THE CATHEDRAL BELLS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 11

THE CATHEDRAL BELLS.

AND THE ART OF RINGING THLM

The way to tho bell-ringers' cham-er in the Cathedral is, like that mentioned in a certain moral poem printed in the school books, up'a winding stair. You place your right hand on a stone pillar, your left on a stone wall, and then commence the ascent. In the darkness you go warily for a few steps, until you get used to the spiral pathway, and then advance with more confidence. The spiral leads into a snuglooking if not "very elaborately furnished room, and the ropes, hanging 'pendulous from the roof, mutely tell you that you have reached your objective— if you have gone up with the intention of "seeing the bell-ringers at work. The Cathedral bells give the City of Christchurch a peculiar distinction. In no other city in tliis Dominion will you hear such sonorous peals, and you might even roam through Australian cite?;, without hearing anything better. The music of the bells makes a wide appeal, and it adapts itself to all the words, joyous and sorrowful. A merry penl insensibly adds to the gaiety of a rejoicing community, while there is a solemnity about tolling or muffled bells which adds a peculiar dignity to a people's grief. Since the death of King Edward the bells of the Cathedral have rung out muffled peals. Ringing down the octave, the eight notes have been first given boldly and loudly, and immediately afterwards in a muftled tone, with an almost echo-like effect. This result is achieved by muffling one side of thc bell's tongue, so that when tin- bell comes to the second position it strikes the muffled side. Bells have always been associated with religious ceremonies. They were firstcast in peals about the beginning of the fourteenth century, but change ringing (varied peals) was first practised in the seventeenth century. In those early days the ringer.s practised on only five or six bells, but now they operate as many as twelve. More than twelve are never rung. Though the art of bell-ringing does not go back to the hoary ages of antiquity,, there is a society in London —the College Youths—which has an unbroken record of annual dinners since 1037. Bellringing is an English art, and the English bell-rim'.ers are tlio leaders of the world in this little known but (when mastered) fascinating recreation. It is peculiarly appropriate, therefore, that there should be a fine peal of bells in our Cathedral here. They were opened on thc 31st of October, 1881, and since that time have liecn rung by various bands, under the auspices of a Society. There are ten bells, -their weight varying from Gcwt to 32cwt, and the aggregate weight being over six tons. But to get back to the hell-ringers' chamber at the'top of the spiral staircase. The ringers had not arrived,- so there was time to look around and ob-. serve things. On the walls were hung photographs of old bell-ringers anel bands wliich had established records of peals. Richly-lettered scrolls tell of their prowess, and serve to stimulate the enthusiasm of the younger generation. A row of short ropes, enclosed in a glass case, catches the eye, and it is explained that the ropes are part of the chiming apparatus, which is used when hyirtns are played on the bells. Each rope is numbered, the musical score Ls turned into numbers, and the operator is able to play arty air" that does not call for a range above or below that of the ten bells. Chiming is not done very frequently here, as the bells have to be reversed for the purpose, and that involves a considerable amount* of trouble and - labour. A library of books on bell-ringing, giving the hundred and one different methods of peals, is also part of the-.cham.bcr_ equipment. Then there is a set of gilded hand bells, on which the ringers practise the changes before attempting them on the large hells. The Cathedral bejlringers are a youthful team, and they have the enthusiasm which should always bo a part of youth. Bell-ringing with them is not a labour, but a recreation, and they pull on the ropo and set the peals going in much the same spirit as that in' which oth-ar youths pursue the football or wield the hockey stick. Hear what the master ringer has to say about the qualifications of a good bellringer: "He has to be well balanced, mentally and physically, as the exercise engages the faculties of eye, ear, brain, and muscle. There is no other exercise in wliich all the faculties have t> be so continually on the alert and so constantly at work. Changeringing is divided up into methods, each of winch differs from the other as one tune is different from another. Tho ringer has no musical- score in front of him; he has to depend entirely upon a- fea*-rules that govern the methods, . Hi-, only .other guide is the ropes. His ear is concentrated on his belt for the correct time, and his muscles have to control the Dell, which may weigh anything from' scwt. to 32cwt." The ringers took their-places, each grasping his rope by the "sally," or soft covering which protects the hands. At the word ."Go" the peal 'commenced, and the bells rang down the octave. Tiie ringers dropped into nn easy rotation, and each one seemed to intuitively select the psychological moment at which to let go his rope. The ropes are. pulled down with an easy and graceful movement of the body, the arms in the first position being extended as far as possible above the head. When the lower position is reached, the ropes are released, and at onco spring upwards, the operator retaining his grasp only on the extreme end. By tho time the last note of the octave has been sounded, the ringer of the first bell is ready to commence again. The straight run down tho octave is '"round" ringing, and the dominant idea is to give* each successive note the same . value in sound and time. "Change" ringing is distinguished from round ringing by a different arrangement of the hells. Tho ringers, some-of them mere lads, stood at their work last night with their coats >ff, and one could readily concede that the ringing of a peal of 5040 changes wo'.ui require the possession of considerable physical stamina. In the ringers' chamber the sound of the bells is not of greater volume than that which strifces the ear of the listener on the street. It is rather a unique experience to visit the bell tower while the bells are being rung. In tho semidarkness the clanging bolls look >ike some writhing monsters, and their peals assault the ear with almost agonising vehemence. The visitor who is not accustomefd to strange and violent noises usually finds that a few minutes in the bell tower is quits* enough for him. The aim of every young bell-ringc-r is to accomplish a peai of 5040 change?. In tho rosiest days, of tho Society, between 1002 and 1904, two complete peals of 5040 changes each were accomplished. The task is not one to be lightly undertaken, as from the time the ringer takes hold of the ropo, and the changes are commenced, the whole I peal of changes has to bo gone. tbroiij_-_i without rest or refreshment. In England, some very notable performances have been accomplished. At Longborough, a year ago last Easter, a complete peal of 18,027 changes (Stedman Caters) was rung, the tenor (largest bell) weighing 301cwt. The ringers kept to their ropes for 12 hours 13 minutes, without rest or refreshment. It will he seen that bell-ringing is not child's play, and when it is remembered that one single mistake or repetition of a change would void the whole peal, ono will recognise that a considerable mental strain is involved. The peal changes are the most attractive phase of "bell-ringing,' and it is expected that some of the band who are now learning in the Cathedral towenr will soon, be able to take their places in the"change circle.