HARDWICK – For many in the area, the sound of handbells ringing has been the backtrack to holiday Masses, the annual tree lighting, baccalaureate services and more.
The legacy of the St. Norbert’s Community Bell Choir is a long one, spanning 26 years and countless performances.
photo by Diana Frederick
Founded in 2000 by the late Bev Hutchins, member Florence Martin and director Jean Hackett provided some insight into the ensemble’s history as well as hopes and plans for the future.
Beginning with some reflection, it was at first difficult for Hackett and Martin to pick a favorite performance, “There’s been so many different ones that were so nice,” Martin said. “At Jenna’s Promise, it’s a part of many groups, it really was a very nice concert, and we really were happy there. They really participated with us. That was really nice.”
Hackett agreed, “They were just very responsive. It’s really fun to play anyway, but it’s more fun when the audience is responsive to what you’re doing, and singing along or whatever. That’s been a really fun place to play.”
The music selection can make all the difference, according to Martin, “Some types of music isn’t what they recognize, but when you play “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” everybody knows it. So it helps a lot to have them know the song.”
Hackett says every year up until the global pandemic, the ensemble participated in the Spring Ring, an annual event that took place in different parts of Vermont with over three hundred bell ringers in attendance. Bell choirs from around the New England region and Canada would receive music selections in advance, each individual choir practicing ahead of time, culminating in a group performance. The onset of the pandemic halted the Spring Ring, which has yet to return, much to the chagrin of the local bell ringers.
photo by Diana Frederick
Another highlight is the annual Christmas tree lighting, “That’s always nice too, because the little kids can join in,” Martin says, “they join in and of course we play Christmas carols and everything for them.”
Hackett was in agreement, “That’s been a fun event over the years, for sure.”
Both Hackett and Martin say the make-up of the choir has changed over the years, as participation has waxed and waned. The two noted that Martin is the singular Catholic bell ringer of its performing members, and just three Hardwick residents continue the tradition.
Now a multi-community choir, some members travel from Greensboro, Elmore, Wolcott, Johnson as well as Cabot. “They’re scattered.” Hackett said with a laugh. The varied membership has expanded their reach, however, “We probably wouldn’t have ended up going to Jenna’s Promise, for example, if those people hadn’t been here, because the other ones that made that connection.”
The ensemble is experimenting with contemporary arrangements, in addition to their traditional carols for Christmas performances, Hackett says, “We’re expanding, ‘The Lion Sings Tonight’ has been a favorite for us to play. We play some popular songs, ‘Mamma Mia’ . . . “That’s really hard,” Martin added with a laugh.
photo by Diana Frederick
She continued, “Genre speaking, I think we’re spread out quite a bit. We try to do different things,”.
They cater their selections to the crowd as best they can, said Hackett.
They mentioned Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as a work in development, “We really made progress on that Tuesday night,” she noted. “I love that song,” Martin said, “Everybody recognizes it, but it was written really tricky.”
For those interested in joining, the group gathers on Tuesday evenings in the Julian room of St. Norbert’s church. A musical background is not a requisite, according to Hackett and Martin, “All you need to be able to do is count.” They recall former director Bev Hutchins saying this often, having founded the bell choir after attending a Spring Ring event.
“She said, wow, this is really something,” Hackett reflected, “and I’m glad it did, because this has been a really good experience.”
The group practices and performs for most of the year, taking a recess in the summer.
This year, the ensemble will end their usual schedule slightly earlier for a notable reason. The bells, purchased by St. Norbert’s Church in 2000, will be sent for maintenance and cleaning for the first time since the group was established, “We have three octaves of bells, and three octaves of chimes . . . we’ll be getting them back to where we bought them in Pennsylvania, in mid-May,” said Hackett.
The bells will be out of state from four to six weeks, departing on May 18. The choir’s spring performance at the Civic Standard, May 6, will be their last until the bells return; refurbished and ready to ring.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
