BELLS ARE RINGING – Tower Challenge
We are excited to announce a special project to create a film clip for Jon Seccombe’s carol, “Bells Are Ringing.”
Download the song “Bells are Ringing” here.
It is also available on all platforms.
About the Carol
Written by Jon Seccombe and recorded by Nicole Burton & Tim Gibbs Bells Are Ringing was produced by Pete Stevenson of Turn Around Music. It was a finalist in the UK Song Writing Contest in 2021. It had been selected for performance that year in one of the UK’s largest Christmas concerts however, CoVid prevented any public concerts that year.
The finished clip will have a montage of bells for the chorus and sand art for the narrative the verses) by our artist, Lee-Anne Byrne. Her work can be seen on Jon’s carol, Christmas is Here Again, recorded by Mirusia, Australia’s leading crossover artist (who has performed regularly with Andre Rieu & The Seekers) and which was a finalist in the US’s Open Door Song competition in 2022.
Requirements for Participants
Film your team in the Bell Tower ringing peals in Christmas attire (or Solo bell ringing is OK)
or
Film ringing with handbells
or
Churches can also film the verses about shepherds etc.
– Filming on iPhone or similar is fine as long as the quality is good
– Gentle humour would also be great. For example, you might have a team of ringers – even a family where the youngest is too small to ring so the captain gives a negative nod but then hands the youngest a handbell
The carol is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4DS9qy-Sqk
Technical Details
- Upload your footage or clips to the following address: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19USH916zITrT8hZhR-AIpMsGZwVVELSt?usp=drive_link
or
- upload your file and send an email to info@jonseccombemusic.com and we will download it.
- Most typical file types will be fine: mp4 or .mov is preferred
- Make sure you include the name of your church (and individuals involved if they would like to be credited)
Credits
All towers/ ringers/ churches would be credited and Jon is keen also to promote the roles of towers in doing so. Jon can be contacted at info or on 0417 240 215
Here are the lyrics
Bells are ringing
Hallelujah sing a king
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Greetings to a newborn king
- In the gathering crowd of angels
Witness to a sight
Here the birth of Jesus
Raising human hopes tonight
- Come to touch our human hardness
Come to touch our hearts
Come to show us kindness
Come to show us love
Chorus
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Hallelujah sing a king
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Greetings to a newborn king
- As the shepherd’s fire ascends
As a village stirs
The shepherd’s blaze will light the world
To news this birth occurs
- Come to touch our human hardness
Come to touch our hearts
Come to show us kindness
Come to show us love
Chorus
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Hallelujah sing a king
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Greetings to a newborn king
Alternate Soft Refrain
Hallelujah softly spoken
To the baby in the crib
Watchful in the softly evening
Do not wake the new born King
Hallelujah softly spoken
To the baby in the crib
Watchful in the softly evening
Do not wake the new born King
Alt. Chorus
Far away the bells are ringing
Far away the angels sing
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Singing in the new born King
Alt. Chorus
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Hallelujah angels singing
Far away the bells grow louder
Closer now the angels sing
Chorus
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Hallelujah sing a king
Hallelujah bells are ringing
Greetings to a newborn king
Ending
Hallelujah God is Come
Hallelujah sing His praise
Hallelujah ring His welcome
Ring it to the end of days
Hallelujah God is here
Hallelujah sing for joy
Hallelujah ring His welcome
Ring it to his endless praise
Final phrase
Hallelujah to the King
Hallelujah to the King
Hallelujah to the King