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Hush! What is that sound, haunting and heavenly, lifting over the fields of snow? It is "Impressions of the Season," filling the cold December air with the sound of bells. It is difficult to imagine a better match for holiday music than the multi-layered ringing of handbells, and the Raleigh Ringers do a magnificent job of making those bells ring true.

The very first thing I noticed when I played "Impressions of the Season" was the low recording level. I had to crank up this CD to relatively high volumes in order to fill the room with the beautiful sound of Christmas bells. Given the nature of bells, it must be difficult to obtain the desired acoustics when setting up this sort of production. Once you have adjusted your system's volume levels, you will discover that the CD is technically first-class.

Speaking of first-class, these highly-acclaimed bell-ringers bring astonishing virtuosity to their craft. This is a community handbell choir, and they reach remarkable levels of musicality with bells. The poetry coaxed from these instruments amazed me again and again.

This hefty CD provides 26 beautiful songs in76 minutes. Much of the material is familiar, although some is not (for example, I did not recognize "Of the Father's Love" and "Las Campanas de la Navidad"). Some songs were born for the bells treatment; obvious "greatest hits" include "Ukranian Bell Carol" and "Sleigh Ride." Other standouts are "The Holly and the Ivy" (Mannheim Steamroller arrangement) and "Danse of the Reed Flutes" from "The Nutcracker." As I replayed the album, I frankly had difficulty narrowing the field of favorites--"Impressions of the Season" consistently impresses throughout!

Ready for some beautiful bells this Christmastime? The Raleigh Ringers are bound to make a favorable impression on you!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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The Raleigh Ringers are: David M. Harris, Director, Fred Gramann, Honorary Associate Director (France), Lisa Brande, Kevin Dietzschold, Sherry Graham, Scott F. Harris, Sandra Hopson, Kryn Krautheim, Shelley Lund, Barbara Marley, Cindy Massey, David Metz, Sara Perkinson, Brian Roberson, Elaine Rogers, and Ann Lowe Vodicka,.

The Raleigh Ringers perform on seven octaves of Malmark Handbells, four octaves of Whitechapel Handbells, and five octaves of Malmark Choirchimes. Petit and Fritsen Dutch Handbells were also used on this recording.

"Impressions of the Season" is the second recording by The Raleigh Ringers, a community handbell ensemble in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since 1990, The Raleigh Ringers have annually performed over 30 concerts for thousands of listeners throughout North Carolina, the United States, and France.

Already well-known in the handbell world, The Raleigh Ringers continue to take handbell artistry to new heights, performing at such venues as the Chautauqua Institution and Piccolo Spoleto Festival, as well as appearing as guest artists with The North Carolina Symphony.

This collection of 26 seasonal favorites contains some of the ensemble's most popular holiday offerings, and includes a variety of familiar carols, contemporary selections, and much-loved classics. The Raleigh Ringers hope that this festive music will leave you with lasting impressions for many seasons to come.

The Raleigh Ringers

Impressions of the Season

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Track List