suggest a couple Led Zeppelin tunes for a handbell ensemble to cover

Rooster_Ties · 10-20-2008, 07:12 PM

Had a request for the handbell ensemble that I direct/conduct (often called a "handbell choir" - but their's no singing, so NO lyrics will be heard) to cover one or two Led Zeppelin tunes at an upcoming performance this Spring.

(I've got access to someone who can do "homemade" arrangements for us (the former director (now retired) of the jazz dept of a major state university), so the sky's the limit. We've already done a Depeche Mode tune in the past ("Enjoy the Silence"), CSN&Y's "Ohio", and Elvis Costello's "What's So Funny about Peace, Love and Understanding" too.)

Any tunes jump out at you as being particularly MUSICALLY interesting to consider??

"Dazed and Confused" was the first one that came to mind. The slow/fast/slow/fast aspects of the tune would/could be particularly effective (and probably damn fun, to boot).

Yes, it's a "church" handbell group, but it's a Unitarian Universalist denomination that draws from many religious and secular traditions. Don't let the fact it's for a church thing limit you. I'm mostly looking for feedback in terms of what might work musically -- though thematic angles/opinions are welcome too. None of the lyrics will be known by 95% of the congregation -- only the titles of the tunes will probably ever be known (which will be printed in the church program)

Sckott · 10-20-2008, 07:13 PM

Tangerine.

Rosskolnikov · 10-20-2008, 07:18 PM

I'll bet the slower parts of Stairway To Heaven would sound good with this instrumentation. The opening arpeggio would sound nice on individual bells, especially letting the tones ring over one another.

Tone · 10-20-2008, 07:21 PM

"The Battle of Evermore"

Rooster_Ties · 10-20-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster_Ties

"Dazed and Confused" was the first one that came to mind. The slow/fast/slow/fast aspects of the tune would/could be particularly effective (and probably damn fun, to boot).

And the studio version, for easy reference.

Listening just now, man, the rhythm of the main riffs are very, VERY simple (just straight quarter notes, and then probably straight 8ths (though in a faster tempo), or something like that). Most importantly, there's almost NO syncopation in the lower range of notes (all the main riffs that really make up the song -- even maybe more than the vocal melody). That would be perfect, because the less experienced ringers are all in the lower 40% of the group (pitch-range). Getting them to ring anything that's very syncopated is often very difficult (or next to impossible).

jamesmaya · 10-20-2008, 09:26 PM

That's The Way

Laservampire · 10-20-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tone

"The Battle of Evermore"

That would be SO awesome

peterC · 10-20-2008, 09:39 PM

Panning handbells on Whole Lotta Love would sound pretty cool!

ivan_wemple · 10-20-2008, 09:44 PM

D'yer Maker would sound superb on the handbells, and your average listener would probably recognize the tune!

Keith Moon · 10-20-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivan_wemple

D'yer Maker would sound superb on the handbells, and your average listener would probably recognize the tune!

Great idea!

BeatleJWOL · 10-20-2008, 11:19 PM

Possibly "No Quarter"?

screw_squirrel · 10-21-2008, 01:54 AM

Fool In The Rain!

It sounds like a Samba! Doesn't it?

Chris Schoen · 10-21-2008, 02:55 AM

Who is gonna play the drums maaan? ;-)

Doug Hess Jr. · 10-21-2008, 04:30 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t443XG2gI0o

Immigrant Song already done-- sort of.
Youtube has some cool rock songs already done.

TimB · 10-21-2008, 05:16 AM

Over the Hills and Far Away! That is one of my favorite LZ songs.

Cymbaline · 10-21-2008, 05:24 AM

Thank You
Black Mountain Side

Guardian · 10-21-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeatleJWOL

Possibly "No Quarter"?

.

Stefan · 10-21-2008, 06:06 AM

"All My Love" would work well with hand bells.
"Bron-Yr-Aur" (guitar instrumental from Physical Graffiti) could be arranged very nicely for hand bells.
"Trampled Underfoot" could be a challenging one too.

willy · 10-21-2008, 06:11 AM

Another vote for 'No Quarter', the first that popped in my head.

And 'Over the Hills and Far Away'

'Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You'

'Bron-Yr-Aur'

Oliver · 10-21-2008, 06:25 AM

Probably too long but "In the Light" off of Physical Graffitti I think would be cool.

Lots of ascending/decending riffs, lot of change in tempo.

I think the intro too would sound cool with a few bells calling and responsing during the trippy keyboard intro and then all the bells kicking in for the main intro and verse.

Epic sounding too which I think would sound great as an orchestral arranged composition.

