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BELLS
AND BELLRINGING - 5 - THE NEXT STEPS
In the last article I explained how a novice ringer develops the skills
and confidence needed to ring a bell to rounds. From this point it is a
small step to ringing call changes, where the ringer continues to follow
the same bell for every change until called by the conductor to follow a
different one. Call changes give the learner the opportunity to listen to
his own bell striking after another for several blows, and to realise that
he must leave a larger gap when following a heavier bell as the latter has
a larger wheel and so turns more slowly.
Some towers ring nothing but call changes, but most ringers find them of
limited interest and progress to method ringing. As explained in an
earlier article, this involves the bells striking in a different order at
every stroke according to a predetermined pattern. The learner starting
method ringing will begin with a method consisting mainly of plain
hunting, where his bell strikes progressively later in each change until
he reaches last place, then earlier in each change until reaching the
first place (known as leading), and so on. Many dozens of methods
are derived from slight variations on this pattern and are known as plain
methods.
Progress beyond this stage involves learning more complicated patterns
including increasing numbers of dodges, place making and other intricate
work, which requires considerable practice. Such methods are known as treble
bob or surprise methods. The pattern of each method has to be
committed to memory, and the combination of accurate rhythm and intricate
design gives rise to enormous satisfaction when done well - rather similar
to that enjoyed by formation dancers, complicated drill marching etc.
Conversely, a band trying to ring beyond its capabilities produces a
cacophony with eventual collapse as the ringers lose their places in the
pattern. Local bands vary greatly in the range of methods they can ring,
and ringers wishing to progress to advanced methods may well find they
have to visit other towers with the necessary repertoire. An example of a
complicated and very difficult method was given in article no. 3.
Ringing of the highest standard is usually achieved when the same band
has the opportunity of ringing together for a prolonged period. The
ringers can then establish a consistent rhythm and become familiar with
the individual bells that each is ringing. Bands setting standards in the
early days of change ringing mainly used rings of eight bells (like ours
at St Giles'), and tended to ring changes on seven of them, the tenor bell
(the heaviest) striking last in each change, as its weight often made it
difficult to ring accurately to changes. By ringing all possible
permutations of the seven bells, a total of 5040 changes is produced, and
this came to be known as a peal. A peal takes anything between 2½
and 4 hours to ring, depending on the number of bells in the tower and
their weight. Peals on easy-going rings of eight bells such as ours take
about 2¾ hours and by convention are rung without a break and with
the same ringers on the same bells throughout. There is no doubt that the
best ringing produced on our bells has occurred during peals, and most
ringers recognise peal ringing as the goal of quality ringing.
The figure of 5040 changes has persisted as the minimum for a peal on
seven bells or less, with 5000 as the target for eight or more bells. Most
peals are of about this length, but in fact there is no upper limit on the
length of peals, the restricting factor being the endurance of the ringers
taking part, or the forbearance of residents living within earshot! The
longest peal ever rung was achieved by a band of young men who set out to
ring all possible changes on eight bells (40320 changes). This remarkable
feat took about 19 hours and was performed in Loughborough in 1963 - it
has never been surpassed since! All peals are published in the ringers'
journal, The Ringing World, which provides a valuable record of
the attainment of individual ringers and of method ringing generally. Some
enthusiasts participate in amazingly large numbers of peals, amassing
totals of 2000 or more during a ringing career. At an average of three
hours each that's a lot of ringing!
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A shorter period of ringing is naturally preferred by many ringers, and
a quarter peal (taking about 45 minutes to ring) acts as a
convenient goal for those with less stamina or time to spare. It also
neatly fills the time normally taken for ringing before Sunday service,
and many towers have a regular programme of quarter peals which are
extremely useful for improving the standard of the band's ringing.
In the next article I will comment on the very wide variety of bells
that can be found in towers throughout the UK and overseas.
P.H.M.
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