About us

From the Top Music began as a collaboration between Gail Downey, a well-known handbell musician and composer,
and Leila Norris, organist, while both were on staff at a Methodist church in Albuquerque. They shared a
commitment to integrate handbells into the totality of worship beyond ringing a prelude, offertory, or postlude.
Worship services were planned weeks in advance which gave Gail time to write hymn accompaniments and responses
for bells and to coordinate with the organ – such as having a hymn verse only rung by bells and many other
creative options. These hymn accompaniments required little or no rehearsal and coordinated with the
United Methodist Hymnal.

Their first handbell event was an Area 11 festival in Colorado Springs in 2002, offering more than 50 hymn
accompaniments in a folder to view and a laser jet to print customer’s selections on demand. Soon thereafter,
they were asked to publish a handbell composition contest winner ... and the rest is history!
A deep friendship between Gail and Leila continues and they are very thankful for the many composers who
continue to trust From the Top Music to publish and share their work with the handbell community worldwide.