The First 40 Years Volume XI The 1977-2003 Allegro Handbell Ensembles Dwight K. Menard and Michael B. Surratt, Directors Released: June 2005 Original Medium: 2 Compact Discs [BUY NOW]

Historical Note
This compilation is the first two-disc set issued by the Allegro Handbell Ensemble, and also the first to feature all songs composed or commissioned for the ensemble.  Volume XI features fives works in their premiere compact disc releases, including two works which have never been published.

From the Insert

Founded by John Macdonald in 1967 as the Union Church Handbell Choir, the Allegro Handbell Ensemble has been an organization of learning and growth for dozens of high school musicians, to the delight of audiences around the world.

The performances of more than one hundred handbell ringers and two directors are represented on this two-disc compilation volume.  This compilation represents some of the very best recordings performed by the Allegro Handbell Ensemble on its first ten albums, and includes the world premiere compact disc releases of the never-published Suite for Cello and Bells and Symphony for Bells, works commissioned for the ensemble from Donald E. Allured.

With one exception, each track from Volumes I through VII was digitally remastered from the original recording reels.  The 1978 recording of Symphony for Bells was remastered from a clean LP record.  Each subsequent track was recorded digitally and was simply transferred to this compilation without modification.

The case insert contains twelve pages of information and history about the Allegro Handbell Ensemble and the musicians who appear on the discs, as well as production information about every Allegro handbell Ensemble recording since Volume I.

Additional information from the insert, including the names of all performers, the particulars of each recording, has been omitted. 

Track List
from the insert

Recording Credits
from the insert