Enriching Your Solo Concert

Handbell solo repertoire has grown tremendously over the years, yet one challenge remains familiar to many solo ringers: timbre. Handbells, by nature, offer a beautifully unified but relatively consistent tone color. While this purity is part of their charm, a concert consisting solely of handbell solos can risk sounding monotonous after several pieces, no matter how well played.

When planning a solo concert, thoughtful variety is essential. Just as conductors program contrasting styles, tempi, and moods for ensembles, soloists can enrich the listener’s experience by expanding the palette of sound. One of the most effective ways to do this is through collaboration with other instruments.

Why Add Other Instruments?

Introducing another instrument immediately changes the texture and color of the music. The handbell no longer carries the musical narrative alone; instead, it enters into dialogue. This interplay creates contrast, highlights the expressive potential of the bells, and keeps the audience engaged throughout the program.

Adding instruments also opens the door to a wider range of musical styles and techniques. From lyrical lines and counterpoint to rhythmic drive and atmospheric color, collaborations allow handbell soloists to explore musical possibilities that may be difficult to achieve with bells alone.

Programming with Timbre in Mind

In my own solo concert programming, I often think of timbre as a structural element. Alternating between solo works and collaborative pieces helps shape the overall flow of the concert. Even short collaborative selections can refresh the ear and reset the audience’s attention before the next solo work.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to perform with a wide range of instruments, each bringing its own character:

• Cello – My personal favorite. Its warm, low, singing tone blends beautifully with the treble sonority of the handbells, creating a rich complement that supports long, expressive lines.
• Bassoon – Adds depth, humor, and unexpected color, and is particularly effective in contemporary or character-driven works.
• Flute, Alto Flute, and Clarinet – Excellent for transparency and agility, offering contrast to the bell’s resonance.
• Guitar – Provides rhythmic clarity and harmonic support, especially in folk-inspired or minimalist styles.
• Harp – Offers a transparent, resonant texture that blends seamlessly with handbells, enhancing color and atmosphere.
• Marimba – A natural partner for handbells, expanding both rhythmic energy and tonal range.
• Choral Ensemble – Creates an intimate and expressive sound world that emphasizes breath, phrasing, and text.

Each collaboration invites the soloist to listen differently and to shape sound in response to another voice.

Auxiliary Instruments and Color

Auxiliary instruments can add color and structural clarity. A bell tree is particularly effective as a concert opener, offering immediate visual contrast and a sense of spaciousness. Played with mallets, it allows for very fast passages while providing continuous resonance that contrasts with the articulated attack of handbells. While it requires an additional set of bells, its impact can be substantial. Cymbells, by contrast, provide brilliance and rhythmic sparkle with minimal logistical demands, making them an accessible and effective option for solo performers.

Getting Started: Practical Ways to Expand Your Sound World

For solo ringers interested in enriching their concerts through collaboration, the first step does not have to be finding the “right” piece. More often, it begins with a shift in mindset, from repertoire-driven planning to curiosity-driven exploration.

Collaborate Locally

Start by looking around your own musical community. Instrumentalists in churches, schools, community ensembles, and universities are often open to collaboration. A simple conversation can lead to creative possibilities, whether through adapting existing repertoire or developing new projects together. Collaboration thrives on shared curiosity rather than predetermined outcomes.

Work with Composers and Composition Students

Collaborating with composers, especially students, can be particularly rewarding. These musicians are often eager to explore unconventional instrument pairings and welcome opportunities to work directly with performers. Through such collaborations, I found myself moving beyond the traditional melodic role of the handbells and into new territories of texture, color, and gesture. These experiences reshaped my understanding of what handbells can contribute in a collaborative setting.

Reimagine Existing Repertoire

Not every collaborative project requires newly written music. Many works with keyboard accompaniment can be thoughtfully adapted. Depending on the texture and musical intent, a piano part may be reimagined for harp or marimba, or harmonic support may be redistributed among other instruments. This approach allows soloists to explore new timbral combinations while working with familiar material.

Think in Terms of Texture, Not Instrumentation

Rather than asking which instrument to add, consider what the music needs. Are the handbells carrying the melody, providing rhythmic energy, or creating atmosphere? Choosing instruments that complement these roles helps create balance and clarity, allowing each voice to contribute meaningfully to the musical conversation.

Start Small

Collaboration does not need to dominate an entire program. Even a single collaborative work, a short interlude, or an encore can refresh the listener’s ear and reshape the flow of a solo concert.

Final Thoughts

Enriching a handbell solo concert is not about abandoning the beauty of the instrument’s natural sound, but about framing it creatively. By incorporating other instruments, exploring diverse techniques and styles, and embracing collaboration, soloists can craft programs that are colorful, engaging, and deeply musical.

For audiences—and for the performer—these collaborations transform a solo concert into a shared musical journey, one that celebrates both the uniqueness of the handbell and its remarkable ability to connect with other voices.

Handbell solo repertoire has grown tremendously over the years, yet one challenge remains familiar to many solo ringers: timbre. Handbells, by nature, offer a beautifully unified but relatively consistent tone color. While this purity is part of their charm, a concert consisting solely of handbell solos can risk sounding monotonous after several pieces, no matter how well played.

