The Bells on Temple Square will present “Ring for Joy,” its annual spring concert, on Friday, 13 June 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The dexterity, timing and unique sound of the 32-member bell ensemble has made it popular with audiences who usually snap up the complementary tickets in less than a day. In fact, the Bells rendition of “Flight of the Bumblebee” on YouTube has been watched over 65,000 times.
The concert will feature the enormously versatile bell ensemble playing on a 7-octave set of English hand bells, a 6-octave set of hand bells, and two 6-octave sets of hand chimes. The program will showcase a broad variety of hand bell repertoire ranging from African American spirituals to ragtime jazz to marches as well as religious anthems. Among the more recognizable numbers will be “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin, “The Washington Post March” by John Philip Sousa, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by Dan Raye and Hughie Prince and “The Prayer” by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager.
LeAnna Willmore, conductor of Bells on Temple Square, will conduct the Friday evening performance, with Larry Smith, associate conductor, leading the ensemble for several numbers.
Ever since the arrival of the pioneer settlers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, music has rung out from Temple Square in praise of God, lifting the spirits of listeners around the world. In March 2005, a new sound was added to that musical tradition with the creation of Bells on Temple Square, organized under the auspices of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Twenty-eight musicians were selected to be the charter members of Bells on Temple Square. Like the members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Temple Square Chorale, the members of Bells on Temple Square are all volunteers.
Complementary tickets for the “Ring for Joy” Bells on Temple Square concert will be available beginning on Tuesday, 13 May 2014, with a limit of four per person. Tickets can be obtained at www.lds.org/events, by phone at 801-570-0080 or from the Conference Center ticket office.
