Toccata Festivo - Etude No. 1

Written for the Stow Heritage Ringers of Stow Ohio, this energized original composition, "Toccata Festivo", is the inaugural piece in a brand new series of pieces which contains specifically written "concert etudes" for handbells. Much in the tradition of Chopin's Op. 10 and Op. 25 or Debussy's Etudes (L 136) for piano, these pieces will take one or two specific technical concepts and set them in a piece of music appropriate for late intermediate to advanced handbell ensembles. The pieces are designed to be friendly to an audience while also developing or showcasing the specific skill. "Toccata Festivo" is a study in rhythm and endurance - intense and prolonged segments of fast passage work, syncopated rhythms, and changing meter abound in this exciting work. Inspirations for the concept included Chopin's Op. 10, No. 4 & 12, and Op. 25, No. 11, but the work very much remains its own.