The Synchronous Handbell Choir, directed by 20-year-old UBC music student Imran Amarshi, will present a program of Christmas favourites at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The concert is part of the longstanding Out for Lunch concert series, which has entertained Vancouver audiences for many decades. The concert, which will consist mainly of carols, gives the audience an opportunity to experience the art of handbell ringing, a sophisticated form of expression and one that seems particularly appropriate for this time of year.

Origins of handbell playing

Handbell ringing, explains Amarshi, grew out of change ringing. In England, church

Imran Amarshi | Photo courtesy of Ismailimail

towers often housed numerous bells, and these could be played as a kind of instrument by groups of performers pulling on ropes. It was impossible to produce harmony or melody this way, so mathematical sequences were used as an organizing principle.

“But you can imagine this would wake up the whole neighbourhood, so the smaller bells began to be used instead,” says Amarshi.

Today, the bells are manipulated by groups of performers who often have a table in front of them. The bells come in many sizes. Mallets are sometimes used and elaborate technique is needed for musicians to stop the bells’ ringing in various ways and to play up to six bells at a time.

Musical bells also differ from regular ones. An ordinary bell has a clacker which rotates freely, while in a musical handbell it moves in one direction and once struck remains in position. This allows for greater control.

The Choir’s handbells at the University of Notre Dame. | Photo courtesy of University of Notre Dame Handbell Choir

Today, bell choirs are widespread, and particularly popular in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. The bells themselves are made in Britain and the United States, with the bells used by Synchronous Choir of American origin.

Amarshi describes another unusual feature of handbell music. Because a single bell cannot produce a melody by itself, it becomes necessary to have all the players co-operate in its production by coming in at the right time.

“It involves a lot of teamwork, and you really have to know the people around you,” he says.

It also involves a great deal of rehearsal time, and Amarshi’s enthusiasm makes this less difficult than it sounds.

Conductor’s background

Amarshi’s musical education began at a young age. He says that he comes from an non-musical family, and that he first had to convince his parents that he was really serious about music before they would let him take lessons. His first formative experience was with the elementary school teacher who led the music programme at his school in Burnaby. It was this teacher who introduced him to the handbells, which he has continued playing to present day.

“She acted as an important mentor to me. It was wonderful how the kids responded to the bells,” he says.

In high school, Amarshi was involved in the band programme, eventually conducting some of the groups himself. He also found time to play in other groups and to teach as well.

Amarshi is now enrolled in the Bachelor of Music programme at the University of British Columbia. There he conducts various ensembles, and though primarily a clarinetist and pianist, he is even learning to play the bassoon.

For the Christmas season, though, handbells are his main focus.

Synchronous Handbell Choir

Vancouver Art Gallery

Dec. 19, 12:10–1:00 p.m.