Rooster_Ties Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) 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 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 " and Elvis Costello's " too.) Any Zeppelin tunes jump out at you as being particularly MUSICALLY interesting to consider?? " " 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) And here's the studio version of "Dazed and Confused", 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). Edited January 13, 2009 by Rooster_Ties Quote
papsrus Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 Wait a minute. You direct a hand bell choir? My ex-mother-in-law is a big hand bell poo-bah in Tokyo. She was just in Orlando over the summer for some big hand bell gathering. (I'll have to think a bit about any zeppelin tunes that might work). Hand bells choir. Very nice! Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 The Battle of Evermore. Quote
Aggie87 Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 Living Loving Maid D'yer Mak'er The Ocean Fool in the Rain Quote
Big Al Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 The Rain Song The construction of this song is so long that you could run through it once or twice, finish with the ending, and take about five minutes or so. Quote
sal Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 Fool in the Rain I immediately thought of this one. Quote
Quincy Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 "Moby Dick"! Sorry. "Thank You" might work. I also like "The Ocean," and "Fool In The Rain" that have already been mentioned. Quote
Uncle Skid Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 I think I'd rather hear Celine Dion cover AC-DC than Led Zeppelin tunes done by handbell ensemble! Quote
B. Clugston Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 I think I'd rather hear Celine Dion cover AC-DC than Led Zeppelin tunes done by handbell ensemble! Believe me, you wouldn't. "Friends" would be a good one to cover. "Dazed and Confused" would be interesting too. Trivia: "Dazed and Confused" was actually written by Jake Holmes and stolen by Jimmy Page. Quote
papsrus Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) Trivia: "Dazed and Confused" was actually written by Jake Holmes and stolen by Jimmy Page. Yeah but, Holmes lifted it from Coltrane, who borrowed it from Miles, who took it from Morton Gould who actually had copied it from Glenn Miller. Edited October 21, 2008 by papsrus Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted October 21, 2008 Report Posted October 21, 2008 (edited) The centre section of 'Whole Lotta Love' might work. At the end you could bring in a mighty cathedral bell for the 'DUH!...DUH!' followed by a peel of hand bells for 'Duh-duh, du-duh, duh-diddleee-um, de-dum-dum'...'DUH!...DUH!'...etc These chaps look up to it: Has to beat what they did at the Olympics! Edited October 21, 2008 by Bev Stapleton Quote
Jazzmoose Posted October 22, 2008 Report Posted October 22, 2008 My first thought was Whole Lotta Love, but maybe Going to California would be a saner choice... Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 27, 2008 Author Report Posted October 27, 2008 (edited) I had wanted to avoid this, because the tune is so overplayed (or it certainly was 10 and 20 years ago). But this is tempting... Stairway To Heaven - on handbells Edited October 27, 2008 by Rooster_Ties Quote
dave9199 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Posted October 27, 2008 Gallows Pole The Song Remains The Same Kashmir Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 27, 2008 Report Posted October 27, 2008 Did they ever record Tenderly? Quote
J Larsen Posted October 28, 2008 Report Posted October 28, 2008 I always thought Over the Hills and Far Away was the most musically interesting Led Zeppelin song, but I'm not sure how well it would translate to hand bells. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted November 26, 2008 Author Report Posted November 26, 2008 This project is fast becoming a reality. Probably gonna go with Stairway, and Dazed & Confused, but still need one more. Open to more suggestions. Quote
Big Wheel Posted November 26, 2008 Report Posted November 26, 2008 I think you should do Misty Mountain Hop. Though repetitive, the hook seems made for bells. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Posted January 13, 2009 (edited) Well, my bell ensemble is now working on Stairway, and also this absolutely kick-ass arrangement of Dazed & Confused. Here's a computer-realized version of what it will hopefully sound like on real bells. Please download this, listen, and let me know what you all think!! Is this cool, or what!! >>> CLICK <<< for mp3 file from Rapidshare. Seriously, what do you guys think?? We had our first read-through of it tonight. It's gonna be tough to pull off, but I think WELL worth it!! Edited January 13, 2009 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Noj Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Listening now, RT. It has a martial arts film feel to me, pretty cool! I might like it more even slower. Are you familiar with the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsvs-pAGDc? Quote
AndrewHill Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Maybe The Immigrant Song for the next concert? Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 13, 2009 Author Report Posted January 13, 2009 Listening now, RT. It has a martial arts film feel to me, pretty cool! I might like it more even slower. Are you familiar with the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsvs-pAGDc? It'll definitely be slow. That'll be the only way we can get the really fast parts even close to right. Yeah, the original Jake Holmes version is very cool -- had heard it a few times here and there over the years. Quote
Achtung Dr. Freud Calling Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Seriously, what do you guys think?? We had our first read-through of it tonight. It's gonna be tough to pull off, but I think WELL worth it!! Actually sounds pretty good. IMO the tempo is just right. Betcha can't do AC/DC's 'Whole Lotta Rosie'! Quote
Chas Posted January 13, 2009 Report Posted January 13, 2009 Please download this, listen, and let me know what you all think!! I'd say this is one of those rare times you need less cowbell... Quote
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