Imperial Hand Bell Ringers and their carillon of 110 bells

              The Imperial
Handbell Ringers
For Terms and Dates, Please Address
And Their Carillon of 110 Bells
The Brockway Lecture Bureau, 
J. E. Brockway, Manager.
Pittsburgh, Penna.
The imperial Band-Bell Ringers
H. G. SHIPP,
Formerly of Shipp Brothers, English Hand-Bell Ringers,
Bells, Zither, Tenor Mandola and Banjo.
A. F. ADAMS,
Bells and Harp.
J. E. QUINLAN,
Bells, 'Cello Mandola or Mandocello, and Banjeaurine.
G. P. LONG,
Bells, Mandolin and Banjeaurine.
Formerly of Euterpe Mandolin, Banjo and Harp Club.
C. F. BURGHR,
Bells, Mandolin and Banjeaurine.
This company presents one of the most effective musical combina¬tions now before the public, comprising two complete organizations —a bell quintette, and a mandolin, banjo and harp club. The artists are of international reputation, and their names are a guarantee of a musicianly performance. The carillon of bells (110 in number) is the finest that can be procured, having been made in the oldest bell foundry at London, England, and imported at great expense, especially for this company. It is, so far as is known, the only complete set of hand-bells in this country. The tenor mandola and 'cello mandola (or mandocello) enable the company to play unac¬companied string quartettes.
From Evansville find J Courier, March 21, 1902.
The Imperial Hand Bell Ringers appeared at the Grand Thursday evening under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. star lecture course. The hall was well filled and the entertainment was far above the average.
It is a fine selection of numbers, varied in bell ring¬ing selections, harp solos, banjos and mandolins, and a zither solo. It is the best music of its class that has been given here in several seasons. In fact, it is prob¬able that in the matter of music from bells nothing so elaborate or so nearly perfect has been previously at¬tained by performers.
The ''Echoes from London Steeples" was very beau¬tifully given, and though bells of different places and distances were interpreted, there was not at any time a harsh note. A march and a waltz were quite as ef¬fectively given, and each selection called for an encore. With banjos some spirited music was given, also "The Stars and Stripes Forever," calling for an encore which brought forth a negro ditty that had a vocal chorus.
The mandolin numbers were finely given, and the harp work with these bodies of instruments was valu¬able. The harp solo by Mr. Adams was a delicate and artistic bit of work, and the zither solo by Mr. Shipp was a very charming number on an instrument that al-lowed the best interpretation of a dainty composition. The concert was, in fact, an opportunity to hear rarely good  music  rendered  by  most  capable  artists.
From Ft. Worth (Tex.J Register, fan. 10, 1902.
The Imperial Hand Bell Ringers who appeared in the Y. M. C. A. Lyceum course, were greeted with a large audience, and the applause acorded them testified to the pleasure afforded by the sweet music rendered.
The bell ringing was a marvelous combination of a dexterous manipulation of the bells and an artistic exe¬cution of musical score. It was a fine exhibition and gave evidence of the highest skill. Each number was encored, and the responses drew fresh plaudits from the delighted auditors.
Specimen Program
1.   BELLS.
March,..........llosey
2.    MANDOLINS.
Poet and Peasant Overture,.....Suppe
3.    ZITHER SOLO.
Prison Song (II Trovatore).....Verdi
nR. SHIPP,
Accompanied by String Quartette.
4.    BELLS.
Echoes froro the London Steeples.
i.    The bells of St. Paul pealing (approaching.)
2.    The Towa Hall chimes and several clocks striking the hour of
three.
3.    The hymn of "Rockingham" from neighboring steeple.
4     The bells of Westminster striking the quarter,  half,  three-quarters, and hour chimes, and the striking of "BIG BEN."
5.    The hymn "Wareham" from a steeple in the distance.
6.    The peals of St. Paul (receding.)
5.   HARP SOLO.
"Old Folks at Home."    (Var.)   Arranged. MR. ADAMS.
6.    BANJOS.
Campfire Memories.
(This selection is a typical scene of actual camp life, com¬mencing the day with sunrise cun, flag raising, bugle calls, on regulation army bugle, drum and fife corps, troops changing camp with incidents of the journey, such as the arrival and departure of trains, engine bells and whistles, air brakes, train calls, singing by party on board, closing with the reveille, sunset gun and and low¬ering of colors.)
7.    BELLS.
Medley of Popular Airs.
8.    MANDOLINS.
Estudiantina (Waltzes.)
(Introducing Tambourines and castenets.)
9.    BANJOS.
"All Aboard for Merophis"   Arranged.
Descriptive, representing a trip down the Mississippi. The audience will hear the steamer leaving the dock, the clanging of bells, the calls of the officers, the swish of the paddle wheels, the whistles of passing steamers, the singing of a party on board, a thunder storm, landing at the levee, etc.
10.   BELLS.
Polish Dance,
Shm we iika
Several of the selections con¬tain vocal choruses made very ef¬fective by the instrumental ac¬companiment. Commenting on this, the Owossu, Mich. Press, says: "The quintette occasionally broke into song, with banjo or mandolin accompaniment, and their voices blended well."
The Commercial, of Vincennes. End., says: "In the piece entitled "All Aboard for Memphis" yon could hear everything connected with a steamboat on the Missis¬sippi, the escape pipes, whistles, pounding of the engines, darkies •singing, and one could imagine he heard the 'deep four,' 'quarter twine,' 'half twine' of the lands¬man as the steamer felt her way *wer some sandbar. Music! It was a treat, and long may we re¬member those who placed it in our reach."
