There will be a special Handbell Concert, June 8th, at the United Methodist Church in Susanville, featuring the Tintabulations, a stand-out community handbell ensemble from Reno. Clad in their trademark green Converse shoes, this hour-long concert will feature unique arrangements of well-known and less well-known music, performed on as many as 120 bells and chimes.
In 1996, seven of Tintabulation’s Director Barb Walsh’s former students decided they wanted to continue ringing. They formed a group called “B Sharps” and rang two octaves of bells.
Inspired by a group called “Tintinnabulations” at the Twelfth Night Handbell Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, the group decided to choose a new name. A misunderstanding of Latin conjugation occurred, and the name Tintabulations was created.
Under the direction of Walsh, Tintabluations Handbell Ensemble has grown into a diverse group of ringers committed to the art of English Handbell ringing.
A quick glance at Tintab’s (as the members like to refer to it) roster begins to tell the tale of the group’s diversity, with members ranging in age from 18 to 60+ and commuting from as far away as Lake Tahoe and Carson City.
The group performs music ranging from classic church hymns to jazz and show tunes, proving that bell ringers from any age or background can turn a simple set of bells into an impressive music making force.
Since its founding in 1996, the group has since grown to include University of Nevada students, music teachers, and working professionals from all walks of life. Tintab performs with The Reno Pops and Reno Philharmonic, as well as giving concerts throughout Nevada, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and even Disneyland.
The ensemble currently uses 4 octaves of Schulmerich handbells, plus a 5th octave of Malmark bells and 5 octaves of chimes borrowed from South Reno United Methodist Church.
If you enjoyed the handbells last November at the Honey Lake Hospice Light Up A Life ceremony, you will be absolutely blown away by this stand-out handbell ensemble.
Tintabulations has become one of the pre-eminent handbell ensembles on the West Coast.
The show begins at 2:00p.m. at the Susanville United Methodist Church, 70 S. Lassen Street. The church is now handicap accessible.
Tickets are not required. A free-will offering will be taken to help the Tintabulations on their summer tour of the East Coast. For further information, call the church office at 1.530.257.5893, Tuesday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 and 11:30a.m.
