The S.F. State Handbell Choir started off the Christmas season by ringing holiday harmonies for 50 people in the Creative Arts Building on Monday, December 5th.

Before the handbell choir performed, Julie Vaquilar, an assistant supervisor in the registrars office, showed off different sized handbells to the audience.

“The difference is the overtone of the bells,” she said. “You’re hearing 12 notes that’s above the actual note that is ringing—the hand chimes have no over tones.”

She says handbells ring in one direction so the choir uses hand chimes as well.

handbellringers.com is Ron Theile's website. He is the conductor of English Handbells and a board member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR). His site says handbells originated in England in the 17th century as a way to keep spirits away from homes and is the likely origin of today's doorbell.

The S.F. State Handbell Choir has been together for 11 years, according to Caroline Harnly, choir director and librarian at SF State. “We all used to go to S.F. State but now only about half of them are still here,” she said.

The choir played a traditional mix of holiday music such as the “Deck The Halls” and “Rodolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

Audience members were surprised when Harnly asked them if they wanted to try the bells out, singing and playing along to “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” Laughter filled the air.

“I thought it was cool that we got to play with those bells,” said Kat Murry, a freshman and major in business management. “I feel like caroling now.”