2026 SPRING CONCERTS

Our 2026 Spring Concert series features music around a road trip to honor the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road - Route 66!

In addition to our concerts, TFR will be performing at the Area IX Spring Ring as Asbury in Tulsa on March 7.  Come on out and enjoy a massed handbell event in your community.  The concert features 5 handbell pieced performed by several handbell ensembles from around the community at the same time!  It's a unique experience.  Admission is free.

Asbury Church


2:30 PM, MAR 7 (SATURDAY)


6767 S Mingo Rd

Tulsa, OK  74133

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Directions to Asbury Church

Music

Repertoire

From the Oxford dictionary - a stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.

It is always a challenge to keep a variety of pieces in Tulsa Festival Ringers' repertoire that will appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. Some audiences are keen on hearing plenty of sacred music, since handbells trace their genesis back to the church where most audiences encounter them for the first time. Others prefer songs of the secular genre because they are more familiar and get more air time on television and radio. TFR strives to strike a balance between the two in order to provide an engaging experience for all to enjoy.

The list below constitutes TFR's repertoire for the 2025 Christmas Concerts. Some concerts may not include all of the pieces due to time or other programming constraints.

The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came

Angels play a remarkable role in the Christmas story, and Joel Raney’s new setting of this carol about the Angel Gabriel is filled with intensity, joy, theatrical splendor and wonder – capturing the drama of what it must have felt like to actually have an angel appear before you. 

Angels from the Realms of Glory
Hart Morris's setting of this beloved tune is a captivating interpretation that infuses this timeless carol with dynamic energy and depth. Through skillful use of techniques such as malleting and shakes, the piece rises to new heights, creating a memorable and engaging musical experience.
Caroling, Caroling
The beloved Alfred Burt carol is now set for handbells. With the optional sleigh bells, you’ll be transported to a snowy village with Christmas bells ringing out!
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
This traditional Christmas Carol brings out the joy of bells during the season.  Lloyd Larson has creatively arranged the French dance tune and integrated it with the familiar "Carol of the Bells" for a bright and cheerful way to welcome the Christmas season.
The First Noel
This traditional English carol comes to life at the creative hand of Cathy Moklebust.  This is one of TFR's perennial favorite pieces to ring.  Cathy arranges the familiar carol with several settings in instrumentation choices. It begins simply and then adds layer upon layer until the grand conclusion with pealing bells and lots of joy.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
This exciting piece from Kevin McChesney takes the traditional English carol and adds a blast of energy and excitement.  The traditional tune is still there, but has been replaced by a very asymmetric 7/8 meter which, combined with the bass mallets, drives the song to new heights.
Jazz Gloria
Sondra Tucker's arrangement of the perennial choral favorite by Natalie Sleeth is faithful to the original.  It begins simply, with a simple drum rhythm, then adding single handbells, and then eventually 5+ octaves of handbells, plus chimes.  It will have your foot tapping as you hum along.
Mary, Did You Know
This tender arrangement by Anna Laura Page of the Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene popular Christmas song weaves handbells, handchimes, and lyrical scoring into a beautiful piece.
Masters in This Hall
Matthew Compton presents us with an exciting arrangement of the traditional English carol.  Utilizing 6 octaves of handbells and a brisk tempo, this piece will be sure to have you humming along as the ringers utilize almost every technique to play the handbells.
One Small Child
The charm and grace of David Meece's contemporary Christmas classic shine through in this sensitive choral setting from Lloyd Larson. The poetic images and haunting melody are beautifully woven into a gently flowing, richly satisfying, artistic musical fabric.  

TFR is pleased to be joined by The Tulsa Carolers during the Brown Bag It series on December 10 as they perform with us.
Pat-a-Pan
This lively, energetic version of BURGUNDIAN CAROL opens with rhythmic malleting. The melody is then introduced on handchimes. This setting also incorporates the French folk tune, UNE JEUNE PUCELLE (Huron Carol). 
Sleigh Ride
Grab your blanket and a good cup of hot chocolate - we're off on an old-fashioned sleigh ride.  Martha Lynn Thompson's transcription of the traditional Leroy Anderson classic will have you feeling like you're out in a one-horse sleigh, enjoying the holidays!  Utilizing a full suite of percussion, this is sure to have you singing along!
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
This lovely piece has a somewhat misleading title - it is not REALLY a dance, it is an old English carol written to tell the story of Jesus' life from His own perspective, using dance as a metaphor.  
Ukrainian Bell Carol
This exciting and energetic piece was Hart Morri's first published handbell work.  It is driving and relentless as it tells of the caroling of the bells at Christmas time.  

This adaptation of Hart's work, by Mark Usrey, is used to add lyrics in order to join forces with The Tulsa Carolers as they perform alongside us at the Brown Bag It performances.