A special performance

Last Thursday seven Residents gathered on the Chapel stage for the first annual BA Bellringers Patriotic Songfest. Their audience was 80 miles to the north at Tallwood House, a residential home for Christian Scientists in Concord, NH. 

Performing via Zoom, the BA Bellringers performed nine patriotic and uniquely American songs for their friends at Tallwood including America the Beautiful, My Country ‘Tis of Thee, This Land is Your Land and Take Me Out to the Ballgame. 

BA Resident and long-time bell ringer Nancy Christopher shared interesting historical facts about each song.  Did you know that America the Beautiful was based on a poem written by Katharine Lee Bates?  After an 1893 trip to Colorado Springs, CO she traveled to the top of Pikes Peak and said, “all the wonder of America seemed displayed here with this sea-like expanse.” And Take Me Out to the Ballgame is second only to Happy Birthday and the Star Spangled Banner as the most easily recognized song in America!

The BA Bellringers practice weekly, each member responsible for one or two bells which represent a single note in the scale. They sit in chromatic order, and when pointed to by the director, ring their bell and fill the Chapel with recognizable melodies.

We’re already looking forward to the next BA Bellringers concert!