When planning a solo concert, thoughtful variety is essential. Just as conductors program contrasting styles, tempi, and moods for ensembles, soloists can enrich the listener’s experience by expanding the palette of sound. One of the most effective ways to do this is through collaboration with other instruments.

Why Add Other Instruments?

Introducing another instrument immediately changes the texture and color of the music. The handbell no longer carries the musical narrative alone; instead, it enters into dialogue. This interplay creates contrast, highlights the expressive potential of the bells, and keeps the audience engaged throughout the program.

Adding instruments also opens the door to a wider range of musical styles and techniques. From lyrical lines and counterpoint to rhythmic drive and atmospheric color, collaborations allow handbell soloists to explore musical possibilities that may be difficult to achieve with bells alone.

Programming with Timbre in Mind

In my own solo concert programming, I often think of timbre as a structural element. Alternating between solo works and collaborative pieces helps shape the overall flow of the concert. Even short collaborative selections can refresh the ear and reset the audience’s attention before the next solo work.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to perform with a wide range of instruments, each bringing its own character:

• Cello – My personal favorite. Its warm, low, singing tone blends beautifully with the treble sonority of the handbells, creating a rich complement that supports long, expressive lines.
• Bassoon – Adds depth, humor, and unexpected color, and is particularly effective in contemporary or character-driven works.
• Flute, Alto Flute, and Clarinet – Excellent for transparency and agility, offering contrast to the bell’s resonance.
• Guitar – Provides rhythmic clarity and harmonic support, especially in folk-inspired or minimalist styles.
• Harp – Offers a transparent, resonant texture that blends seamlessly with handbells, enhancing color and atmosphere.
• Marimba – A natural partner for handbells, expanding both rhythmic energy and tonal range.
• Choral Ensemble – Creates an intimate and expressive sound world that emphasizes breath, phrasing, and text.

Each collaboration invites the soloist to listen differently and to shape sound in response to another voice.

Auxiliary Instruments and Color

Auxiliary instruments can add color and structural clarity. A bell tree is particularly effective as a concert opener, offering immediate visual contrast and a sense of spaciousness. Played with mallets, it allows for very fast passages while providing continuous resonance that contrasts with the articulated attack of handbells. While it requires an additional set of bells, its impact can be substantial. Cymbells, by contrast, provide brilliance and rhythmic sparkle with minimal logistical demands, making them an accessible and effective option for solo performers.

Getting Started: Practical Ways to Expand Your Sound World

For solo ringers interested in enriching their concerts through collaboration, the first step does not have to be finding the “right” piece. More often, it begins with a shift in mindset, from repertoire-driven planning to curiosity-driven exploration.

Collaborate Locally

Start by looking around your own musical community. Instrumentalists in churches, schools, community ensembles, and universities are often open to collaboration. A simple conversation can lead to creative possibilities, whether through adapting existing repertoire or developing new projects together. Collaboration thrives on shared curiosity rather than predetermined outcomes.

Work with Composers and Composition Students

Collaborating with composers, especially students, can be particularly rewarding. These musicians are often eager to explore unconventional instrument pairings and welcome opportunities to work directly with performers. Through such collaborations, I found myself moving beyond the traditional melodic role of the handbells and into new territories of texture, color, and gesture. These experiences reshaped my understanding of what handbells can contribute in a collaborative setting.

Reimagine Existing Repertoire

Not every collaborative project requires newly written music. Many works with keyboard accompaniment can be thoughtfully adapted. Depending on the texture and musical intent, a piano part may be reimagined for harp or marimba, or harmonic support may be redistributed among other instruments. This approach allows soloists to explore new timbral combinations while working with familiar material.

Think in Terms of Texture, Not Instrumentation

Rather than asking which instrument to add, consider what the music needs. Are the handbells carrying the melody, providing rhythmic energy, or creating atmosphere? Choosing instruments that complement these roles helps create balance and clarity, allowing each voice to contribute meaningfully to the musical conversation.

Start Small

Collaboration does not need to dominate an entire program. Even a single collaborative work, a short interlude, or an encore can refresh the listener’s ear and reshape the flow of a solo concert.

Final Thoughts

Enriching a handbell solo concert is not about abandoning the beauty of the instrument’s natural sound, but about framing it creatively. By incorporating other instruments, exploring diverse techniques and styles, and embracing collaboration, soloists can craft programs that are colorful, engaging, and deeply musical.

For audiences—and for the performer—these collaborations transform a solo concert into a shared musical journey, one that celebrates both the uniqueness of the handbell and its remarkable ability to connect with other voices.

Emily Li is an internationally active handbell soloist known for her innovative and expressive approach to solo performance. She has appeared as a handbell soloist in concerts and festivals across Asia, Europe, and North America, frequently collaborating with instrumentalists, vocal ensembles, and composers. Her work explores the expanded timbral and expressive possibilities of handbells through interdisciplinary and collaborative projects. Emily has premiered numerous new works written for her by contemporary composers and composition students, often moving beyond the traditional melodic role of the instrument. She is the founder and the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Handbell Academy and currently serves as president of Canada Handbell Service. Through performance, programming, and education, Emily is committed to advancing the artistic voice of handbell solo repertoire.