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From Duluth (Minn.) News-Tribune, Feb. 27, 1902.
THE BELL RINGERS.
Big Crowd Greets Well Known Musical Organization.
The interest was intense throughout the entire per¬formance and from a musical standpoint the evening left nothing to be desired.
The Middletown (N. /.) Dailv Times, Nov. 15, 7901.
THE Y. M. C A. COURSE WAS OPENED
Dy the Imperial Hand-Bell Ringers at Casino Last Night. Their Music Charmed All. The event called out a large and appreciative audience to listen to the Imperial Bell Ringers. It was one of the finest entertainments of its character ever given in this city.
PRESS COMMENTS.
From The Courier, Evansville, Ind., March 21, 1902.
HAND-BELL RINGERS
MAKE A BIG HIT.
A LARGE AUDIENCE IS OUT.
Entertainment Voted One of the Best of the Season—Grand in Every Particular,
The best music of its cJass thai has been given here in reveral seasons. In fact, it is probable that in the matter of music from bells nothing so elaborate or so nearly perfect has been previously attained by perform-
Frorn To'edo (O.) Blade, March 29, 1902.
The closing entertainment of the Y. M. C. A. star course was given at the Valentine last night. The Im¬perial Hand Bell Ringers were the attraction, and this aggregation of musicians gave a very pleasing concert. The program consisted of bell ringing, mandolin and banjo choruses, accompanied by harp and zither, and harp solos. In the main, the numbers rendered were of the lighter variety. They were the bright, catchy airs that are so popular with the American public. The au¬dience was not slow in expressing its appreciation and nearly every one of the ten selections received hearty encores, to which the company most graciously re¬sponded.
One of the most pleasing features of the entertain¬ment was the descriptive chorus, with bells, entitled, "Echoes From the London Steeples." The pealing of the bells of St. Paul was faintly heard in the distance, gradually growing louder and more distinct upon ap-proaching closer. Then the town hall chimes and the striking of clocks were heard. The hymn of Rock¬ingham from a neighboring steeple was the next to greet the ear, following which were the chimes from Westminster and the striking of "Big Ben." Then fol¬lowed the hymn of "Wareham," and closing with the receding peals of St. Paul. It was a beautiful thing, and the rendition was perfect. Not a false note nor a jarring clang marred it, and at the conclusion the breathless silence was broken by round after round of applause.
From The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Dec. 10, 1901.
Those who missed the Imperial Hand-Bell Ringers at the Lyceum last night failed to hear the musical treat of the season, and by far the most enjoyable number of the course of 1901-2. Marvelous musicians in mar-velcusly sweet melody oroduction. held the audience enwrapped for two hours. Encore followed encore un¬til the program of ten numbers was stretched to nine¬teen, and yet the and ence was not satisfied.
From Blue field (W. Va.J Telegram, Dec. 3, 1901.
The Imperial Hand-Bell Ringers, at the Y. M. C. A. hall last night, gave an entertainment that the peo¬ple of Bluefield will not soon forget. Every number on the program was encored and some of the selections were applauded to the echo. Each member of the com-pany was an artist, and we hope they will visit Blue-fiela again next season.
From Press-American, Owosso, Mich., March 13, 1902.
CONCERT PLEASED.
Imperial Bell Ringers Are a Versatile Quintette of Clever Musicians.
English Bell Ringers who have toured this country lack one thing—the charm of versatility. They can ring bells, and ring them well, but that's all there is to it. The Imperial Beli Ringers can do n.ore than ring bells; they are finished musicians with mandolin, harp and banjo.
From Commercial, Vincennes, Ind., March 26, 1902.
IMPERIAL BELL RINGERS.
The event of the season—eminent artists with bells, banjos, harp, mandol'ns and zithei—the Imperial Bell Ringers took an audience of eight hundred, at the High School auditorium on Thursday night, by storm.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., Oct. 3, 1901. MR. C. A. EATON, Boston, Mass.
MY DEAR SIR :—
The Imperials are positively "first-class." We had a good sized audience and one of the most appreciative I ever saw—so many surprises the people were simply hoiding their breath in expectancy. The committee are all more than pleased.    Yours truly,
(Signed)                   W. B. SHERMAN.
Men's Club, Mathews on St.  M. E. Church.
OFFICE OF  BRANDON   TRAINING   SCHOOL,   TULLAHOMA
TENN. MR   H.  G.   SHIPP.    MY  DEAR  SIR:—
The entertainment you gave us was of a high order, and the audience was thoroughly appreciative, as was fully shown by the numerous encores to which you so graciously  responded.    Yours respectfully,
(Signed)                         EMILE O. KASERMAN,
Secretary and Treasurer.
The following testimonial from a former Le Roy an, (N. Y.) says:
FLINT, MICH., March 17, 1902. To the Leader of the Le Roy Band:
Fifty years ago I would have known whom to address as the leader of the "Le Roy Brass Band," when the writer manipulated the second trombone. I have not, however, lost my interest in music for the village.
I noticed in a recent GAZETTE that the band was an¬ticipating an engagement with the Imperial Hand Bell Ringers, for an entertainment in Le Roy. This excel¬lent organization gave one of their concerts in our Opera House recently to a packed house, and gave a unique and delightful entertainment. I have no interest in the company, and am a stranger to all of the party; but I felt confident my old friends would enjoy their ex¬ceptionally pleasing and varied entertainment. Respectfully,
M.  S.  ELMORE.
From Scranton (Fa.) Republican, Oct. 23, 1901.
The Imperial Bell Ringers gave a very enjoyable entertainment to a large and appreciative audience, at the R. R. Y. M. C. A.