10-20-2008, 07:12 PM	#1
Rooster_Ties Forum Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,453	suggest a couple Led Zeppelin tunes for a handbell ensemble to cover Had a request for the handbell ensemble that I direct/conduct (often called a "handbell choir" - but their's no singing, so NO lyrics will be heard) to cover one or two Led Zeppelin tunes at an upcoming performance this Spring. (I've got access to someone who can do "homemade" arrangements for us (the former director (now retired) of the jazz dept of a major state university), so the sky's the limit. We've already done a Depeche Mode tune in the past ("Enjoy the Silence"), CSN&Y's "Ohio", and Elvis Costello's "What's So Funny about Peace, Love and Understanding" too.) Any tunes jump out at you as being particularly MUSICALLY interesting to consider?? "Dazed and Confused" was the first one that came to mind. The slow/fast/slow/fast aspects of the tune would/could be particularly effective (and probably damn fun, to boot). Yes, it's a "church" handbell group, but it's a Unitarian Universalist denomination that draws from many religious and secular traditions. Don't let the fact it's for a church thing limit you. I'm mostly looking for feedback in terms of what might work musically -- though thematic angles/opinions are welcome too. None of the lyrics will be known by 95% of the congregation -- only the titles of the tunes will probably ever be known (which will be printed in the church program)

10-20-2008, 07:18 PM	#3
Rosskolnikov Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: At the far end of the Group W bench Posts: 7,921	I'll bet the slower parts of Stairway To Heaven would sound good with this instrumentation. The opening arpeggio would sound nice on individual bells, especially letting the tones ring over one another. __________________ .:RS:. Ni!

10-20-2008, 07:21 PM	#4
Tone Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sittin' on the Steps Posts: 7,038	"The Battle of Evermore" __________________ . Beatledrops ~ Beatles Vinyl/CD Pressing Comparison Page

10-20-2008, 09:39 PM	#8
peterC Aussie Addict Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: sydney Posts: 3,834	Panning handbells on Whole Lotta Love would sound pretty cool! __________________ peter

10-20-2008, 09:44 PM	#9
ivan_wemple Forum All Star Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The Green Mountain State Posts: 3,362	D'yer Maker would sound superb on the handbells, and your average listener would probably recognize the tune! __________________ - Ivan Avatar: My 2-year old, Alexandra

10-20-2008, 07:13 PM	#2
Sckott Goodbye. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: MA Posts: 19,949	Tangerine.

10-20-2008, 09:26 PM	#6
jamesmaya President & Founder of JimSales™ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mudwest, California Posts: 9,108	That's The Way

10-20-2008, 11:19 PM	#11
BeatleJWOL Forum All Star Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: (UNC Asheville,) Asheville, AND Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,622	Possibly "No Quarter"?

10-21-2008, 01:54 AM	#12
screw_squirrel Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris France Posts: 254	Fool In The Rain! It sounds like a Samba! Doesn't it?

10-21-2008, 02:55 AM	#13
Chris Schoen Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germantown, Md. Posts: 9,780	Who is gonna play the drums maaan? ;-)

10-21-2008, 04:30 AM	#14
Doug Hess Jr. Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Belpre, Ohio Posts: 2,156	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t443XG2gI0o Immigrant Song already done-- sort of. Youtube has some cool rock songs already done.

10-21-2008, 05:16 AM	#15
TimB Forum Addict Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Galion, Ohio USA Posts: 1,271	How about Over the Hills and Far Away! That is one of my favorite LZ songs.

10-21-2008, 05:24 AM	#16
Cymbaline Shiny Dog Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Buda, TX (Just south of Austin) Posts: 3,548	Thank You Black Mountain Side __________________ I repeat myself when under stress I repeat myself when under stress I repeat myself when under stress I repeat myself when under stress

10-21-2008, 06:06 AM	#18
Stefan Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montreal (south shore), Canada Posts: 8,030	"All My Love" would work well with hand bells. "Bron-Yr-Aur" (guitar instrumental from Physical Graffiti) could be arranged very nicely for hand bells. "Trampled Underfoot" could be a challenging one too.

10-21-2008, 06:11 AM	#19
willy hooga hagga hooga Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Whitley Bay Posts: 4,865	Another vote for 'No Quarter', the first that popped in my head. And 'Over the Hills and Far Away' 'Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You' 'Bron-Yr-Aur' __________________ I bumped my head, the sky turned red, the aardvark said "Banana!"

10-21-2008, 06:25 AM	#20
Oliver Forum All Star Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Worcester, Massachusetts Posts: 3,769	Probably too long but "In the Light" off of Physical Graffitti I think would be cool. Lots of ascending/decending riffs, lot of change in tempo. I think the intro too would sound cool with a few bells calling and responsing during the trippy keyboard intro and then all the bells kicking in for the main intro and verse. Epic sounding too which I think would sound great as an orchestral arranged composition. __________________ "To be honest fella's it sounded great but...I could have used a little more cowbell!"- The Legendary Bruce Dickenson Cheers, Mike

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