Has anyone ever been in a bell ringer/ringing group?

Jace

Jace

Well-known Member
Saw once, and thought it fascinating, charming!
Wonder about.....
White gloves, etc.
How do you get into?
Read music?
How's the instructions?
Would "love" to hear all about it!🤗
 

Aah! Learned something new...so...that's what it's called... they're called! Thanks!👍
 

fuzzybuddy said:
Just so happens, there's two world renowned musical bell manufactures in PA. One is Schulmerich Bells, and Malmark Bells. Both have bellringer groups as workers. I guess you could say they're bell ringer nuts, they could put you in touch with other groups.
I don't know anything about bells, except a set of bells is ungodly expensive.

Schulmerich Bells – Schulmerich Bells, LLC
Handbells & Choirchimes - Malmark - Bellcraftsmen. Handbells & Choirchimes
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Wow! U R right! $$$$
 
Tonight, another show..fabulous!
A holiday concert By the Raleigh Ringers.
Has anyone ever seen/been?
 
I have seen one ringer performance years ago at a church. A cleint at my work was coming from out of town with her group. I went to spend the day with her and saw the performance that evening. It was magical. I would say if you ever have the opportunity to see a group it is well worth your time.
 
The Nine Tailors is a mystery novel by Dorothy Sayers. Bell ringing plays a feature role in the plot and the novel gives quite a good picture of the complexity of bell change ringing in a parish church. GOOD READ.
 
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Although the term is 'campanologist', I was told that they just called them selves 'Bell ringers' . Back in England, we used to hear church bells being rung on Sundays, but I think here in Scotland, they are only in the larger towns and cities.
I definitely agree about reading 'The Nine Tailors' or watching it on DVD.
 
Jace said:
Saw once, and thought it fascinating, charming!
Wonder about.....
White gloves, etc.
How do you get into?
Read music?
How's the instructions?
Would "love" to hear all about it!🤗
Click to expand...
I'm assuming that Jace is referring to handbells as opposed to tower bells. Tower bells are HUGE, mounted in towers, rung by pulling ropes, and are heard throughout the entire community. Handbells were invented around the beginning of the 17th century to spare the community having to listen to the tower bell ringers "practicing". :D

I was in a handbell choir in my early teens. My church had created an all-boys handbell choir specifically to keep boys interested in their music program during those years when their voices were changing. A generous member had gifted a full set of Whitechapel handbells to the church for this purpose. The choir was very popular, both within and outside of the church.

The gloves are used to protect the bells and their leather handles from damage caused by skin oils. Each bell was stored in a velvet bag for much the same reason.

At that time, the church had a very talented Minister of Music (he was also the president of the American Guild of Organists). He created most of our arrangements. Each pair of ringers had a copy of the sheet music with their individual notes circled - one in red ink and the other in green. If you could listen and count at the same time, then playing them was relatively easy.

My church here hosted a public Christmas handbell concert just a few days ago, presented by an area Christian school. They brought two choirs of 15 students each - one junior high and one high school. The music was absolutely fabulous!! :D

Btw, although the most common type of handbells are "English handbells", there are other types as well. The metal used to make Dutch handbells has a lower silver content giving them a different sound. Sort of like the difference between a piano and a harpsichord.
 
Capt Lightning said:
Although the term is 'campanologist', I was told that they just called them selves 'Bell ringers' . Back in England, we used to hear church bells being rung on Sundays, but I think here in Scotland, they are only in the larger towns and cities.
I definitely agree about reading 'The Nine Tailors' or watching it on DVD.
Click to expand...
A campanologist is one who "studies" bells - their history, technology, uses, &c. A person who "plays" bells is called a bell ringer. One can be either or both.
 
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