Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: IanC
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 07:17 AM

Tim

You've just discovered yet another of England's really magical musical experiences (and it's almost entirely peculiar to England).

I didn't hear "Church Bells" (it goes out too early for me these days) but in Ashwell we rang a Quarter Peal half-muffled for Remembrance Day. On most bells this takes roughly three quarters of an hour but ours are heavy old bells and they go slow. Also half-muffled ringing needs to be dignified so we took 53 minutes.

There's absolutely nothing like the sound of deep old village bells being rung half-muffled, especially on a misty autumn afternoon around dusk. Incredibly evocative and stately.

All bell ringing is a performance (even when we practice) but this, for me, is always tops.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 06:53 AM

Thank you for the links and information
Have "listened again" Several times and still find the sound moving.

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: SussexCarole
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 07:54 PM

Bells are rung half muffled as a sign of respect at funerals and on Remembrance Sunday. A leather strap holds a pad on one side of the clapper.

The bells were ringing a method called Stedman Caters on 10 of the peal. The nine lightest bells were ringing changes (all swapping places in accordance with the method being rung) and the Tenor (heaviest bell) was consistantly rung at the end of each change.

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:29 PM

Lots of info on bell muffling on-line.

http://www.changeringing.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Muffling_Bells

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:14 PM

Thanks for that. heck of a sound.
I can imagine the fog and smoke over the trenches but then I am weird lol

Subject: RE: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:05 PM

No more information, but listen again
here

Subject: Did you hear bells on Sunday BBc radio 4
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 02:41 PM

This weeks helping of bells on Sunday was so moving.
I was half asleep when it started but there was an announcement to the effect that the broadcast involved an extra set of bells tuned to a minor key and the rest played "Half muffled " I think was the term.
I never heard anything like that and even on my bedside DAB radio it was ......
Emptional?
Any one able to explain what was going on with the bells and perhaps the effect it had?
It was beautiful,but in a different way.
Not often you get to my age asnd discover a new version of beautiful.