers are the best handbell ensemble on the globe!!!!”

Greg Pysh
Minister of Music and Composer
Midland, Texas

“Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! They never cease to amaze me. Their playing is so musical, their technique impeccable.”

Cordetta Valthauser
Handbell Soloist
Cleveland Area, Ohio

"Thank you all for being ambassadors of superb musicianship, amazing technique, and sharing the joy of doing something you love, which is contagious.”

Carolann Haley
Assistant to Director of Music Ministries
National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C.

“The Raleigh Ringers are truly a wonderful instrument. It is a joy to watch how precisely they respond to director David Harris' musical goals, and how audiences respond as well. This group has definitely attained 'handbell superstar' status.”

Jason Tiller
Sonos Handbell Ensemble
San Francisco, CA

“The best part was, in spite of all the amazing things that they can do with bells – the bass ringer assignments, flawless technique, and all of those kind of things – the best part was that it was musical. I simply enjoyed the music.”

Dean Wagner
Associate Director of Music and Organist
First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

“...I did not know how good 'good' is in bell ringing until I heard you. It was simply superb, and you must have known that from the unusually enthusiastic response from the audience.”

Ross MacKenzie
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua, New York